Valhalla Business Solutions - Business Management Consultants

Sales Management Consulting Specializing In... Sales and service Systems, Managing younger generations, Management protocols Coaching effectiveness

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Now I am a Manager, What’s My Job?

I had numerous conversations with managers this week, so many struggling with the production of their teams, struggling with pressures from their superiors and so on. There are many common denominators to the adversity manager’s face, but one shadowed the rest this week. A manager so often believes they are brought in for their “Technical Work” strategies. This is not the case. What is “Technical Work?” Technical work would be the day to day work of a plumber or the day to day work of a sales person, realtor, and mechanic and so on.

A plumber installs piping. A sales person makes sales calls. A realtor shows houses. The mechanic changes oil.

How is a manager measured?

· Production of their team

A successful manager understands they are not measured by their great ideas or solutions, but the solutions created and implemented by their team. This statement may confuse many managers, but take a look back at how you are measured.

What does a manager do?

· Creates a learning environment

· Builds a team

· Emotionally engages their employees

· Recognizes the efforts and successes of the technical work being accomplished

· Opens the door to communication

· Welcomes ideas and solutions

· Promotes Self Discovery…

· Customer Service to employees

· Creates frequent communication forums for their teams

If a manager can immediately adopt a strategy of soliciting solutions from their team, then trust and encourage their employees to see it through. The successes will be endless.

Labels: Coaching Teams, development, employees, feedback model, internal customers, management, management expectations, small business, Small Business CEO, Small Business developing your team members

posted by Valhalla Business Solutions at 9:37 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Do What's Right For A Customer?

Genuinely know your client
Be a solutions based business
Follow up to ensure the solutions are correct

I am baffled at how often I walk into a customer situation to see a company not providing the right solutions for them. There are ways to ensure you do whats right, but are often skipped by company managers, sales people and execs. Below are some solutions to help you do what is right for your customer. Keep in mind a good organization at its root genuinely care about their customer and doing the right thing every time. If this standard is not at the forefront of your business philosophy, then make it and communicate it to your teams every day.

Genuinely know your client! Get to know what is important to the person or persons you will be working with. Ask simple questions like; What got you started in this field?, What do you like most about working here?, Tell me about your family? If the setting isn't appropriate for those questions, do some research about the company first and ask about a related news story an their opinion on it.

Be a Solutions Based Business! Set the standard with your organization to only make recommendations which makes sense for your customer. To do this appropriately you must profile! For techniques on profiling visit www.valhallabizsolutions.com/blog.html. Once you have a good understanding of what your customer needs, you have a moral obligation to match those needs. This creates loyalty and in turn more cross sell opportunities.

Follow Up! Sounds simple, but always make sure you follow up after any solution is given. If its installing signs, to a large consulting project, inquire about the results and ask if their is anything else they need from you.

Labels: banking, calendar management, Coaching Teams, development, economic crisis, economy, effective manager, internal customers, printing, profiling, Restaurant Management, Small Business CEO

posted by Valhalla Business Solutions at 7:47 AM 0 comments

Monday, April 13, 2009

Internal Politics 101

Gossip with peers
Managing perception
Staying networked
Pursue a Mentor

Truth is politics are a main stay in every environment. Managing them is your responsibility, if success is important to you. This is a broad topic which can be very far reaching, so I will only touch on a few items here.

Understanding where you are on the totem pole is critical. Most people sit today in an environment which they have multiple peers and a ladder on the way up, sometimes 3-5 layers high. If elevating your career is important to you, then the number one rule is remove yourself from peer gossip. In a political environment everything you say and do will be used against you. To establish yourself as a leader elevate your empathy skills and turn those complaining, rumor milled conversations your peers engage in, into positives about the company.

Number two, manage peoples perception of you. This can be a very difficult thing to do, often someones self image is not a true reflection of the perception they illuminate.
Things to consider:

Appearance

how you dress
how often do you smile
how do you smell etc.

Taking notes

with your boss
with your employees
in meetings

Communication

consulting your boss on any upper management communication
talk with your boss daily
say yes to projects willingly
don't say yes to everything

Competency

know your department
numbers
forecasts
employees

These are just some things you should be conscience of on a daily basis.

Staying networked is important, stay proactive by using the Valhalla Effective Manager Calendar to assist in staying proactive. Which means have a network lunch frequently. Once a week with people of influence or who directly/indirectly impact your development and your department.

Having a mentor internally can do much for your career. Mentors often have been through similar experience which currently face or will face and can help you navigate the political waters. Or help you with tactical advice to make you more successful in your work.

Labels: Coaching Teams, conflict resolution, development, economy, internal customers, learning, management, management expectations, polotics, relationships, Restaurant Management, Small Business CEO

posted by Valhalla Business Solutions at 6:27 PM 0 comments

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Making Your Internal Customer Relationships Real

Know your employees, peers and managers
Acknowledge their desires
Follow up with what they hold dear

Of all the things that can impact your business, the relationships you establish create longevity for the company. Although this is fundamental, it is frequently skipped or continuously fabricated. For those of you reading this article, take a moment to think about your business relationships. If you are in a corporation, what do you know about your peers, managers and employees? Why they come to work? What motivates them? What is most important in their life? Where do they want to be long term? Have you taken the time to truly care about the people you spend a considerable quantity of your life with?

Now that you have analyzed the business relationships in your life. Were you able to answer these questions about your employees, peers and managers?

How often has anyone asked you the questions above? Would you have a lot to say? My most productive relationships at work, involve a mutual understanding and appreciation for the questions above. If your reading this blog, it is your responsibility to take leadership and acknowledge this about the people around you.

In my years of experience most people don't come to work because they love coming to work. There are external factors that drive them. Such as family, money, vacation, spouse, legacy, relationships, pride, etc. It is your role as a leader to acknowledge and accept what is important to them. As a result you will have employees, management and peers more engaged in your process.

Below is an example of the difference between a great leader and one with cordial relationships...

Average: "John how was your weekend?"
Great: "John I know your were really anxious to see your son Chris's ball game this weekend. How did it go?"

Average: "Cyndee, what outstanding work on your sales reports!"
Great: "Cyndee, what outstanding work on your sales reports, specifically where you highlighted the growth in your effectiveness in customer interactions. You will have that bonus to pay for your wedding in no time!"

Average: "Ralph, you have fallen behind on your sales plan for the third month in a row. I am very disappointed!"
Great: "Ralph, you have talked at length about being number one in sales for the district. I know how important this is to you to make the company sales recognition trip, what can you do to get back on track to being number one?"

Labels: internal customers, management, relationships, Small Business CEO

posted by Valhalla Business Solutions at 10:51 AM 0 comments