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Workflow

Trust Shouldn’t be a Missing Ingredient

by Daria Steigman on January 7, 2013

Ingredients Laid Out for BakingThe lines were long, and getting longer.

No surprise, really, as there were only two open checkout counters in the grocery store–one for customers with 15 items or fewer, the other for everyone else. As I stood there, I remembered that the last time I got stuck in the store the same thing happened. Only that time the store manager told me when I suggested they open more lines that it was the checkout clerks’ fault for not asking for help. The manager, I might add, who was standing at the front of the store ignoring her staff–and her customers.

My grocery bag had 4 of one item, 3 of a second item, and 1 of one item. (Yes, there’s a reason I’m telling you this.)

As I was waiting my turn, I asked the clerk if he could scan an item and cue in the multiple of numbers to save time for everyone. His response: Everything has to go on the conveyor belt because you never know when security might be watching.

Huh?

Trust shouldn’t be a missing ingredient in your business.

I don’t know if the store thinks its customers are all thieves or if its employees are giving food away for free. What I do know is that, unlike this store, they are empowering no one to make the experience better for everyone.

Photo by Andrea Goh (Flickr).

Have you grabbed a free copy of Your Social Media Checklist? Download it today to get 9 tips for being findable and attracting the right customers for your business.

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“Just Because” is a Stupid Way to Run a Business

by Daria Steigman on January 10, 2012

Mix Matched Socks are a Brand StatementIt’s a new year, but are you still doing the “same old, same old?”

I wrote recently about knowing when to fold–giving up a product or a service or even a business development strategy that’s run its course. But there’s another thing business owners need to consider: what might be working, but doesn’t make sense.

This can show up in the people you engage with and the processes you follow. For example:

  • Are you loyal to an accountant, a lawyer, or even an insurance agent who does an okay job year after year rather than making the switch to someone who will really shine? (For the record, I have an awesome accountant if you need one.)
  • Do you keep using that cumbersome e-mail marketing system or time-management software rather than switching to something faster and more user-friendly?
  • Are you still faxing documents because you don’t have an electronic signature on file? (Oops, that’s me.)

Make every business action a conscious choice (not “just because”).

A case in point: My condominium association raises the parking fee by $5 every other year. But no one knows why they’re doing it. It’s just what they do. What they’ve done. You know why they’re doing it? Because over 10 years ago when I was condo board president I said I thought it was ridiculous to nickel and dime people with $2 and $3 raises. Somehow that translated into the current “policy.”

It’s a good practice to evaluate your business processes and policies from time to time. Now I’m off to find a scanner.

Photo by Evelyn Giggles (Flickr).

Have you grabbed a free copy of Your Social Media Checklist? Download it today to get 9 tips for being findable and attracting the right customers for your business.

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Three Words for 2012: Crayons and Continuity

by Daria Steigman on January 3, 2012

Dancing Crayons, Business, WorkflowFor 2012, I’ve decided that I don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Last year, I picked out 3 little words–crayons, velcro, and abandon–to guide my business. The whole point was to keep me focused on moving forward, while giving myself permission to take risks again. And to have fun and be creative.

I found the right guiding principles.

Since “a continuous or connected whole” (aka, continuity) is an asset, I’m going to keep these words front and center for another year.

What are your guiding principles for 2012?

Photo by evoo73 (Flickr).

Have you grabbed a free copy of Your Social Media Checklist? Download it today to get 9 tips for being findable and attracting the right customers for your business.

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Books, Velcro, and Celebrating Success

by Daria Steigman on December 27, 2011

12 Candles for 12 Books on Business, Entrepreneurship, and Social MediaHow do you measure success?

There’s a lot of conversation around business success, what it means, and how to measure it. (And we probably talk even more sometimes about lazy metrics and poor measurement.)

I’m not going to talk about measurement at all today. Just success. Because sometimes you need to celebrate the small victories.

One of my 2011 goals was to read more business books. I set two goals: (1) to read at least one book a month about business, entrepreneurship, and/or marketing communications; and (2) to review a book a month.

Velcro helps.

Velcro was one of my three little words for 2011. In a blog post to start the year, I wrote:

I’m good at coming up with ideas, but sometimes I need more focus to see them come to fruition… I need to keep the velcro handy to keep me locked in.

It worked. I started the year thinking about how 21st century businesses are putting the power of collaboration and openness to work. I also read about what makes a good entrepreneur and how to tap into your entrepreneurial DNA, received tips on how businesses can leverage social media to thrive, and ended the year thinking about being weird.

12 Books for 12 Months

Here’s what was on my 2011 reading list:

As for 2012? I have four books in the queue, including Mastering Uncertainty and The Introvert’s Guide to Business. Stay tuned.

What successes are you celebrating as 2011 draws to a close?

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt (Flickr).

Have you grabbed a free copy of Your Social Media Checklist? Download it today to get 9 tips for being findable and attracting the right customers for your business.

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Are You Counting the Pills?

by Daria Steigman on October 10, 2011

Quality Control, Business, Business Ethics, Independent Thinking, Steigman CommunicationsI always count the pills.

And the widgets. (And pretty much anything I buy “by the numbers.”) It’s not that I expect any problems, it’s just that I want to make sure I’m getting what I pay for when it comes to products bought in open bulk.

When it comes to medications, it seems there’s  a lot of miscalculation going on. After my mom received 25 percent fewer pills than should have been in a bottle recently, she warned everyone she knows. Several people e-mailed immediately to say they’ve had the same problem.

Meds cost big bucks. Per pill.

My old bank said “it’s only pennies” when I asked them to credit back interest they owed me because of a screw-up at their end. Yes, but they’re my pennies.

Add my pennies to your pennies and a whole lot more customers, and you can see how the dollars start to add up.

I don’t know how often it’s a quality control problem versus a deliberate strategy of spreading out the inventory. But I know as a business owner that I don’t want my customers asking that question.

Who’s counting the pills in your business?

Photo by Dominique Godbout (Flickr).

Have you grabbed a free copy of Your Social Media Checklist? Download it today to get 9 tips for being findable and attracting the right customers for your business.

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