Who's Running Your Business?
Who's Running Your Business?
Anyhow we went to a school uniform shop nearby which we hadn't previously been to. Trent insisted we go there as they apparently stocked the longer sports shorts he wanted and the usual place we went to didn't have them.
Well what an experience it was. Firstly the shop was in a time warp. They had probably been there for decades and nothing internally had changed. You didn't know who the staff were, in fact when we finally found them they looked like they had been dragged out of bed to come to work. The only exception was the older lady who seemed to be the boss. The girls who were in their early 20's looked scruffy and were very unhelpful. They stood around watching the older lady work and only did something when she asked them to. They had no initiative whatsoever and you had to (or should I say I had to) tell them what to do.
The older lady later told me that the actual owner of the business, never listened to her suggestions to make improvements, in fact he hardly ever visited the store.
Actually it was interesting watching her in action. In her position she could have taken charge and taught those girls how to deal with the customers and let them use their initiative. Even though she was disgruntled about the owner, she could have changed her own situation. Because she appeared to be the only person who knew about the stock and styles that would suit, she was run off her feet with the customers. The least she could have done was to organise the girls so that one was at the counter handling the sales and returning stock to the shelves and the other one assisting her with the customers' needs.
The amount of money this business could have been making if it was run properly would be enormous.
There's a couple of interesting points that come out of this story...
1. The older lady although she was disgruntled with the situation, didn't take charge (and she certainly was in a position to do so) and unhappily continued to work there.More than likely she had been there for years and didn't have the skills or self-esteem to make her role better. How many people do you know who stick at their jobs because they fear they may not find another one or aren't prepared to get out of their comfort zones to improve themselves? Of course, the business owner should have invested in staff training etc. however if they don't and you want to improve, would you invest time, energy and money in becoming better? Because if you're not getting better, you're probably getting worse.
2. How many businesses are run by untrained staff while the business owner is too busy to notice what is happening inside their own business?
3. And why are many business owners in business? They will generally tell you they are in business to make money yet if you look at how many business are run, they may as well be in business to lose money.
And as a result of our lifechanging experience, there is no way we will ever set foot in that shop again! My son is only in Year 8 so that leaves another 4 years to go before he finishes high school. How many more times will I need to buy more school uniform items because he's a growing boy? A few more that's for sure.
And being a boy he's more than likely going to be more hard-wearing on his clothing than what my daughter was when she was at school.
By the way, we also had to buy him another pair of school shoes in the same shopping strip. The staff in that store were fantastic and guess where we'll definitely spend more of our money?
Have a great week
Lorraine Pirihi
Australia 's No. 1 Productivity Coach
Whos Running Your Business - To learn more about this author, visit Lorraine Pirihi's Website.
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Recently I took my son Trent to purchase more school uniform items. He's a growing (very fast) 13 year old, and it was time for more clothing. When the school pants no longer drag on the ground and the hem barely reaches his ankles you know it is time.
Anyhow we went to a school uniform shop nearby which we hadn't previously been to. Trent insisted we go there as they apparently stocked the longer sports shorts he wanted and the usual place we went to didn't have them.
Well what an experience it was. Firstly the shop was in a time warp. They had probably been there for decades and nothing internally had changed. You didn't know who the staff were, in fact when we finally found them they looked like they had been dragged out of bed to come to work. The only exception was the older lady who seemed to be the boss. The girls who were in their early 20's looked scruffy and were very unhelpful. They stood around watching the older lady work and only did something when she asked them to. They had no initiative whatsoever and you had to (or should I say I had to) tell them what to do.
The older lady later told me that the actual owner of the business, never listened to her suggestions to make improvements, in fact he hardly ever visited the store.
Actually it was interesting watching her in action. In her position she could have taken charge and taught those girls how to deal with the customers and let them use their initiative. Even though she was disgruntled about the owner, she could have changed her own situation. Because she appeared to be the only person who knew about the stock and styles that would suit, she was run off her feet with the customers. The least she could have done was to organise the girls so that one was at the counter handling the sales and returning stock to the shelves and the other one assisting her with the customers' needs.
The amount of money this business could have been making if it was run properly would be enormous.
There's a couple of interesting points that come out of this story...
1. The older lady although she was disgruntled with the situation, didn't take charge (and she certainly was in a position to do so) and unhappily continued to work there.More than likely she had been there for years and didn't have the skills or self-esteem to make her role better. How many people do you know who stick at their jobs because they fear they may not find another one or aren't prepared to get out of their comfort zones to improve themselves? Of course, the business owner should have invested in staff training etc. however if they don't and you want to improve, would you invest time, energy and money in becoming better? Because if you're not getting better, you're probably getting worse.
2. How many businesses are run by untrained staff while the business owner is too busy to notice what is happening inside their own business?
3. And why are many business owners in business? They will generally tell you they are in business to make money yet if you look at how many business are run, they may as well be in business to lose money.
And as a result of our lifechanging experience, there is no way we will ever set foot in that shop again! My son is only in Year 8 so that leaves another 4 years to go before he finishes high school. How many more times will I need to buy more school uniform items because he's a growing boy? A few more that's for sure.
And being a boy he's more than likely going to be more hard-wearing on his clothing than what my daughter was when she was at school.
By the way, we also had to buy him another pair of school shoes in the same shopping strip. The staff in that store were fantastic and guess where we'll definitely spend more of our money?
Have a great week
Lorraine Pirihi
Australia 's No. 1 Productivity Coach
Whos Running Your Business - To learn more about this author, visit Lorraine Pirihi's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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