Whether it is opening a new branch, reducing cost of expenditure, hiring new workers or increasing sales, January is a suitable time for making changes to improve upon your business.
As you settle, into 2015, it is important to re-evaluate your old ideas and implement new ones for a more productive year ahead.
Below is a list of four important goals that every SME owner should set this year.
(1)Make life better for your employees
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- Courtesy/ damarque
Focus more energy and time on taking better care of your employees. Remember, keeping your employees happy is not only important for your financial success, but it also influences overall workplace morale. If your employees enjoy working at your SME, they will be more productive – and that attitude is contagious.
Hold a brief conversation with your employees and let them tell you where they want to be several years down the line. Then do what you can to accommodate their desires.
Probably you can re-design their job roles and re-evaluate your working culture. Also, consider offering occasional happy hours and team building activities so your team can get to know you better at a personal level.
Lastly, consider improving employee benefits such as:
- Health insurance
- Holiday perks
- Commuter allowance
(2)Improve the way you communicate with customers
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- Corteusy/jimdoyle
Customer expectations change continuously over time. What you are offering in your SME might be on target right now but this may change with time.
This year make a goal to talk to your customers more. Try to get a better understanding of their mindset in the next year.
Once you have understood your customers better, you will be able to reevaluate your product or service. Remember, the best performing companies of today are the ones that keep the customer’s interest first.
(3)Keep your stress levels on check
As SME owners, we are always busy at work. We don’t have the privilege of working under the old 8am to 5pm rule.
However, this constant work mindset comes with its own negative consequences. You need to evaluate your stress level and consider taking part in initiatives that help you enjoy running your business every day.
Spend more time with your family and make sure you are not overworking your mind. You will be surprised to see that you are better able to solve complicated problems when resting or enjoying that morning run.
(4)Put a sober financial plan in place
It is always wise to plan financially for the months to come. Without a proper plan, it is extremely difficult to grow your sales and revenue over time.
Determine where you want to be in the next 6 – 12 months and then set benchmarks along the way that you need so as to achieve these goals.
With a proper plan in place, and with constant monitoring of the implementation of the same, you can greatly transform your business. Remember, it is the small changes that matter when it comes to running a successful SME.
Kuza Biashara’s Resolution For 2015
This year we look forward to expanding and touching more lives both online and offline. We plan to introduce various hands-on approaches to make SME learning a bit more interesting, engaging and purpose driven.
You can join our cause on Facebook and Twitter if you want to be part of our resolutions.
What about you? What are your goals for this year?
