From the President

Goal setting is a necessary task. Applying some level of objectivity to the process will help you. Sometimes we have to put in extra effort to accomplish something, but making it the focus of your entire lifestyle can prove detrimental.

What if yesterday was a great failure? How do we regroup and move on to a better day? Furthermore, how do we take time for ourselves, our family and friends if the business needs tending to? If failures begin to pile up, it’s time to reconsider your strategy.

Small and sometimes unwise decisions can become bad habits, leaving you frustrated. Good habits are hard to form and take some tenacity to put into place. Let’s look at some common examples.

During busy workdays, eating habits usually take a beating. In the midst of a rush, you might find yourself making an unhealthy choice. Adding to that is the frustration of a constantly ringing phone, and possibly irrelevant questions from potential customers. Then you look at the bench and the floor in the bays. It’s a mess. Why? Because things are getting out of hand and beginning to create a pattern of failure.

I picked food, phones and floors for a reason. These are all indicators of bigger problems. If these three things are failing in your store, it’s time to step away and find the root of the problems. Even if you only take a couple of hours out of a day, make sure you review who you (and your business) want to become, and then put a plan of action in place to get there.

Your plan must be measurable. Dig deep to find the root cause of your failures. Putting a plan in place without addressing the cause will only set you up for your next failure. Don’t just say, “Tomorrow I will focus on answering every call,” as your solution. Don’t tell your team, “Clean as you go,” and expect your bays to be spotless. And don’t say, “I’m going to eat healthier,” and expect to resist phoning in for a pizza delivery. You must have a plan to address each of these areas by first addressing the root cause.

Having a plan and sharing it with your team will help you meet your goals and live to sell another day. To help you get started, here’s an example of how to identify issues and build your plan.

First, take a step back in an attempt to regain control using measurable checks and balances that provide accountability. Cultivate clear awareness of your scheduling process.

Consider your store’s layout and procedures with a critical eye, as if you are a newcomer who’s just walked in the door. Take time to review and revise your staff schedule to make sure everyone—including you—has sufficient time to rest and eat properly.

Understand how many available work hours you have per day and week. Next, contact some of your scheduled customers and move them to days or times that allow for proper phone consultations.

Make sure you factor in adequate time to clean, as well as time to look for someone to add to the team, if needed. Staying organized is important, too. Assign someone to review the schedule daily and call each customer prior to their appointment to reduce the chance of no-shows.

What I’ve listed here are just some small examples of how you can plan better in order to streamline your business.

What are some ways you work each day to get clear on your business’s plans? If you aren’t sure, it’s time to take a closer look.