San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce - Focused on Business
October, November, December 2010 Quarterly Newsletter
Business News Juggling's a job skill; 5 tips tell you how to multitask By Michael Crom Executive Vice President, Gannett News Service Question: As the result of some recent downsizing within my company, I have gained several new responsibilities. With my increased workload, I am forced to do several different things at once. I am afraid that things may start to fall through the cracks, and I'll end up making a costly mistake. How I can juggle these tasks effectively? Answer: Many people have a difficult time multitasking. It is very important to consider which tactics will work best for you. Certain people need to block out time and work without distractions. Others are more effective and can thrive when dealing with tasks in real time. Some ways you can effectively multitask: 1. Think ahead. Plan each day, using a calendar or planner to create a schedule, and publicize your availability. 2. Don't overcommit. Stay in control of your day and learn to say no diplomatically and tactfully. Use call forwarding and disable the new e-mail alert on your computer when working on critical projects that demand your full concentration. 3. Keep a positive attitude and remain flexible. Expect the unexpected, stay calm, and exercise patience when things pop up. Rely on your past experiences to deal with the unexpected. 4. Practice. Switching tasks requires resetting our brain each time. If we practice, it can become more automatic and less stressful. 5. Get over yourself. Learn to ask for help, delegate, empower, and let go of tasks that you don't have to do yourself. Keep the lines of communication open and be sure colleagues and team members are in the loop so they are better able to lighten your load.
Make a Good Impression Over the Phone
August 3, 2010 Andrew Pearce CEO Powwownow London
For small businesses, a lot can transpire in a conference call: Deals get made, ideas are debated, and sensitive negotiations are conducted. Or worse: None of these things happen, because the people on the phone don’t know how to communicate energy, enthusiasm, and courtesy. Here are some tips to consider before you dial into your next conference call: 1. Start with the right service. If you’re hosting a conference call, use a quality conference service. Whichever service you choose, test it to be sure it portrays professionalism and sounds crisp and clear.
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2. Use an agenda. You wouldn’t host a face-to-face meeting without an agenda, right? So why not use one for a conference call? Plan the discussion and goals in advance, just as you would for a meeting in the boardroom. 3. Don’t interrupt. Everyone’s contribution is equally important on a call, therefore it’s crucial to be a good listener, especially without visual cues. Wait your turn until the person speaking has finished.
While serving as a resource to the Young Presidents’ Organization, an association of men and women who became company presidents before age 40, I saw time and again that successful managers are laser focused on their goals and attaining them. They are alert to events gathering over the horizon that could affect their companies. Unsuccessful managers, on the other hand, are endlessly putting out fires, darting from problem to problem, sleeplessly wondering, “Why didn’t I get anything done today?”
4. Keep it quiet. Your customers or colleagues shouldn’t wonder where your attention is focused. No matter where you’re dialing in from, remember to convey the same focus and attention to the discussion as you would in person.
Deep within the onion’s core is perhaps the most important quality that successful business owners and leaders share—joy in taking an idea from inception to a living company. That spark is missing in unsuccessful managers.
5. Turn off e-mail, Facebook, and any other distractions. Dedication shows, whether face to face or via airwaves.
The Five W’s of Marketing
6. Get out of your chair. Stand up when you’re talking on the phone. You’ll feel and sound more energetic, and that vigor will be conveyed to everyone on the call. Also, if you smile while speaking, your voice projects more clearly.
Small Business Matters
Managing for Success August 2010 Robert W. Goldfarb, President, Urban Directions, Inc.
I’ve been advising managers and management teams throughout the world for 30 years and am endlessly peeling back the onion to learn why some companies succeed while others fail. Certainly, timing, luck, and the economy can shape a P&L, but at the onion’s core are reasons for success or failure that are far more personal. In successful companies, nothing is immune to debate, not even products and services upon which the company is built. At management meetings, “That could work” is heard, rather than “We tried that years ago and it flopped.” Exchanges between managers are passionate but respectful. No one who voices skepticism or an irreverent idea is made to feel stupid or disloyal to the organization. The freedom to suggest bold or opposing ideas is absent in unsuccessful companies. Management teams in such companies are so resistant to change that it’s risky for a member to express doubt or suggest a new approach. Even the most confident manager is reluctant to speak up when team members are quick to dismiss concerns or ideas with a smirk. Successful managers also know that a company, like the human body, has vital signs that measure its well-being. Doctors check your pulse, temperature, and blood pressure. Successful leaders have their own indicators: Are their products or services better than their competitors? Do they deliver on time? Do they create ideas and services that help customers stay ahead of their competitors? Do they, instead of someone in India, answer the telephone?
By Steve McKee President, McKee Wallwork Cleveland You've heard of the Five W's: who, what, when, where, and why. They're the elements of information needed to get the full story, whether it's a journalist uncovering a scandal, a detective investigating a crime, or a customer service representative trying to resolve a complaint. There's even an old PR formula that uses the Five W's as a template for how to write a news release. Most of the time it doesn't matter in what order the information is gathered, as long as all five W's are ultimately addressed. The customer service rep's story may begin with who was offended, while the journalist may follow a lead based on what happened. The detective may start with where a crime was committed while details of who and what (not to mention when and why) are still sketchy. The Five W's are helpful in marketing planning as well. But unlike in other professions, the development of an effective marketing program requires that they be answered in a specific order: why, who, what, where, and when. The reasons may not be obvious, but by following this pathway you can avoid a great deal of confusion, trial and error, and blind alleys, preserving your company's precious time and resources. Many marketers instinctively begin with questions about what and where, as in "what" their advertising should say or "where" it should appear. That's what gets them into trouble. They may have some success putting their plans together by relying on intuition and experience, but both can be misleading in a rapidly changing marketing world. These days it's easy for anyone to become confused by (or fall prey to) the latest and greatest trends and tactics. FIRST, WHY MARKETING? Smart companies begin by asking "why"—why are we expending our limited resources in marketing? Why do we believe they're better invested here than in other aspects of our business? These questions, properly considered, force company leaders to clearly define their business and marketing objectives and confront their (often unrealized) assumptions before they get too far