Posts

Finding Inspiration from the Window Washers

Inspiration can even come from window washers.

Inspiration can even come from window washers.

You have heard the saying, ‘Inspiration can come from the strangest places.’ Well, I can completely agree! As someone who writes a good bit for clients, sometimes you just need a new perspective. A new way of looking at something that can help make the piece that is being communicated even more interesting and compelling.  You want to dive deep to bring out the reasons that your target audience needs to pay attention to this information.

This is where the window washers come in. You have the same product, service, or the same ‘view’ from the office window.  But, on a regular basis, it is important to take a step back and clean the windows. Look at the product, service, or ‘view’ from a new perspective.  Pretend it is your first time seeing the product or service.  What is your “first” reaction?

Your reaction may be that this product/service needs to be revamped.  Maybe you were going down the wrong path.  Or, just like a new element can be added in to the landscape of your view out of the window, there may be something new with your product/service that you are not paying attention to.  This may be something that should be highlighted in a better way.

So take a note from the page of the window washers. Every so often, take a step back for the sake of clarity. Let this fresh perspective guide you in freshening up your marketing and communication efforts.

In the comments below, let us know where you find inspiration.  You never know, you could give someone else the idea that they need to finish their project successfully!

Expand Your Business Literacy

20121107-193225.jpg

As marketing and public relations professionals (or someone that may wear this hat), it is extremely important that you increase your business literacy. In order to have a stellar marketing and communication plan, it is necessary to have an in depth understanding of the business.

Here are a few suggestions on what you can do to learn more about the business that you are in:

1. Understand the hierarchy. Who reports to whom and who makes what decisions.

2. How does your organization make a profit? Which products or services have the largest profit margin?

3. What is the length of time it takes to turn a profit in your organization?

4. What are the short and long term goals of your company?

5. How can you add value to the organization?

5 Lessons Any Small Business Owner Can Learn from Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A is doing customer service right!

First, for those of you that are not familiar with Chick-fil-A, it is an Atlanta based quick service chicken restaurant chain. According to their website, they are the second largest operation of their kind with more than 1,615 restaurants in 39 states. In 2011, the restaurant reached $4.1 billion in sales. Chick-fil-A is credited with creating the first boneless breast of chicken sandwich.

What is impressive and what I think small business owners can learn from Chick-fil-A is the culture that they have created within not only their management team, but also their sales associates. The politeness of of all of the associates oozes the idea that the employees are happy to work at Chick-fil-A. The associates always make an attempt to go above and beyond in their service that they are providing to you.

My family frequents Chick-fil-A’s in several states. The customer service results are the same. Our neighborhood location keeps a line in the drive thru the majority of the day.

The founder, Truett Cathy, implemented a Closed-On-Sunday policy since the opening of the first restaurant in 1946. Although he caught a lot flack for this decision, Cathy states that this is one of the best business decisions that he ever made. The company still continues to compete well in the area profitability against companies that are open 7 days a week.

So, here are my top 5 lessons for the small business owner when using Chick-fil-A as a case study:

1. Put the people in your organization first. When others here that a company respects it’s employees, that particular company does not have a problem attracting top candidates. This is easy to see in the caliber if employee hired at Chick-fil-A.

2. Allow employees to spend time with their families. WorkLife Balance is something that many organizations struggle with today.

3. Many people have some sort of spiritual thirst. Not saying that all companies have to implement a Closed-On-Sunday policy, but respecting employees spiritual desire will go along way towards the success if a company,

4. Develop a positive culture from the top down. The managers in Chick-fil-A model the behavior that they expect. In turn, the associates provide the customers with top quality service.

5. The product sold is always properly prepared. From the oatmeal to a chicken caesar wrap, the quality does not diminish. And, if a customer is given something that they feel is not top quality, then it is PLEASANTLY exchanged.

Make customer service a priority in your organization immediately. Learn from those that have a formula for success.

I hope that you enjoyed this post. And in the words of any Chick-fil-A associate, “It’s my pleasure!”