Landscape Architect Articles

Building Better Businesses08-02-16 | News

Building Better Businesses
Experts Weigh In

To help make sounder decisions, the Small Business Administration offers the following advice:

• Define, as specifically as possible, what the decision is that needs to be made, when it needs to be made, why it is important and if you are really the one who has to make it.
• Write down as many alternatives as you can think of.
• Predict the outcome of each alternative and gauge which ones you are more satisfied with.
• Cross off those alternatives that most likely will not occur.
• Once you have made your decision, get moving on it. Worrying or second-guessing yourself will only cause stress.

To deal with angry customers more effectively, law professor and communications specialist Joe Curcillo stresses the need to have the focus and knowledge necessary to take control and get the customer's loyalty back. Three tips towards achieving that goal are:
• Do not speak until you have truly listened
• Do not defend until you have heard the attack
• Focus on areas where you or your customer can improve

In situations where legal issues dictate the hiring of attorneys, the SBA maintains that a business has the right to know, and to get in writing, how they will be charged, how much the case is likely to cost, and when they have to pay.

Business consultant David Waits asserts that to be an effective leader one must understand and leverage their performance, presence and profitability. Methods to help them do so include:
• Investing in themselves and their growth
• Understanding the value they bring to those they lead
• Recognizing effective actions – not just intentions

Underperforming employees are often as frustrated by their performances as their managers are according to hiring specialist Kate Zabriskie. Her solution consists of clearly explaining and outlining expectations, properly training employees on the processes, and reviewing goals.

The Better Business Bureau reminds companies that a free credit report is available once a year from each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. BBB advises ordering a different one every four months to keep more up to date on credit scores and to detect fraud early. All three reports can be ordered at https://www.annualcreditreport.com.

As seen in LC/DBM magazine, July 2016.