"Stand-out business people do these 10 things"
By Roy Osing
1. Understand that the way to serve customers in an
exemplary way is to serve employees in the same manner. If dazzling service
doesn't happen on the inside it's unlikely to happen on the outside.
2. Have a strategic game plan for
their organization and use it as THE context for all tactical activity. Chasing
tactics that don't have direct line of sight to strategy is a characteristic of
non-performing organizations.
3. Don't over-analyze everything. The degree of study
depends on the risk associated with the decision to be made. They don't get
mesmerized with the tools of analysis; they use them appropriate to the level
and risk inherent in the decision to be made.
4. Don't look for perfection. The quest for the perfect
solution (which doesn't exist in any event) only takes valuable time away from
execution. They understand that success is a function of doing lots of imperfect
stuff fast .
5. Are known champions of change which gives them
currency in the organization and the ability to garner resources to get things
done.
6. Are "mindless" about execution. They are
comfortable with loosening up on the plan; get it "just about right",
and bear down and focus on execution. They understand that performance depends
on how well they execute, not on the efficacy of the plan.
7. Spend copious amounts of time with the frontline;
"on the coal face" where customer meets company. Learning what's
really going on. Make meaningful change. They don't have an ivory tower
mentality.
8 Are contrarian by
nature? They believe that the source of opportunity lies not in copying what
others are doing, but rather charting a course that no one else is on. They are
“180 degree thinkers".
9. Place a priority on meeting with customers regularly.
There is no substitute for getting feedback on performance directly from a
customer. They make it a priority and schedule it weekly on their calendar.
10. Are relentless and voracious learners. Standing still
intellectually isn't an option in a world changing every instant. Value added
to the organization depends on business people "keeping up". They
believe staying ahead requires learning leadership.
The smart generation of business people knows that
success doesn't come from an academic pedigree.
They know that brilliant performance is the result of
practising the fundamentals of being different than the competition, staying
close to customers, serving employees and executing strategy in the trenches.
"Roy Osing (@royosing) is a former President and CMO with
over 33 years of leadership experience covering all the major business
functions including business strategy, marketing, sales, customer service and
people development. He is a blogger, content marketer, educator, coach, adviser
and the author of the book series Be Different or Be Dead. "
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