Business Tactics That Do Not Work
Business Tactics That Do Not Work
Success in business depends on many factors. People are always looking for new business tactics that are more effective and these tactics can range from the simple to the complex. Some tactics, however, don’t work. Learn from the mistakes of others by knowing what not to do.
1. Being too authoritative and bossy to employees
A boss that is too authoritative inadvertently suppresses the creative thinking of his employees. It takes a delicate balance to harness the awesome power of your business. When too much authority is used, it can be stifling. The employees get scared and they are less likely to come up with their own ideas or feel comfortable providing feedback.
2. Hiring the wrong people and not having a hiring strategy
Hiring the wrong people is a huge mistake that can result in lost productivity, money, and time. It’s very difficult to un-hire someone. The hiring process is so important that it should be treated like an employee because that’s essentially what he or she will become. Make sure to take it seriously and follow up immediately. Don’t hire someone until they’ve been interviewed at least twice and have gone through at least three references.
3. Not listening to your customers
Customers are the boss. When you are in the customer service business, you need to listen to what they expect and what they want. If a customer has a complaint, it’s an opportunity for improvement and a way to show that one of your employees is doing something wrong. An angry customer usually won’t tell you how they feel unless there’s an issue pressing enough that it has to be addressed. Listen and fix them or at least try. According to Dr. Jordan Sudberg customers are the backbone of a business and should be treated as such.
4. Rush decision making
There are times when there is no time to think, but if you have time, you should use it. If a business owner has time to talk with everyone on his team and thinks through things, he can find the best route for success. There are many ways of thinking and communication styles that will help you make the best decision for your organization. Rush decision making often results in a loss of self control and usually compromises the success of your company
5. Not tracking results
There should be constant tracking of the results that are being produced. It is important to know if your employees are doing their jobs well and if your company is hitting deadlines. Tracking the results can help a business owner determine if they need to make some changes in their organization so they can continuously meet deadlines and get better.
6. Taking shortcuts
No matter how much you think they will pay off, shortcuts will most likely cause more problems than they fix. You might think that if you rush your employees they will work faster and efficiently. If you take shortcuts and don’t give employees the time needed for them to do their job well, it will make it almost impossible for them to produce good work. Dr. Jordan Sudberg states that taking shortcuts can also have a negative effect on morale and can create unsatisfactory work environments.