You have a detailed business plan, which showed the
overall intent of your company. You presented the business plan to your
bank before start-up and they submitted funding in the amount that you
both deemed acceptable. The original business plan contained the basis
of the procedures that will help you stay focussed while the company
grows. Let's examine some of these processes that you will use to give
your business the focus it needs to grow and succeed.
1. A marketing plan. If sales are a part of your operation (and it
seems that some form of selling is always a big part of every company),
then, you will need to have your sales group focussed on a marketing
plan. Short term and longer-term analysis should be a part of this
planning and will likely contain an analysis of your competition, market
potential and sales projections. Be careful not to fall into the trap
of letting “the business take care of itself”, stay focussed at all
times and be sure your managers are tuned into this market monitoring
regularly, nothing is more defeating to the general manager/owner than
to be told by a sales manager…I didn't see that coming! YIKES!
2. Accounting procedures. If sales are important, then the need to
stay focussed on receiving the proceeds from sales is equally important.
Accounts payable, expenses and accounts receivable need to have fixed
procedures in place to allow money to flow freely through the company
coffers. Focussing on these procedures at regular weekly and monthly
meetings will put the accounting and marketing groups on the same path. A
rift between marketing and accounting is a common bureaucratic
occurrence; so don't be surprised if one point you hear from someone
from sales state, “We make the money here, how come I have to live by
their rules?” Getting these two operations to stay focussed on a bottom
line results oriented approach is a regular part of an owner's job
description.
3. Human resources. If you have ever worked for a manager, who
considered his employees as expenses rather than assets, then you will
be familiar with the need for managers to stay focussed on human
resources within the company. A manager who is fixated on staff
reduction regardless of their accomplishments will create an atmosphere
of fear. Certainly, no one wants to be grossly over-staffed, but a good
owner/manager will focus on keeping adequate employee base numbers, and
ensure continuing training, safety programs and top of the line employee
benefits. It's your campground, why not have “happy campers?”
4. Selling your business. This does not mean selling in the true
literal sense. It means focusing on being sure your company image is one
that is the envy of your competitors and is known in the business world
as a first class operation. You can do this by having key managers
attending industry conferences. Be clear and tell them that their focus
at these seminars is to network, thoroughly gathering as much new
information that they can. They should also 'sell' other attendees on
the importance and efficiency of their company in the industry. Upon
their return, have follow-up meetings with these managers where they
will report in detail on what they have learned. Managers attending
conventions and seminars should take opportunities to enjoy themselves,
nevertheless, they will be the “face” of your company, it's wise be sure
that they focus on making them business meetings, and not all
“playtime.”
If planning, organizing, staffing, direction and control are five
major factors in managing a company, staying focussed throughout the
process, is paramount!
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