The American system of business management is admired and emulated around the world. The American system is characteristic of two positive traits in the American psyche: (1) enthusiasm for making things better for the future and (2) openness and willingness to change in order to achieve that end.
No society in the world is more prolific at creating new businesses than the United States capitalistic system. Often Wholesale Josh Allen Jersey , however, as small businesses owners and managers, we are so busy starting new ventures and fighting daily fires that we don't take the time to learn basic, successful management principles. These principles have been tested and proven by our larger companies over years of trial and error. They are readily available as a resource to the small business owner.
Many entrepreneurs are technical experts in the product or service they offer. The entrepreneur Wholesale Dawson Knox Jersey , however, often starts a business without any formal training or experience in the best management practices and principles. By 'management? here we mean the business of successfully managing the non-technical side of the business, the ?back room? activities. It is the ?business of running the business?. As a result of inadequate or inattentive management, many small businesses fail in the early years. They fail not because of a weakness in their product or service concept Wholesale Devin Singletary Jersey , but because the business was not properly organized or managed.
Once a small business has emerged from the start-up phase, or grown to a certain level, management techniques must change or the business will inevitably run into trouble. Although situations vary widely, for many small businesses management crises start in the range of $1-3 million in annual sales or 5-15 employees. When management issue becomes critical Wholesale Cody Ford Jersey , the owner or manager of a small business must evolve or change from a manager of things to a manager of people and from a technical expert to a strategic thinker.
Change is never easy, particularly for talented entrepreneurs who have ingrained habits developed over time. But failure to grow as a manager is a major, perhaps the major reason why a business will falter, stagnate or even collapse under its own weight.
But what have successful business owners developed have is missing in troubled businesses?
First of all Wholesale Ed Oliver Jersey , owners of successful businesses have developed personal characteristics that they were not necessarily born with and that reflect in their business organization:
? Invariably they have a positive attitude towards their business and life in general.
?Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.? Mark Twain
? They are committed to their effort.
?The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary.? May B. Smith
? They are patient.
?Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage." Victor Kiam
? They are persistent.
?Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.? Thomas Edison
Secondly, the owners of successful businesses have developed a business blueprint called a Strategic Business Plan that clearly describes their business concept, their mission and their philosophy of business. In this document, they have set personal and corporate goals and set out specific time lines and strategies to achieve them.
Thirdly Cheap Taron Johnson Jersey , successful business owners think of their employees as ?associates?, a favorite descriptor used by Sam Walton and a more meaningful idea of a managementemployee relationship. Successful owners view their associates as their most valuable asset and resource. Associates are gathered into an Organizational Structure that functions as a well-oiled machine. This structure, including all its policies and procedures, encourages associates to perform to their utmost capabilities and gives them the freedom to achieve Cheap Harrison Phillips Jersey , rewarding those who excel in proportion to their contributions and disciplining those who deviate from acceptable behavior. Positions, tasks, duties and responsibilities are defined and communicated routinely and performance is measured regularly. Training, job enrichment programs and incentive compensation plans are designed to encourage each associate to excel.
Fourth and last Cheap John Miller Jersey , the owners of successful businesses have developed Operational Support Systems. These may be financial or non-financial, manual or automated. The objective of these systems is to support and make efficient all the activities of the organization. Well structured, they also relieve management of many day to day routine activities, giving owners more time to be strategic thinkers. The information provided by these tracking systems provide critical information on sales Cheap Shaq Lawson Jersey , cash flow and other financial performance data so that senior management can take timely action as change occurs. Red flags appear early, before problems become unmanageable.
IN SUMMARY, THE FOUR KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ARE: (1) Owners have developed habits and traits that are Positive, Committed Cheap Dion Dawkins Jersey , Patient and Persistent. (2) A living Strategic Business Plan is in place. (3) An Organizational Structure has been developed that encourages people to be their best and allows them to do so. (4) Operational Support Systems are used that track performance and relieve senior management of daily detail yet supply them with critical data to manage the business.
Let's go a littler deeper into what is meant by a Strategic Business Plan.
Successful businesses operate within a planned framework. A Strategic Business Plan is written for a minimum of three years or two years beyond the current b