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How can I be a better leader?

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How can I be a better leader?

I would guess that we all want to be better leaders – after all, better leaders get better results with less effort! So what do you need to do to become one?

Here are a few rules and ideas for you.

  • Remember all customers are volunteers – internal and external customers – they want you to be a great leader, so they have something worthwhile to follow.
  • See your internal customers as your no 1 priority – they’re the ones who need leading, inspiring and motivating to deal remarkably with your external customers
  • Have a crystal clear statement of what you and the Organisation are REALLY about (we call this a ‘customer focused mission’ but don’t worry about the name: if people are hyper clear on exactly what does and doesn’t matter to the Organisation, and the values associated with it, then that’s the job done).
  • Lead the Mission by example, and never deviate (even when times are hard)
  • If you ever do have to deviate, tell your people why and when you’re returning, before any deviation happens.
  • Manage your time effectively
  • Communicate effectively at all levels – win/win thinking and agreements
  • Gather feedback through simple systems and ‘management by wandering about’ obsessively
  • Ensure everyone else does the same
  • Use the feedback to understand people’s REAL needs, and Act effectively on feedback, little step by little step
  • Keep going: it doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you never stop!

Remember, there’s not a lot of difference between ‘a great leader’ and ‘a bit of a prat’ … focus on small things done brilliantly … by the inch it’s a cinch, by the yard it’s hard.

There’s your answer to ‘how can I be a better leader’?

 

For free resources and help with leadership and management systems that actually work, please drop us a line at support@salesthroughservice.com and we’ll send you our free ebooks on this subject.

 

 

How can I develop my management skills?

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How can I develop my management skills?

I would guess that we all want to be better managers – after all, better managers get better results with less effort! So what do you need to do to become one?

Here are a few rules and ideas for you.

  • Remember all employees are volunteers – they need to respect you in order to be motivated by you.
  • Have a crystal clear statement of what you and the Organisation are REALLY about (we call this a ‘customer focused mission’ but don’t worry about the name: if people are hyper clear on exactly what does and doesn’t matter to the team, and the values associated with it, then that’s the job done).
  • Lead the Mission by example, and never deviate (even when times are hard)
  • If you ever do have to deviate, tell your people why and when you’re returning, before any deviation happens.
  • Manage your time effectively
  • Communicate effectively at all levels – win/win thinking and agreements
  • Gather feedback through simple systems and ‘management by wandering about’obsessively
  • Ensure everyone else does the same
  • Use the feedback to understand people’s REAL needs, and Act effectively on feedback, little step by little step
  • Keep going: it doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you never stop!

Remember, there’s not a lot of difference between ‘a great manager’ and ‘a bit of a prat’ … focus on small things done brilliantly … by the inch it’s a cinch, by the yard it’s hard.

There’s your answer to ‘How can I be a better manager’?

 

For free resources and help with leadership and management systems that actually work, please drop us a line at support@salesthroughservice.com and we’ll send you our free ebooks on this subject.

 

 

How to Go the Extra Mile?

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 How to Go the Extra Mile?

There’s always lots of marketing talk about ‘Going the Extra Mile’ and it sounds sexy, doesn’t it?

Well, here’s a little secret that not many people know –  it’s not realistic or a good idea (it’s just a marketing phrase which sounds cool).

It’s not realistic because it’s too far and you’ll create unrealistic aspirations for your customers and fall flat on your face. If you deliver a bunch of flowers with their order today, they’ll hate you if you don’t do it every time going forward.

And it’s not a good idea, because ‘great leaps forward’ usually leave you with more problems than solutions because you haven’t been able to think everything through and implement them properly. How many times do we hear of large re organisations within businesses, just to see their service to us fall to pieces?

So don’t get hoodwinked by the sexy marketing drivel. Put customer focused ‘Go the Extra Inch’ systems into your business and improve by continual small steps from everyone every week.

It’ll give you fantastic progress over time, very happy people and a world class reputation (if you do it right).

Please contact us at support@salesthroughservice.com for our free SHORT ebook on this subject called ‘The 7 Deadly Sins of Service (and what to do about them)’!

go the extra inch

 

How to develop processes and systems to build sales?

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How to develop processes and systems to build sales?

A somewhat boring seeming question?… Maybe… But let’s put it this way – if any of your systems aren’t aimed at helping you sell more (in the long term), then what are they there for?

Many Organisations have systems that have grown up to solve problems that arose in the past – and often these systems often actually get in the way of boosting sales (Like a credit control system that doesn’t allow a customer to order over a limit). So you need a proactive approach to your systems, like everything else.

So, for every system, continually review, inch by inch: ‘Is this helping build sales?’

  • If yes, ask: ‘What can we do to tweak it to build more sales?’
  • If no, ask: ‘Why is it in place? Can we get that result without sacrificing sales?’

We suggest a weekly process called ‘Go the Extra Inch’ to work on one process per week – don’t go at this like a bull in a china shop – and aim to improve your processes properly week by week.

And one more thing: maybe even better questions would be:

  • ‘How can this process be tweaked to make the customer more eager to buy?’
  • ‘Can we get this result without harming the customer experience?’

The difference is subtle and massive.

‘Sales through Service’ is a proven and powerful set of systems to boost sales whilst also enhancing the customer experience – to receive a free ebook ‘The 7 Deadly Sins of Sales’, please email support@salesthroughservice.com or visit http://www.salesthroughservice.com/free-sales-resources/