Face it; this economy is not down, what it is changed, radically different and it is never going back to the way things were. There I said it, times have changed, and if you want to succeed, you need to change with them. If you are passionate about what you do, passionate about whom you serve, and passionate about the organization for which you work, then this is your economy! So, what do you need to do to get your economy moving, to get things back on track and pointing in a positive direction? Well here are the top five strategies today’s successful businesses are putting into place to position their organizations for business and sales success.
Economy
Embrace Reality – Wouldn’t it be great if someone would ride in on a white horse, or wave a magic wand, or click their heels three times and this economy would get back on track. But in reality, let me be the first to say, “That ain’t gonna happen!” No one else is going to fix this economy, because the truth is this economy can’t be fixed. Why? The reality is that it is not broken; it is changing.
Our society, our culture, is literally going through an economic shift — a transition so to speak. A transition that is bringing about extreme change, and with it a whole new way of doing business. So if you want to succeed in this economy, your first step is to embrace your new reality. Understand that times are different, things have changed, and you need to learn the new rules. Every two months brainstorm with your team or your peers about what you observe changing with your customers, your industry, your competition and your employees. Embracing your reality positions you to take advantage of change rather than fall victim to it.
Focus on Values – Welcome to the age of integrity, and the economy where what you do is as important, if not more important, than what you say. As a professional, CEO or business owner, you need to know who you are and what you stand for in order to attract, retain and truly deepen client relationships.
Today’s consumers want and expect more. With so much competition, and so many choices your customers are looking for more than a great product, they are looking for a professional they can trust. People and companies they can build relationships with; to win in the trust and value economy you need to define your values and implement a values strategy.
Build Your Image – White noise! If you asked me why most marketing dollars are being wasted and advertising messages are getting lost I would have to say white noise. There is just too much of it out there these days, and consumers are overwhelmed with too much information. To succeed in this economy, you have to get above the fray, you have to stand out, and you have to be anything but white noise.
In the trust and value economy you cannot survive on only those customers you go out and get; you need customers coming to you. You need to invest in designing a strategy that pulls customers to you. One that builds and enhances your image and communicates your reputation, you can actually drive customers to you, piquing their interest to come calling on you rather than you always calling on them.
Invest In Relationships – We have all heard it said time and time again: relationships are the new currency. While this has always been true, it has never been truer than in this economy. The more people you know, the more people who know you, and the more people you help, the more successful you are going to be.
Success today takes time. Consumers are tired of getting hit with sales people worried about making goal and pushing to make a sale. They are looking for that professional or business owner who truly wants to invest in helping them become successful. If you want to win in the trust and value economy, then you need a relationship strategy: A system to consistently and proactively build relationships with your customers and prospects; relationships that build trust and add value.
Get Your Head Out Of The Sand – There is more going on in this economy than what is happening in your business. If all you had to worry about was your own daily challenges you would actually be in good shape. But the trust and value economy is offering far more challenges and opportunities outside of your business than inside your business.
Economy-progress
To be successful today, you need to routinely get your head out of the sand and take a look around. Every three or four months, get together with your team or your peers and ask; What is happening in the world around you? What is changing with consumers? How is your industry responding and growing? What is happening politically? What societal trends could positively or negatively impact your business?
So, are you ready to win in the trust and value economy? Simply by adapting these strategies, and putting a little time, effort and consistency into your process, you will easily position your company and your team to Win in the Trust & Value Economy.
About the Author
Meridith Elliott Powell, author of the 2013 Global Professional Publishing title Winning in the Trust and Value Economy, is an internationally certified coach, speaker, and business development expert. Founder and owner of MotionFirst, she helps executives and business owners build cultures that make sales fun, easy and incredibly productive. An award-winning business owner, Meridith’s unique background includes high-level leadership and executive positions in sales, marketing and finance. Her signature style and her ability to rapidly connect with people make her a sought-after speaker, coach and strategist. Honors include the Athena Leadership Award, inclusion in Verve Magazine’s “Top 20 Professional Women to Watch” (2010) and selection as “Best Business Coach” by the WNC Business Journal in 2008. She also just signed on with a major online radio network to host her own weekly show starting in June.
This entry was posted on Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 at 6:22 pm and is filed under Economy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.