Embracing the Leader Within
Everywhere we look, we see leaders. We witness leaders running the government, leaders organizing relief drives for Hurricane victims and leaders supporting social change. A quote I came across recently said, “Leadership is about collectively listening to what wants to emerge in the world, and then having the courage to do what is required.” I think it speaks to the leaders I promote and represent every day – women entrepreneurs.
Women entrepreneurs must be strong leaders to not only create a company that provides useful services and products to their clientele but to also guide themselves through good and bad times and to work diligently to be an enterprising woman. Most often our strength in leading ourselves is the key to business achievement.
My entire life I have surrounded myself with women who are great leaders. Through their example, I witness the temperament, intellect, wit and stamina to stand very strong in my beliefs and to help make the world a more financially successful one for women who have their own businesses. Their example fuels my spirit and strengthens my core. I am where I am today because of them.
Today’s blog post is to inspire you to acknowledge the great leader you are to be running your own company. Through ups and downs, twists and turns, we are all staying true to who we are, focused on why we created our businesses and determined to make a difference in the world financially and personally. We must embrace our own leadership style while always looking around us to other women who demonstrate great leadership ability in case they have a new way of leading we can incorporate to make ourselves better.
Only through observing, can we grow. Only through growing, can we accomplish more. Embrace the leader inside you today.
An Election “Thank You” from a Two Year Old
I loved seeing the following sentiment from my niece Ramona Chamberlain Kennedy this morning. Her perspective as a 2 year old looking to the future after President Obama’s re-election says it all….”Thank you to all the wonderful people who have made my future brighter today: health care reform, a commitment to the middle class, marriage equality (on our way!), and acceptance of all the folks who have come to America to make a better life! Love to my Ma and Pa for having respect for others (regardless of color, religion, gender, or sexual preference), preserving my healthcare CHOICE’s, and encouraging me to be as smart, inquisitive, and informed as possible. Let’s continue to look forward and not live in fear of everything different.”How to Thank Clients in Memorable Ways
It is the season for considering how to express appreciation to our customers and clients who have shown their support and loyalty to our businesses over the previous year. It brings to mind memories of years past.
For Susan Beebe, President of Lighthouse Marketing and member of Women TIES it has been the tradition of her agency to remember her clients at Thanksgiving time, just before the more traditional giving season. It always seemed more appropriate to give thanks to her clients at Thanksgiving and somehow beat the rush of other packages that are sure to arrive within a few short weeks. Today’s blog post is advice from Susan regarding thanking clients in memorable ways during the holiday season.
Susan Beebe:
Some years, it may have been as simple as a greeting card with a personal note written to each client; more memorable years included ordering cookie trays from a local bakery and delivering the cookies to each client with warm wishes, personal conversation and a sincere thank-you for their business.
Recently I spoke to several other business owners to obtain their intentions for showing appreciation to their customers this holiday season. The ideas were quite diverse.
One is sending customized gift baskets, catered to the client’s personal preferences; if the customer is a coffee connoisseur, the basket was full of the latest and greatest for enjoying a cup of morning joe. Another local business owner pointed out the importance of remembering all of your customers, not just those that invested the highest dollar amount in that particular year. This individual believes in making a personal phone call to thank her customers and follows up with a personal note that reflects on the conversation; surely this contact will be remembered throughout the upcoming year. Of course, depending on the type and size of your business, the personal phone call may not be realistic. You may have to consider some of the other amazing ideas I learned during my research, such as giving tickets to local holiday theater performances, the downtown holiday tree lighting celebration, or even a good old-fashioned bottle of cheer.
The ideas that I found to have the most impact are based more on being of service vs. offering a service. Central New York has numerous charitable organizations whose needs have increased substantially during the recent difficult economic times. I understand that several local businesses practice an “adopt a program” where they donate a needed item, such as turkeys or pies, in the name of their client company. What a great way to pay tribute to your customer relationships while benefiting the larger community at the same time.
Regardless of how you show appreciation to your customers and clients this holiday season, one thing is certain, ’tis the season for being of service vs. offering our services.
Effervescent Sales and Service
At the end of my father’s industrious career, he was a coffee sales manager in Portland, Maine. One Monday morning after a long weekend visit in 2006, I met him in the kitchen to wish him a successful sales day. With his effervescent personality he said, “Trace, I’m really going to get those dead ducks today and land us some coffee sales!”
My dad resembled Chevy Chase in a National Vacation movie – quirky, peppy and adorable. With his coffee cup in his hand, a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye, he walked out the door ready to conquer the coffee-drinking-world by storm. He was, and remains, my shining example of an enthusiastic sales person.
Shortly after that visit my father passed away unexpectedly. He was 66 years old.
