Business Continuity Audit » Business World

Business Etiquette

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:37:01 +0000

Business etiquette is in essence about building relationships with people. In the business world, it is people that influence your success or failure. Etiquette, and in particular business etiquette, is simply a means of maximising your business potential.

If you feel comfortable around someone and vice versa, better communication and mutual trust will develop. This comfort zone is realised through presenting yourself effectively. Business etiquette helps you achieve this.

Business etiquette revolves around two things. Firstly, thoughtful consideration of the interests and feelings of others and secondly, minimising misunderstandings. Both are dependent upon self conduct. Business etiquette polishes this conduct.

Business etiquette varies from region to region and country to country. For the international business person, focusing too deeply on international business etiquette would leave no time for business. However, there are some key pillars upon which good business etiquette is built.

Behaviour

Your manners and attitude will speak volumes about you. They will point to your inner character. If you come across selfish, undisciplined or uncouth your relationship is unlikely to prosper. Appropriate business etiquette promotes positive traits.

Honesty

A reputation for delivering what you say will deliver goes a long way in the business world. Remember, a reputation for integrity is slowly gained but quickly lost. Understanding a particular country’s business etiquette provides a framework in which you can work without fear of crossing boundaries in terms of agreements, promises and contracts.

Character

Your character refers to what you as an individual bring to the business table. Proper business etiquette allows you to exhibit your positive qualities. For example, knowing when to be passionate and not emotional or self-confident without being arrogant. Just through learning another’s business etiquette you demonstrate an open-mindedness which will earn respect.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity and consideration underlie all good business etiquette. Being prepared for foreign ways and methods and responding thoughtfully is achieved through experience and business etiquette know-how. By avoiding misunderstandings and misinterpretations through business etiquette you lay foundations for a strong business relationship.

Diplomacy

Avoiding thoughtless words and actions protects you from negative consequences. Impulse often leads a business person astray. Business etiquette encourages the careful thought of the interests of others and choosing acceptable forms of expression.

Appearance

Dressing appropriately, standing and sitting in the right place at the right time, good posture and looking physically presentable are all elements in making a good impression. Business etiquette teaches you how to suitably present yourself and what to avoid.

Analysing, understanding and implementing the above will help you recognise what business etiquette is and how it should be employed within the business world.

For the international business person business, etiquette acts as a key. It locks the doors of poor communication and misunderstandings and opens doors to successful business relationships.

By: Neil Payne

Does Small Business CRM Really Help Your Business

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:13:54 +0000

CRM is the most talked about software in today’s business world. CRM is an easy-to-use software tool suitable for any small business needing a complete, cost effective and hassle-free solution for managing sales, customers and bookkeeping as well as day to day invoicing.

The all-in-one sales and marketing CRM software program facilitates small businesses to double their sales at a faster pace. From lead generation, to placing an order or even the follow up of the same, CRM is the apt solution in efficiently managing your small business day to day operations.

However why do we require CRM software in the first place is what crosses our minds. The following will give you a better insight as to what you can expect when CRM is adopted in your small business.

It helps in the automatic integration of the sales marketing and the customers data base,Ensures a faster access to vital customer information from any where any time.Inexpensive efficient marketing campaigning management system Next to zero maintenance costs No additional installation and infrastructural expensesInstant integration with the existing business procedures Easy to understand and use 100% customizable to suit your unique business requirements

CRM is very essential for all small businesses in order to have a successful ROI turn over. However choosing the right CRM product customized as per your business needs is the Key, as it helps to derive the real potential benefits when adopting CRM in your small business.

By: Rama Krishna

Your Best Business Ideas

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:44:14 +0000

In the world today there is allot of hype about what to do with the economy. What we can do about how to make money at our best business ideas. How we will be able to hang on with this mess our country is in.

Well since the gas prices are so high and the lay offs are staggering. We really need some order, people are afraid to spend their money. The fact is people really don’t have the money anymore to spend. We are all looking for something we can do online to make our best business ideas work.

Three businesses you can get into right away. They aren’t easy, but then nothing worth doing is easy. Don’t pay attention to every thing you read about online. The big money is through hard work, plain and simple. Put your best business ideas to work and don’t look back.

Independent refund processing is one business you can start, again it isn’t easy. It’s allot of work to look everyone up on your list and to get them the refund they are do, so you can be paid.

A cleaning service is another Great business to start up. The start up cost is very low and this business is in very high demand. Although this means driving from one home to the other you will find this to be one of your best business ideas.

All of us would like to stay at home and be with our kids all day. Go on vacations at will and have all the money we need at any given time. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen over night even with your best business ideas.

Child care is also another big and booming business. Every working parent needs this service and there is a alot of them that would pay top dollar for their children to have a safe and fun place while they are working. This can be done right from your home without any commute.

It takes a whole lot to find things you can do to be your own boss. If you use your head and get passed all the get rich scems out there. Put your best business ideas forward and work hard at it.

Everyone is looking for the easy way to riches. The problem is it’s not there and never was, use your head, be honest with yourself about what best business ideas are right for you.

By: Jerry T Leonard

Business Etiquette – A Primer on Your Business and Social Dynamics

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:22:56 +0000

Managing your behaviors in a positive way – good manners or “etiquette” if you will – will serve you well in your business and personal life. The term “business etiquette” refers particularly to those behaviors in the business world that can impact your career favorably. But what is it exactly? The dictionary defines etiquette as “the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life.” Now, here’s the problem with that definition: it conjures up images of people drinking tea out of delicate china cups with their pinkie fingers extended. For that reason, I don’t like the term “etiquette.”

