Do the right things to succeed

Small companies grow into big ones .... sometimes.  But only, of course, if they are successful.

Do you know what 'success' is ... what will drive your business forward?

You might be surprised to discover that lots of companies do not.  They plod along doing lots of good things but not always understanding the key elements that drive success.

Take the time to reflect, to think ... and then start to act on your success factors.  Get them right and you might sew the seeds of success ... and growth.

Keep it simple - do not complicate

How much can you improve the productivity of a process without changing the underlying technology?

Sometimes we look for the major changes that major process change can bring about.  However, real gains can often be achieved by simple changes to the way we plan, organise and control the process and the resources it consumes.

This blog is called 'Do Not Complicate'.  So. measure and understand the process ... and where it might be improved.  Then, improve it - simply.

Distractions

Success comes from being clear about what you are aiming for ... and then single-mindedly executing the strategy to get you there.

What you don't need are distractions - the little problems along the way ... but also the little side projects that crop up and you 'fit in' alongside the main project.

You need to be ruthless in eliminating these distractions ..... they constitute 'wasted effort'.

Organise your work and the work of those around you is that it is absolutely clear where the focus lies.... and what constitutes success. Then remove all the distractions, leaving the team to focus completely on this main focus.

Where do they go?

So, Blackberry seems to have gone.

A few years ago, business executives were addicted to the mobile email platform ... for that is what it was.

Then Apple - and Google via Android - showed what else could be done by a mobile device... and Blackberry was left behind.

Remember, however good your product is, however dominant you are in the market. some young upstart (startup!) will be trying to overtake you.  if you rest on your laurels, you get left by the roadside.

This is one occasion where productivity cannot help.  if you are selling the wrong product, it doesn't matter how efficiently you make it.

So, think about your own product range ... and who might be 'coming up on the rials' to overtake you.

Who do you 'touch'?

All businesses touch a number of groups and communities.  There are obvious ones like customers and employers - but also suppliers - and their suppliers through the supply chain - and people who live near your factories, stores, hospitals or whatever.

How do you touch these groups -how are they affected by what you do .. and how you do it.  If all your 'touches' are positive experiences., you create goodwill - and good business.

However, negative touches cause you 'pain'.

Its important to think through - and find out about - these touches and their effects on your business. You need to maximise and enhance the positive touches ... and eliminate or minimise the negative ones

Then everyone (or almost everyone) is happy with you!.

Mao Tse Tung

A strange title for a blog you might think,  but the other day I was reminded of Mao's epithet that "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step".  A good philosophical point/

It reminded me that the 'best laid plans' and strategies are no good unless we implement - and execute.

Sometimes we need to stop planning, strategising, and talking - and get something done ... or at least started!

So think about the things you have been thinking about ... the things you would like to do to improve the business .. .and take the first step.  Today!

Measure of success

How do you judge the success of your organisation?

By the profits you generate?

It makes sense, doesn't it?  After all, that is why we are in business.

The problem with profitability is that it only tells us how well we did in the last accounting period.  It tells us nothing about how well we might perform in the future.

So we need additional measures to ensure we are both healthy ... and fit ... for the future.

those additional measures will depend on the kind of business you run ... but might include customer satisfaction levels, repeat business, employee satisfaction (and motivation), etc.

I urge you to think about what you might measure to judge your fitness.... something more than simply taking your temperature (which is what profitability does).