| The crazy holiday season... why does it make our | | | | customers' reactions.Cancel unnecessary meetingsIf |
| heart beat faster knowing we have so much more | | | | you have regular weekly or monthly project or staff |
| 'to do' and so little time to achieve it all? Why is it we | | | | meetings that don't need to occur during the |
| both love and hate this time of year? We place high | | | | holidays, cancel them. Most people appreciate being |
| expectations on ourselves and others during the | | | | given more time and spending less time in |
| holiday season however there are ways to be more | | | | meetings.Create a list of new business development |
| productive during this holiday season.The holiday | | | | targetsOnce you have made your list, sort it into |
| season is not the time to slow down your business | | | | three groups: 'spheres of influence', those that are |
| development activities or stop networking because | | | | able to make decisions about your products or |
| we still have budgets, goals and targets to achieve. | | | | services; 'centres of influence', those that are already |
| How do you handle the 'unproductive' attitude that | | | | your advocates; and 'strategic alliances', those that |
| holiday season brings? How can you juggle vacation | | | | you can refer business to and that can also refer |
| schedules? Historically, the holiday season may have | | | | business to you. Once you have your list completed, |
| been a time for you to take it easy, do the minimum | | | | book appointments with these people to include |
| amount of activity while you focus on what you will | | | | lunch, breakfast or even a 'tele-coffee'. Create a plan |
| achieve for next year...not this year! Decide to make | | | | within your schedule to contact them regularly. |
| this your most productive holiday season ever, here | | | | Contact could include a phone call, email, sending |
| are some strategies that will help you do that and | | | | them an interesting article you've found, inviting them |
| continually grow your business and set up a | | | | to a networking event with you, sending a parcel of |
| productive 2007.Make 2007 your best year yetBook | | | | products or a face-to-face meeting.Book a |
| a two-hour appointment with yourself to begin | | | | 'tele-coffee' with your clientsWhat is a 'tele-coffee'? |
| planning for next year to include cash flows, targets | | | | It is where you both make a coffee and meet by |
| and staff development activities. Determine what | | | | teleconference. It is a more productive way of |
| you need to achieve to make 2007 your best year | | | | meeting (and avoids time wasted in travel), especially |
| yet. This business plan should not be collecting dust in | | | | if you are trying to avoid the snow. Just like a normal |
| your bottom drawer - it is a living document to be | | | | meeting you set an agenda, take minutes if required |
| used as a guide for you and your team.Review your | | | | and agree on the outcomes.Shop On-lineAvoid the |
| marketing planInvest the time and resources in | | | | stress and hassle you may feel during this busy time |
| creating a customised plan for your business. If you | | | | of year. Allocate two hours to complete your gift |
| are self-employed, ask colleagues and people you | | | | buying online. First make a list of those you want to |
| trust to brainstorm ideas with you. If you have a | | | | buy for and some suggested gift ideas. Secondly log |
| company, ask clients, staff and colleagues what | | | | onto popular websites that allow you to purchase |
| marketing activities will be effective for your | | | | multiple products from one location (and you can |
| business. If you created a marketing plan for this | | | | save on shipping) and lastly order as much as you |
| year, review your progress to date and determine | | | | can from that store and request the gift-wrapping |
| what strategies will be effective again for | | | | service. For a small extra charge you will receive your |
| 2007.Conduct focus groupsInvite a select number of | | | | gifts wrapped and ready to give to someone. This is |
| key clients to your office and ask them about your | | | | far more productive than you spending time buying |
| business, their expectations and experiences, and | | | | the gift-wrap accessories and trying to wrap it last |
| how you can better serve them. Collate the results | | | | minute!Select Holiday gifts for clientsMake a list of |
| and seek your team's input on how to action | | | | clients you would like to acknowledge this year. |
| them.Conduct a six-month business reviewSpend two | | | | Firstly, set a gift budget. Secondly group your clients |
| hours reviewing your business achievements for the | | | | into three (3) categories (maybe gold, silver and |
| past six months. Ask yourself these 11 questions:1. | | | | bronze) and then determine how you will classify |
| How would I rate the past six months' business | | | | them i.e. by sales, by referrals or by repeat business? |
| performance (1-10 with 10 being the highest)?2. Did I | | | | Once you have three lists determine a gift for each |
| achieve my financial goals each month?3. If not, why | | | | category and ask someone to order these, have |