I remember vividly the moment a big, beautiful arrangement of white roses appeared at the funeral home from the customer service staff at the coffee company. Later his boss approached me at the funeral and said, “Your father was one of our best salesmen, not because of his knowledge of the product or love for selling, but because he loved his customers and delivered excellent customer service.” All of a sudden the white roses from the customer service department made perfect sense. To this day, I grace my desk with white roses when I need my father to inspire my business week.
I learned some very important sales and customer service strategies from my father that have helped me in business since he’s been gone.
Here’s one lesson that is my father, through and through: Make Sure Your Customers Know You Care. In order to grow a successful business, your clients need to know they are important. Your customers should know you care about them. You do this by communicating with them frequently, making sure they are happy with your product or service, and fixing any problems they have immediately. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to make your customers feel important. What it takes is time.
Be Warm and Friendly: In today’s automated world, personal communication is diminishing. Great customer service is not found in voice mail systems, e-mail messages and formal documents. Great customer service is found in personal phone calls, face to face meetings and heartfelt notes. Don’t forget that at our core, most people love communicating with people. Warmth, friendliness and attentiveness go a long way in today’s world.
Enjoy Your Job and Your Customers Will Notice: If you love your business, love your product, and love being an entrepreneur, your clients will notice. Don’t underestimate the power of loving what you do.
Every day I am grateful for such a wonderful father. I’m even more thankful for him on those I tough business days or when sales calls are looming. Those are the times I think about the wonderful example my father set for me.
Those are the times I think about the wonderful example my father set for me. I remember to put a smile on my face, a twinkle in my eye, pick up the phone and say to myself “I’m going to land me some sales today!”
Remaining Gracious When Troubles Arise In Your Business Journey
When my grandmother passed away, the priest said, “The best way to honor a loved one who has died is by thinking of their best quality and then incorporating that quality into your life so they remain alive through you.” As I thought about my grandmother, the word that came to mind was “gracious.” She had hardships in her life, the loss of her only 2 siblings when she was in her early twenties, the loss of her first born son at the tender age of 1, and the loss of her husband at the age of 64. Yet she remained kind and congenial until she died at the age 90.
In work, as in life, entrepreneurs are dealt difficulties. The entrepreneurial road is not a smooth one. How we choose to deal with troubling times shows our character. When my grandmother passed away, my business was young and I started experiencing trying times but I always remembered what the priest said and tried to be as gracious as I could especially to a client who didn’t renew a contract, associates who disagreed with my leadership policies and competitors who were harsh at times.
Here are some tips to remain gracious when troubles arise during your entrepreneurial journey:
- Remember who you are at your core. Remain confident in your beliefs, values and mission no matter what criticism you face from the outside world. If times get tough, talk to trusted friends and family who support your dreams and know who you are and what you stand for. During one of my darkest business periods, my best friend from Kindergarten gave me the most perfect advice and she wasn’t a business woman. She simply was someone who knew me very well.
- Be as compassionate as you can to people you work with. Give people the benefit of the doubt before judging them including clients, staff, associates and vendors. For example: If you have a client who is always late paying their bills, don’t get mad, pick up the phone and make sure nothing is wrong before sending threatening invoices. Maybe they are caring for a sick child or battling a health condition. Care first, save anger for later.
- Don’t forget as a solo entrepreneur or small business owner, your personal reputation and demeanor can directly impact how consumers view and feel about your company. Being gracious always demonstrates strong character and garners respect for your enterprise.
As a business owner, I’ve always been grateful that my grandmother’s best trait was her kind spirit and not the opposite. I definitely wouldn’t have lasted in business for the past 18 years if I was harsh and merciless. Embrace a new, more generous business spirit today and expect a positive impact now and in the future.
It was two years ago as I sat at a SUNY Oswego School of Business Advisory Board meeting when I experienced Skype for the first time. We were connected via Skype to a study abroad student in Spain. Skype was just becoming familiar in the United States even though it was founded in 2003 by two Swedish entrepreneurs. Appearing on the screen was a young man telling the board about his international business experience. It was fascinating to be communicating live with a student so far away. Although impressed with the technology, it wasn’t something I thought of integrating into my business or life.
As soon as our son went to college this September, the appeal of Skype became real. Knowing we could “see” our son at Boston College was an exciting thought and being able to communicate with him in this medium made the distance disappear. Then when my…
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What Are You Really Selling?
I bet you offer more to your customers than just the product or service you sell. I bet that you offer something intangible; something you really can’t see, smell, or touch. - Listen to your customers. What are their reactions to your product? What are they saying? What does their body language convey? Pay careful attention; the communication may be subtle and not directly related to the product.
- Consider the environment. What do customers experience when they connect with your business? What is the physical environment? What is the reaction from staff? Is it inviting and engaging?
- Work to engage. Completing a sale is a great but it is even better to have customers purchase on a repeated basis. What incentives do you offer for them to return? How do you continue to communicate with them? What mechanism do you offer so they can provide honest feedback?
