Knives come in various shapes and sizes and their uses are as numbered as the types available -

Without question, a knife that is sharp will perform its intended purpose more easily and safely than one that has become dull—and difficult with which to work.

The same can be said for businesses.They come in various shapes and sizes, and they can perform well or become difficult to handle. But even when a company starts out being sharp and on the cutting edge, management must take care to maintain that edge or face the consequences of a dull and difficult business to run.

In order to maintain or elevate your company to its peak performance level, let's see how sharpening your "corporate cutlery" can ensure that you gain a competitive edge.

Sharp vs. DullA knife that is sharp is a much easier implement to use—and a much safer one as well. A keen knife can easily make delicate cuts where necessary as well as cut through heavy material when needed. A dull knife, on the other hand, is much less efficient, unable to make refined, clean cuts and unable to slice through heavy work without the use of greatly increased force. As a consequence, a dull knife will sometimes slip and injure its user or others, thus becoming a liability.

A company that can maintain its sharpness, in any and all aspects of their business, is a much more effective and efficient entity. Management and staff must be able to keep and upgrade their skill levels, product knowledge, customer service and instill a sense of fun and excitement about their business.

When management and staff fall into a dull, monotonous existence, not only will each day become increasingly tedious, but your customer base will begin to erode as the product knowledge, service and excitement will no longer be there for clients.

Slicing & DicingOne of the absolute best ways for management and staff to maintain a competitive edge is to create and administer an employee opinion/satisfaction survey. A properly developed survey will greatly enhance the communication between management and staff and ultimately increase communication with customers as well. Our staff at Center For Survey Research, a metrics division of Ference Leadership and Strategy, are professionals who design and conduct surveys, analyze results, and assist with the information roll-outs throughout the company. With over 25 years of experience, we know this approach makes a difference.

Survey questions are not created in a "vacuum," rather they are created through dialogue with management, making sure questions are germane to company values and standards. Through employee surveys, a much greater understanding of what is needed to enhance company efforts to be on the cutting edge can be found through staff knowledge. Many times, management is too busy being busy rather than asking the right questions of those employees "in the trenches" who have a wealth of knowledge on various subjects including ongoing training, better communication between departments or individuals, product presentation and many other aspects of the business.

Customer surveys are another excellent tool for use by businesses in evaluating their efforts to gain peak performance. Surveys that can be filled out on an ongoing basis and which can be reported and analyzed weekly or monthly can help maintain the edge your company seeks. What better way to know about poor service in a given department, or lack of inventory in another, or exceptional knowledge by an employee in yet another? Timely reporting of such surveys enables management to adjust and make positive changes, ensuring future loyalty of customers to your company.

Management can also use customer feedback to reward staff who are doing excellent jobs or who have gone above and beyond! It's a great way to increase morale and enable management and staff to communicate and work as a team. No matter how you choose to slice and dice the information received from surveys, the knowledge gained through their use will be instrumental in sharpening skills, increasing productivity and creating a better work environment as well as a more inviting atmosphere in which your customers and guests can frequent.

Cutting To The Chase Whether your knife is used for shaving and whittling detailed material, or cutting through massive amounts of work, it's a good idea to "touch up" the blade every once in a while to ensure sharpness. In business too, it's a good idea to hone your company's edge within the industry.

Let's cut to the chase! Your business lives or dies because of management decisions. Bottom line, that's it! So, just what can you do to help management make the best decisions possible for the company? One of the best ideas is to offer management some "time off" in order to regroup or attend a retreat. Encouraging management to get to know each other better, to communicate better and help each other is a huge step in sharpening your competitive edge.

At Ference Leadership and Strategy, Dr. Gene Ference, leads retreats that encourage team building and more thorough understanding of leadership and strategies that work within your industry. His time-tested programs are varied and unique, offering no-nonsense applications for management decision making. While the programs offer step-by-step structure, they are both fun and exploratory, allowing management teams to couple common sense with business knowledge to find the best ways to solving problems and transforming them into opportunities.

Give your management team and your company the competitive edge in your industry. Allow and encourage them to sharpen their skills and leadership abilities through programs that will most effectively separate your company from the competition. Through utilization of employee and customer surveys and team-oriented leadership and strategy retreats, your company will be a cut above the rest.

Go For It, Make It Happen, and Enjoy The Best of ROI3

Return-On Individuals, Integrations, and Investments

For more information, contact: Gene Ference, President, Ference Leadership and Strategy, Inc. Gene.Ference@FerenceInc.com

www.FerenceLeadershipAndStrategy.com  

www.PeakPerformanceMindset.com  

www.CenterForSurveyResearch.com