“Keep your door open” and other street-smart business advice

“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