Managing my business in times of chaos, reminds me of my days driving in the snow. One of the first lessons I learned as a young driver in Michigan was how to manage a car in that white stuff. When the car would veer out of control on a snowy, icy road the trick was to calmly, gently turn the wheel in the direction of the swerve. The car would adjust to the turn, bring the back end around in response to the turn, and straighten itself out.
Managing a business in chaotic times is just as simple. I didn’t say easy–I said simple. Your business, most businesses, my business, has been rocked by the shifting economy. Rather than tightly gripping the wheel and making hard moves to correct what is potentially swerving out of control; the best reaction is a calm, gentle turn get things back on course. Your business will straighten out provided you do not try to aggressively over correct what appears out of control.
One thing I have learned about today’s business climate is not to panic and make drastic moves. I have learned to tune in to what is happening out there and gently make the adjustments necessary to respond to the shifts. I sense there is still some concern and fear associated with a turbulent market. My advice is to recognize, accept and prepare for change. However, my encouragement and counsel is to not react or over-correct without knowing the direction for effective and productive change. Remember, it is just like driving in the snow–a gentle move in the direction of the shift.
Dave Cooke is CEO of Strategic Resource Group, llc an organization specializing in helping businesses increase their revenues through effective growth initiatives and employee development programs. His contributions and insights can be found on his blog posts, SalesCooke and Sustainable Revenues. He has also developed a new program for sustainable revenues in a down economy, known as SuRF. To download this case study go to: SurfWhitePaper.com.
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- Gaining Control via Grade School Management
- The First SuRFing Lesson
- New Revenues in Existing Customers
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