Over time I come up with a list of business success pointers and change it, the order does not matter much I think all the points are usually of equal importance.

Then I think about it some more, weigh that up against things I see and arguments I have in my head about how things are and what I am seeing. So for now as at Oct 07 this is “The list”.

1. Effective systems - Production - Management - Marketing - Risk management. No not systems to create a bueracracy but systems to create elegant flows of the right information and resources to the right place at the right times. Checklists, operational procedures etc.
2. Excellent products and services - With the right ones in place the profit margins are easy to sustain and even build on. Think apple’s Ipod, it really was just another MP3 player, but the design and the hyoe compbined made it a stand out performer, everything else (generally cheaper) paled into insignificance. It is clearly No 1 in the market If you were able to produce stand out products and back it up with service second to none then you would clearly have a siner.
3. Clear aims and strategies - Marketing - Operations - Management, from profit to HR issues clarity of the aims and strategies (the how to’s in the system) will (and does) make every bit of sense, your people will know what to do and when, and chances are you let them develop the aims and strategies and so they are hell bent on bringing them to fruition. Make sure innovation and leadership are a part of the aims and strategies, if not add them NOW, business requires organisations that can and do make positive use of these two.
4. Clear mission and vision - And I don’t care how small or large the organisation is have something you can hang a mantra on, so you and your people can chant it silently and know it permeates everything your organisation stands for. Then imagine, what if each division had its own mission and vision… could be useful for larger organisations wanting to take teams to a fresh level.
5. Growth and development strategies - This probably comes out of the mission and vision along with the aims and objectives, the aim in short to make sure the business is able to develop and grow in effective ways… It might be profit to begin with, then more staff to share the load… then, well its up to you, check out your aims and objectives, if they don’t fit to this area alter them now.
6. Brand image - People, customers - suppliers - prospective and existing staff should be able to say they know the organisation and perhaps what it does by the brand image. Clarity of communication here will build pride all round and leave a professional image in their minds. Look at the logo, the slogan (if you have one) then all the marketing materials, signage adverts THE WHOLE SHEBANG and see if it’s a rock solid image that is being presented.
7. Customer focus - No customers no business, so get vital about focusing on them, are they treated like royalty? Should they be? They bring $$ in to the Co… so go all out to make them feel fantastic, so much so they want to come back with their friends and buy all you have! Suggestion make it sustainable, there is no use to a focus that becomes fuzzy over time and is not sustained.

That’s the list, pull it apart, print it out and hang it on the wall, throw darts at it to figure out what to do next, I care not, I just know that this list of “stuff” works and will make a difference. date for implementation… NOW!

Stumble it!