Intending to grow your business? In today’s competitive environment you need to adopt flexible competencies and business strategies that will enable you to adapt and thrive. Here are some of the key items you need to consider:
1. Focus, discipline & critical thinking
Ever experienced arriving at work fully intending to get things done, only to get drawn into dealing with a few emails and texts and discovering that half the day has gone? Well you’re not alone! But real achievers learn how to shut out distractions and focus on what critically needs to be done. If you’re too distracted and undisciplined you won’t get ahead of competitors.
Combine a renewed focus with the ability to challenge and question everything; to evaluate your options from every conceivable angle and you’ll make better decisions in the process.
2. Adopt a competitive spirit.
The Internet has opened the business world’s competitive floodgates. New competitors are arising on every front as technology lowers barriers to entry and companies compete on multiple levels to ‘win the contract’. Competition is the driver behind the development of new technologies that replace old ones, how start-up companies become corporate giants, and how good performers become great ones.
The point is, adopting a relentless drive to win, is a critical success factor that you need to learn to adapt and respond to, to give you a long-term competitive advantage in a changing world.
3. Use systems to scale.
Henry Ford did not become one of the world’s greatest businessmen because he invented the first automobile. He did so because he developed a system that allowed him to scale his business and get his invention into the hands of everyone. That system is better known today as the assembly line.
As a business owner, you need to streamline work to make your business run more efficiently without relying upon you to get it done. Document all the tasks you complete and delegate them.
4. Get things done.
Successful business leaders achieve their goals by putting one foot in front of the other and getting the job done. Along the way they focus and motivate people to work together toward a common goal and have a strong sense of personal responsibility, accountability, and work ethic. Everyone has ideas, but to be successful you need to take action, make things happen and get the job done.
5. Develop mutually beneficial relationships.
No matter how great your marketing and advertising campaigns are, nothing beats building a real connection with other people and organisations that can help you overcome obstacles and connect you with new business opportunities. Top entrepreneurs seek out and identify partnerships that can help them achieve their objectives, provide the competencies, block a competitive threat or mitigate risks to the business.