Finance tip: Education
Increase your financial education. To be able to better manage and control your finances, commit to learning more about your money and the financial world around you. You might think this is a daunting task, but it’s really not – start small and slowly, and build a progressively higher knowledge level over time. Read the business section of the newspaper; watch the financial news roundup; listen to your colleagues when they talk about money or their finances (don’t tune out like you normally would); follow financial blogs (like Finance Coach!); ask questions of family and friends who have a better grasp of it than you do; take a short course (banks often offer them for free); whatever you do, just expose yourself to the commercial side of the world. And if you feel completely perplexed at first, and have no idea what it is you’re reading or hearing, don’t worry. If you keep at it you will, over time, start to recognize terms and themes, which will then help you understand others, which will then help with others, and so on and so on. Whatever you do, just get started!
Business tip: Communication
Follow good phone habits. When you’re using a phone for business purposes, there are a number of small things you can do to maximize your effectiveness. For instance, when you answer an incoming call, sound professional. Don’t just say “Hello?” – try and have a more standard answer such as “Hi there, Gareth speaking.” This immediately tells the caller that you value their call, by being professional and courteous from the moment you pick up. If you’re a small business (especially if you’re a one-man operation) get someone else to record a voicemail message for you – it gives the impression that you have staff working for you. Studies have also shown that having an attractive female voice on your voicemail makes you seem more trustworthy and authoritative. And stand when you talk, don’t hunch in your seat. Standing opens up your airway, and allows you to better project your voice – helping you to sound confident and on top of things.
Communication is such an important part of a business as is the staff you employ to be your 1st line support. At my office we have a receptionist who is never happy, this has subsiquently nearly lost me business on numerous occassions. The comment about standing up is great, that's something I have noticed in sales. It doesn't matter what you are selling if you are confident about the product it will sell. If you are selling to retain the products are flying off the shelves. If you are selling a sevice this service will optimise the business and save you money, as it has done with many companies before! I also found your advice on education helpful, I was at the nedbank business conference the other day and they noted that 34% of businesses go under because of lack of finance accumen. Nice one Gareth relly liked it!
ReplyDelete