By understanding what your customers are really buying, you are better able to fine tune your product and service in order to enhance the experience of buying from you. By doing so, you are increasing the chance that they will return and share positive feedback with others.
Today’s blog post was written by Women TIES Member Helene Chaika Fausold, Chaika Unlimited . Please learn more about her and her company.
The Value of $100
This morning as I listened to the morning news, I felt a strong desire to help the Hurricane Sandy victims and donated $100 to the American Red Cross relief efforts. The $100 is being matched. I know my small contribution will mean a hundred times to one family.
I know because when I was in my mid-twenties, my father lost his job and had 3 small children at home. He called me with the news. Immediately I wanted to do something. My husband and I decided to buy them $100 worth of groceries. $100 to us at that time was a lot of money. My family was so grateful for the donation.
Yesterday at one of my regional events where women entrepreneurs can sell products to increase their holiday sales, I bought $100 worth of gifts from a couple business owners. Giving them money and supporting their business was impactful for them and me.
There is value in $100. What can your $100 do today to help someone else? Here are a few things it can do:
- Puts a full tank of gas in two people’s cars who can’t find fuel.
- Provides a week of food for a family that’s hungry.
- Provides warm blankets to a family waiting for heat.
- Gives 20 cases of bottled water to a family who’s thirsty.
I ask that anyone who follows me through my business connections, family ties or friendship, sends a donation to the American Red Cross today. It is easy to do. Your $100 will be matched and will bring a small amount of relief to our neighbors in New York and New Jersey.
The true value of $100 is priceless when you give it out of love and compassion to help people you don’t know. Give and live generously.
Sooner than Later Planning
The devastation that hit the east coast is staggering. I personally watched and prayed that Hurricane Sandy didn’t hit the cities of Annapolis, MD, Boston, MA 
and Portland, ME where my son and siblings live. But many of us did have family and friends affected by the wrath of this storm and we certainly understand their loss.
As women we are pained for the mother whose two children are missing because their car was flooded as they tried to escape the weather. As women entrepreneurs we understand the incredible stress associated with losing a business, witnessing a wrecked storefront, and trying to repair an unimaginable situation. Today is a day to not only appreciate what we have around us, but to plan for unexpected interruptions in our businesses.
If you were one of the thousands of New Yorkers who couldn’t find bottled water or generators by Sunday night, you understand why planning in advance is essential in life and in business. If you were worried about backing up your computer or creating a back-up plan to conduct business if the Hurricane hit our area, you comprehend the need for making that a priority starting today. If you increased your work load because you thought you wouldn’t be able to work for a week if electricity went out, why not work like that every day.
As a 26 year event planner I am known for being a “worst case scenario planner,” not because I’m a pessimistic person but because planning for worst case makes you more prepared in case something unexpected occurs. It isn’t about living your life like tomorrow is the last day, it’s about conducting small and big tasks that will cause you less stress if tomorrow’s outlook turns bleak very quickly.
Today’s blog post is to encourage you to take some action this week that you need to take to protect your business for unexpected circumstances. It might include finally backing up your computer system and putting documents in the “cloud,” adding extra insurance to protect your storefront or office, or creating an emergency communication plan to reach out to important clients if your company has to close unexpectedly. What areas of protection do you need to implement to make you more secure?
Planning might be boring or something you don’t feel you need until time is of the essence, but it is essential for unexpected interruptions in your business. Let today’s news stories inspire you to take action sooner than later.
Coping With Unexpected Stressful Business Situations
Hurricane Sandy caused destruction up and down the east coast for millions of people. Her aftermath will be felt for months to come. Any business can suffer unexpected stress and so can its owners. Today’s blog post is advice to help you through difficult business situations that arise from natural disasters, personal loss, or unexpected corporate occurrences. I hope they bring you peace and guidance today and in the future.
Ask For Help from Others
Immediately after a crisis occurs, create a list of upcoming responsibilities with a timeline. Review it and see where you need support. If you can, delegate key responsibilities to staff. If you don’t have employees, consider asking other close business associates, family or trusted individuals to help you. In times of crisis, the world shows its kindness and generosity. Be willing to ask for, and accept help, for a short time if you need it.
Communicate With Your Customers
Clear communication is vital to running a business successfully during an unexpected personal crisis or situation that arises. If you need to take time away from your business and there is no one to run corporate operations while you are away, create and send a clear communication piece to your customers explaining the situation and time the office will be closed or working at half capacity. As long as customers know how long you will be away and who can handle their work in your absence, they will remain loyal clients. Don’t underestimate the generosity of clients either.
Seek Assistance From Professionals
If your problems are larger than you can handle on your own, seek professional assistance. Therapists, counselors, coaches and advisors are in business to help others through personal and business problems. Sometimes we can’t gain the right perspective on our own; we need the support of someone trained to get us through difficult business or personal times. Speaking to a professional might be exactly what you need to help you come through the problem quicker and with better insight.
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