| not?4. If not, what do I need to do differently in the | | | | them gift wrapped, a card written and delivered to |
| next six months to meet my annual budget or plan?5. | | | | your client. There are services that specialize in this |
| If I did meet these targets (congratulations to you), | | | | at this busy time of year, take advantage of this. I |
| were they big enough?6. Have I conducted staff | | | | use Tiffany & Co for holiday gifts for many reasons |
| reviews with my team? If not, why not? And | | | | including quality, gift-wrapping and reliable delivery. My |
| when?7. If so, have I rewarded my team | | | | clients look forward to receiving their gift and I love |
| adequately?8. Do I need to invest more in my team | | | | to send them. Find something that represents you |
| or personal development?9. Is my marketing plan on | | | | and your business and will stand out on their desk |
| track? If not, why not?10. If not, what activities do I | | | | when it is delivered to them.Conduct a client |
| need to conduct to implement more marketing | | | | appreciation eventThis does not have to be an |
| strategies?11. Have I done sufficient networking to | | | | expensive or lengthy office party, a simple elegant |
| grow my business or my connections? If not, why | | | | event is all you need to do to recognise your clients |
| not?When you have completed these questions, | | | | and thank them for their business. Be creative. Use |
| create a series of tasks, actions or projects to | | | | your conference room and bring in an external |
| implement some of your strategies to help you really | | | | caterer. If you are self-employed without an office |
| achieve all your targets for the next six months.Clean | | | | space, use a popular café or restaurant and |
| upYou have heard of a spring clean, well this is a | | | | provide light refreshments. Just take the time to say |
| winter clean. This clean out could include:Clearing, | | | | thank you and invite the team and other suppliers so |
| deleting or filing those read emails in your | | | | they can also thank your clients too.Visit a new |
| inbox.Unsubscribing from all those newsletters that | | | | networking groupMany networking groups meet |
| you don't read.Allocating one hour to get your paper | | | | during the holiday season because they are serious |
| filing up to date (if you have more than one hour's | | | | about building their businesses and still making valuable |
| worth, do 15 minutes per week until it is all | | | | connections. Find out which groups are meeting and |
| complete).Throwing out unwanted, unread journals | | | | plan to attend at least two new groups this holiday |
| that you have been 'meaning' to read, but haven't | | | | season. This is the perfect time to develop new |
| and won't.Reviewing your 'tasks' on your to-do list or | | | | relationships and valuable connections.To continually |
| in your Outlook file and removing those tasks that | | | | grow your business you do need to be mindful of |
| simply won't be completed.Entering details into your | | | | the seasons but don't slow down in holidays - get |
| contact management system of the business card | | | | more productive. Use this time to get a head start |
| pile that is gathering dust on your desk.Spending 15 | | | | on all those 2007 meetings you can conduct when |
| minutes cleaning the top of your desk, removing | | | | people return from vacation, ensure plans are in place |
| unnecessary stationery, putting away files, cleaning | | | | to achieve your annual results, tidy your work |
| the dust off your family photo, throwing away | | | | environment so you are not distracted by clutter, |
| empty water bottles and wiping down your | | | | and experiment with new products, focus groups and |
| computer keyboard and screen. A clean and clear | | | | new networking opportunities. Embrace the cooler |
| desk will help you be more productive any time of | | | | weather for indoor meetings and events and enjoy |
| year!Hold a team development activityIf you manage | | | | all that the holiday season can bring for your business |
| a team of people, allocate some time to meet for | | | | growth.Neen is an International Productivity Expert: |
| lunch at cosy restaurant with a warm fireplace and | | | | by looking at how they spend their time and energy |
| delicious food or bring food to share for lunch and | | | | - and where they focus their attention - Neen helps |
| conduct a meeting in your conference room. Spend | | | | people to rocket-charge their productivity and |
| time listening to your team, their challenges and | | | | performance. A dynamic speaker, author and |
| achievements. Plan your next six months and how | | | | corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting |
| you will achieve the targets for the whole | | | | your productivity can help you achieve amazing |
| team.Implement a product or service trialThis is the | | | | things. With her unique voice (Aussie accent), sense |
| perfect time of year to try a new product or | | | | of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers |
| introduce a new service to your customers. Map a | | | | a powerful lesson in productivity. |
| plan, seek team involvement and watch your | | | | |