Last post, we offered some advice from legendary coaches on how to build your team. Today, we’re back with more words of wisdom to help you motivate those teams so that your small business continues to grow and succeed. We've used these techniques even within our own company to deliver the best online inventory management solution possible.
“People who enjoy what they are doing, invariably do it well.” - Joe Gibbs, football coach
In a previous post, we offered tips for staffing your small business. One of the best suggestions we can offer is to hire people who genuinely believe in your business and truly want to work there. Most of us have probably held at least one job in our lifetime where we were just in it “for the paycheck.” With any luck, it was an early job that we only worked part-time for a short amount of time. If we’re honest with ourselves, we know that we probably didn’t give that employer our best efforts. You want to avoid that situation at all costs when hiring for your small business. You can’t afford to have anyone who is just there to collect a paycheck working for you. That lack of motivation will show in their attitude and their output. In our world, attitude in customer services is everything and accurate/functioning output is key when it comes to releasing code for our online inventory management tool to thousands of people at once. Hiring people who are excited and passionate about their work will also help out down the road with employee retention.
"Nothing will work unless you do." - John Wooden, Basketball Coach
This brings us to our next point. Growing your small business requires effort. Just showing up won’t keep your business moving forward. Owning a small business is often hard work. Making that business successful, can definitely be a challenge. Once you have assembled your team of employees its your job to motivate them and get everyone working towards a common goal. If everyone is putting forth their best effort, success will be achievable.
“No matter what business you’re in, you can’t run in place or someone will pass you by. It doesn’t matter how many games you’ve won.” - Jim Valvano, Basketball Coach
As we said in our last post, Coaching Your Way to Success, every coach knows that you can’t rest on past success. For a coach, each year marks the start of a new season and you have to get back out there and start working hard again. It’s no different for your small business. You may have had your best year ever last year, but that won’t carry you through this year. You can bet that your competitors took notice of your success and are now adjusting their strategies to compete. Sitting back and continuing to do what you’ve always done won’t help you win. In fact, you may not even be able to stay in the game with tactics like that.
“Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer.” - Rick Pitino, Basketball Coach
We’ve talked a lot about ways to increase customer loyalty. This is a great way to create a loyal fanbase of customers. If you are continually improving the quality of the products and services that you provide for your customers they will respond and reward you with their loyalty. Not only that, they may start marketing your business for you as they tell their friends how great you are. Everyone knows you can’t buy better publicity for your business.
“Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength.” - Phil Jackson, Basketball Coach
Worried that your small business can’t compete with the big guys? Don’t be. Knowing your strengths and how to capitalize on them can allow you to come out ahead. Thanks to technology the playing field is a lot more equal than it used to be. Yes, the big guys have deeper pockets and can afford to invest more, but thanks to the benefits of cloud computing and other technological advancements you don’t have to spend a lot to get a lot. Your small business can afford the same technology as the big guys, in a way that is better suited to your needs.
These coaches have some great advice, but don’t just take our word for it. Implement some of these strategies and you’ll see for yourself. By “coaching your team” you can grow your business in ways you never imagined.
Have you tried our online inventory management solutions, yet?
Hopefully, by now you’ve made Stockpile a part of your team. As you realize the benefits of using our online inventory management solution, you’ll be able to devote more time to other aspects of your business. Sounds like a win-win situation. If you haven’t tried Stockpile yet, get started today! Our online inventory management tool is ready and waiting for your small business!
