If you want to run your own company, there are many things you will need to succeed. Of course, you need a product or service to bring to market along with a solid business plan.
But what else? While your business will be unique from any other, even competitors in the same niche, you still need some basic essentials to ensure your operations run according to plan. Here are some tips to get you started.
Ensure your team is properly trained in crucial safety protocols.
Safety is paramount in business, regardless of the type of business you run. Accidents and mishaps do not occur on a neat timeline when it is convenient for everyone around. Unfortunately, the unexpected can occur at any time, and that is why it is important for you to ensure your team is properly trained on specific safety and lifesaving protocols.
Here is a short list to begin:
- Basic Life Saving Certification – Everyone employed by your company should be required to take a Basic Life Saving course and earn a BLS Certification. Schedule individual member training as part of your new employees’ onboarding and training, and then schedule group classes annually thereafter. Each employee should take a refresher course as recommended to ensure they are up to date on the current guidance regarding basic life-saving techniques.
- Basic Security Protocols at Work – Every workplace will have a different need and structure regarding security protocols in its respective buildings. However, some things hold true regardless of where you are. If you work in a locked facility, ensure your employees keep the door locked at all times, report lost or stolen key cards or credentials immediately, and encourage them to avoid holding the door for anyone they do not know.
It is important to work with your local fire department to schedule and run fire drills and mock evacuations as directed by local ordinances and guidance. Make sure every employee knows where the emergency exits are located, in addition to where the fire alarms are on each floor.
In this day and age, it is also an unfortunate necessity to run active shooter drills, or at least educate your team on how to handle an intruder in the building. These drills can be triggering and traumatizing, so it is best to work under the guidance of a professional, so you can utilize their best practices for this fraught topic.
Grow a strong network of business connections.
Business connections are a vital component of any business in today’s corporate ecosystem. Whether you run a small business or operate in a chain of franchisees, you need to connect with other business leaders.
Look for your local Chamber of Commerce and check out their website for a calendar of events. Most Chambers have monthly networking events, lunch and learn seminars, and other informative training sessions that are designed to bring business leaders together while providing them with valuable business information and insight.
Use these networking events as a chance to create meaningful connections. Even if you do not need to collaborate with a new business leader you just met, you should keep their contact information, because a supply chain could break down in a few months, leaving you without the necessary materials or goods. But, as luck would have it, you met someone at a Chamber of Commerce event who operates in that business vertical.
Establish a mentor-mentee relationship.
The concept of having a mentor has a bad reputation for being a one-sided relationship between only two people. In today’s world, this relationship may have expanded a bit to include many people who can benefit from one another. It no longer needs to be a top-down relationship in which the mentor is always considerably senior to the mentee.
In addition, most mentor-mentee relationships do not work when you boldly ask another person to be your mentor. Oftentimes, the relationship happens organically, even slowly over time. And, it usually begins at a networking event or through a mutual business acquaintance. That is not to say that you cannot approach someone and broach the topic.
If you do ask someone to be your mentor, be specific about your intentions when you discuss your request. Point out your respect for their dedication to their craft or your interest in their successes over the years, despite downturns in the economy, etc. And always offer something in return, such as a new perspective on business or discussions on the changing business landscape, etc.
Learn the art of management.
Management is not only a category of leadership within your company. It is a series of actions that every business leader needs to master.
The concept of management encompasses leadership at its core. Anyone who manages another person or a team of people must understand how to inspire confidence and hard work within their team. They need to lead by example, which sometimes means getting into the proverbial trenches with their people and actually doing the work.
This is important to show your team that you understand what they do, but also for you to truly understand the nuances of the job and what it entails. In addition, managers must delegate responsibilities to their team and trust that they will accomplish the tasks.
A good manager also needs to learn the art of controlling the company’s processes to make sure everything stays on track and the expected outcomes are achieved or exceeded. They have to monitor the performance of their team and provide both positive and negative feedback regarding the results. Managers are responsible for their team’s ability to do their jobs and need to take action when outcomes are not being met.
