Changing the Mindset – A Different Approach
Everyone in your company is reading the same newspapers you are – they know that things are still tough out there. Many of your employees probably have family or friends that are unemployed. Seeing so much uncertainty, many employees may not have the enthusiasm for taking on the job of innovation. So, how can you change this mindset inside your company?
To get your team focused on the future, you’ll need to change the message a little bit. One of the best sources of ideas that your company can use to turn things around in a dismal environment appeared in Inc. Magazine in February. Following are some of the excellent bits of advice successful business owners gave that you can use to point your company in the right direction:
- Train your employees on how your entire business works, not just their small slice. The result? Better ideas from employees as well as the knowledge that you’re all pulling in the same direction. (SRC Holdings)
- Get your company’s name out there. Remember, marketing is meat and not fat – especially in lean times it shouldn’t be cut. Use marketing or a focused sales effort to let your current and potential customers know you are aggressively doing business. (Jenny Craig)
- Reach out to your customers about your business and “listen, really listen” (Life is Good).
- Look at upgrading IT by using software as a service (SaaS) instead of maintaining servers on-site. Not only will you be upgrading your business, but you’ll be saving money. (Y Combinator)
- Ask your staff about ideas for new products or services. There may be some ideas out there just waiting to be launched that will improve your company’s profitability (Anchor Brewing).
