9 Key Success Strategies to really drive your performance

9 Key Success Strategies to really drive your performance this year for improved results

By Alec Blacklaw, Blacklaw Advisory and Founder of The Business Improvement Program, Melbourne.

Unless last year was your best year ever and cant be bettered, we challenge you to disrupt your business (before someone else does). Even if your performance was pretty good, I imagine like most businesses, you could do much better on a number of levels.

We know that the digital world has changed or is changing our traditional landscape and technology will ensure that change will continue at pace we have not seen before.

Whether we like change or not, change is inevitable however progress is not.

So you have got alignment at board level and have shared your strategic action plan with your team and created visual scoreboards across your business. And you all know where you’re headed and what success will look like. Well maybe you have or maybe its under way or it’s in your head.

We invite you to make this the best year ever in your business – for you, your team and your clients, where you will make an impact that really matters.

I’m not sure of your individual situation however it might be similar to that which many business owners face. You have some awesome opportunities in front of you or a few challenges you really must overcome to succeed. Or you may be struggling to cope with growth and the new challenges it brings.

On the flip side you may have lost your mojo or momentum and be struggling to deal with the disruption impacting your industry in this fast-moving digital world. It’s more likely that you will not be at the extremes and have a few of the situations above happening to varying degrees that you need to deal with. In your heart and mind you know there must be a better way – well there is.

We know because we have had the privilege of working with loads of business owners over the years who have created some special businesses.

We want to share with you 9 Key Success Strategies that some of the best leaders and business have implemented for improved results

Today we will cover 3 of these with you in our 3-part series.

Strategy 1

Ensure you have the right blend and balance of three key ingredients – Passion Focus and Capability. It’s not enough to have a brilliant product or service that will change the world or the way we do things. It’s a great start however you need to put your customer and target audience firmly in your Focus and see the outcomes you deliver from their perspective. How does your Passion impact them and the results they are after?

You must communicate simply and clearly your Capability – in your product, your service expertise, experience… to your audience in an authentic way so that they really get it. Where your Passion and purpose is clear and compelling. Show them you care, don’t just tell them. Authentic delivery and consistency is vital or you will miss the mark.

The best businesses know that 2 out of 3 is not enough to really connect with their audience and move to the top 10%. When you get the balance right you will build Trust and people are more likely to Engage and you will build increasing Collaboration in your team and with your community.

Strategy 2

An oldie but a goodie… clearly communicate your Vision and Purpose with authenticity so that your board, your team and your clients know where you are headed. This should be visual and focus on the factors that are critical for your success.

You need to give everyone a reason to care about your vison so that they can engage, understand and stay interested in the journey. There is simply so much noise out there and distraction that you need to really cut through with a message that matters. And that will make an impact – a good one.

When we know why you do what you do, why you exist, what you do will matter more and we will take more interest in what you have to say.

Linking strategy 1 and 2 together will allow you to focus on making your team or your customer feel and actually be better off. And make them feel safe and cared for.

Create a great client experience that they enjoy every single time they engage with your business, your team and your brand. A great client experience can be an absolute point of difference when delivered consistently every time right across your entire business. Define document and train your team and then embed in your every day actions.

Strategy 3

There really are only four ways to grow your business profitably.

These are classics that work and that almost became unfashionable however we encourage you to use them or revisit them in the context of your current objectives for 2017/2018.

Everything old is new again.

1. Increase the number of customers of the type you want (net – include the wins and losses)

2. Increase the number of times your customer comes back (give them loads of reasons to help them achieve their objectives)

3. Increase the average spend or transaction value (make th experience memorable and deliver value by asking great questions)

4. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of every process (what one thing could we do differently to get a better outcome?)

When you have work shopped the four ways above with your board and team you can then create strategies to grow your business with purpose and focus and you be able to measure the things that matter.

The very best businesses in the world have implemented these strategies to create a truly extraordinary business – one that is more profitable, valuable and enjoyable with many more options.

In fact, the disruptors or these who seek to disrupt traditional businesses are looking at new ways to better connect with their target audience in a digital world where technology is accelerating the rate of change like no other time in history. Time for you to review your business strategies to ensure they are attractive and relevant and will get you to where you want to go.

Alec Blacklaw is a Business Improvement Specialist and the founder and creator of The Business Improvement Program (The BIP).

ENDS

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