Emily Post once said, “Etiquette is the science of living.” Ah, now that’s better. Given that it’s all about our behaviors and attitudes, I choose to call this concept “Business and Social Dynamics,” since we’re talking about the dynamics of your interactions in your business and social life. There are other terms I like, as well: presence, professionalism, emotional intelligence. Why is this concept so important? When our behaviors are positive and professional, we have a powerful, positive presence – we’re noticed and taken seriously. When we practice these skills, we’re more likeable. And when we’re more likeable, our interactions are more productive, our environment is more pleasant, and our desired outcomes are usually more successful.

Here are some of these dynamics or behaviors — little things that mean a lot:
Show interest in others. Nothing – and I mean nothing – is a stronger likeability factor. Be a good listener. Pay attention when others are talking, hear what they’re saying, and let them know you’ve heard them by responding appropriately. Don’t interrupt someone who is talking. Resist trying to top another person’s story. Practice basic good manners: say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” when appropriate. Step up, take initiative, volunteer – it’s extremely memorable. Learn to make proper introductions. Here’s a tip: whenever possible, you say the name of the more important person first. Strive to learn and remember people’s names. Repeating the name, asking for its spelling, committing to remembering it, and making word associations will help. Return phone calls and emails promptly. Mind your dining manners. Don’t talk with your mouth full, learn place settings so you know which glass is yours (everything you drink from is on the right), choose your utensils from the outside in, put your napkin on your lap when you sit down at the table, and leave it there until you rise to leave. Compliment good ideas and good work. Be a team player. Not everyone can be the captain. Don’t engage in malicious gossip or spread rumors. Don’t whine and complain to others about things that can’t be fixed. Make your Facebook and other social media profiles clean and professional – something you’ll have no regrets about. Write a note – to say thank you, congratulations, best wishes, I’m sorry, etc. Strive to make others feel comfortable – whether it’s a newcomer, a customer, a guest, a junior associate. Show enthusiasm and energy in everything you do.

By: Barbara Busey

Business Systems Lessons From the ICU

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:02:21 +0000

Early in my business career I worked at the world-renowned UCLA Medical Center, running the non-medical patient care activities in several regular and intensive care units. I frequently heard comments that ‘healthcare just isn’t the same as business.’ It was said in ignorance about the true complexity and need for accurate coordination needed to provide excellent customer service: patient care.

As a Unit Service Coordinator, I was in charge of arranging all the movements of the patients and the services, treatments, food, pharmaceuticals, and so on for each patient. I was also in charge of making sure the information that came from one source, such as a physician, was distributed to every other resource that needed to know it.

I later implemented improvements of the operations of several out-patient clinics: front office, reception and billing functions to serve the patients themselves.

So you might say I’ve got an experienced eye when it comes to assessing the ‘business systems’ of healthcare. I’ve had the opportunity to spend time in UCLA’s new facility this past week and was reminded about the common challenges in business, no matter the industry.

Lesson 1: Take The Human Element Into Account

Clients often ask me “Is this the best solution?” If business were entirely run by machines perhaps the answer could be “Yes!” Fortunately I learned a deeper appreciation for what it really takes to accomplish results in medical care.

Medicine is an ‘art’ not a science. Each patient is a complex system that will interact with medicines and surgical procedures differently than the patient in the next room. The best hope is for ‘optimal’ results, called healing and health. So standardized care steps are used. I took that wisdom with me into the rest of the business world.

Depending on the complexity of your customers’ challenges, there may be no ‘best’ solution you can guarantee, either. From the employees running your company, to the customer on the phone, the results you’ll get depend on their actual experience, training, tools, systems, personality and mood.

Start by creating standardized process to approximate ‘science’ in the results you want to deliver.

Lesson 2: Build Your Systems By Asking The Users

Information flow, manufacturing steps, people movement inside the business… each poses it’s own challenges. The designer of the system believes they know what’s needed. Yet very often they haven’t spoken with the true users.

A district headquarters I worked with had 60 percent of the personnel relocated to new locations by an industrial planner who ‘knew’ where they should sit. Of course that worked when data was correct. But when there were problems, with 17% of the data, problem solving was best done face-to-face. Yet folks suffered through having been relocated 2 floors away from each other.

The brand new cardiac intensive care unit at UCLA is a visual marvel. A ‘U’-shaped hallway, private rooms for each patient, high definition TVs to entertain them. But the loss in nursing productivity is enormous. The unit’s curving layout was designed by a famous office architect and a physician who strolls through for a total of one hour daily. The result? None of the nursing staff have line of sight beyond 3 rooms.

Nurses are no longer able to do quick visual checks about patient status or colleagues needing an extra hand. Their walking has increased 400% every day. They have to carry phones to call each other from 30 feet away.

Always include the ‘users’ in the design stage for your systems.

Lesson 3: Find Out Where The True Knowledge Is

In the metal finishing manufacturer I’m working with, the detailed expertise is often with the blue-collar worker standing at the machine, and not the ‘planner’ sitting in a meeting, or the CEO.

In a teaching hospital the ‘doctors’ walking in and out of the patient rooms are often training in one- or two-month rotations. It’s not uncommon for a patient to be admitted, and then handed off a few days later to newcomers who are trying to familiarize themselves with 20 different patients’ cases. Then off they go to ‘learn’ about another area of medicine.

So when a patient care system is being designed, the critical source may be the nurse who has worked continuously with thousands of patients for years. I know that comes as a shock to many folks who assume ‘the doctor’ can give them the best information.

The person with the biggest title may not be the one with the most thorough expertise.

Take a look at your business today and see which people you need to have at the table to design the inner workings of your company, the solutions for your customers and the systems to deliver those results.

Copyright (c) 2008 Linda Feinholz

By: Linda Feinholz