“Be accessible; keep your door open” is just one of the business management tips liberally doled out by some 25 entrepreneurs featured in the SERDEF-UP ISSI casebook “Doers, Dreamers, Risktakers (Part 1). “ Listen carefully because these bits of advice come from people who doubtless know what running a business is all about.
- Give your employees flowing coffee. It doesn’t cost much but helps much in giving them a feeling of being cared for.
- Be accessible; keep your door open. Listen and learn from your employees.
- Have a passion for perfection; say “no” to mediocrity.
- Be lavish with your praises to your staff; but keep them on their toes in terms of quality and efficiency. Be a gentle disciplinarian.
- Business is working with people, sharing with them, bringing out their creativity. Your people are your greatest assets.
- Keep only enough for yourself; share the rest with others. The goal should be “profit without greed.”
- Being compassionate does not mean giving in to all workers’ demands; combine reason with compassion.
- Be focused. Be a hands-on manager; know every step of the operation. Keep a watchful eye on finance
- Respect the authority held by your supervisors.
- Spead the sunshine.
- Choose business partners wisely; consider differences in work ethic, management style, and vision/mission.
- Customer-buyer relationships is like that of father and son
- Let the customer know he is a VIP; he can make or unmake your business; never short-change clients.
- Practice honesty, fairness, and transparency.
- Don’t expect to have full control. Only the One up there can have complete control.
- Business has its ups and downs; the important thing is not to stay down.
Photo: “Open door” by Börkur Sigurbjörnsson, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved