Discover the secret of avoiding the
BIG 5 MISTAKES in business.

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Have you ever run a business without a strategic plan? Did your employees lack a consistent way to rank their work? Did they miss the right tools helping them decide? 

Let me tell you. 

You aren’t alone in in this experience. 

What if you had a set of core values that defined how people think or act. 

That means learning the core values. That means fully embracing them. That also means having the ability to decide and rank the work people do using them. While all this is true, it also means making mistakes in building your strategic plan

Making mistakes is normal. Yet, there are four mistakes you should avoid making when you build your strategic plan because they could destroy your business even before you begin. That’s exactly where I’d like to help you. Let’s start looking at them.


1) Ignoring the best employees and what they say

Most business owners rush to make changes internally when the market stops responding to their services or goods. 

Most business owners know that for these changes to work effectively, your best employees must embrace them. 

That is why you not only have to talk about change but also  talk to the right people. 

These employees could influence more business growth. 

For discovering your company’s core values talk to your three best employees. Ask them to explain what your company does best. Then add these core values to your strategic plan. You will now distill the best value your business brings for your customers.

2) Dismissing the characterstics of best employees

Have you ever dismissed what words describe your best employees? Maybe you did it unknowingly. 

You know it’s a mistake. 

Yet, it isn’t too late. Brainstorm now. Find out who these employees are. 

Discover how they go about their work and what customers or co-workers say about them. 

Find out the reason they add value to your business. 

If you do this exercise, you will soon discover the “real” core values driving your business. 

That will make it easy for you to build out your strategic plan. It will also become the best plan that works.

3) Displaying core values in a casual way

Are the core values for your business just for show? 

Do you just post them on the wall and forget about them? 

Such actions will not only damage credibility for your business but also set a precedence for the future. 

Do this instead. 

Be creative. Use stories to describe work people do. Make it a ritual. Make it real. 

Show that you care. Share a story from the past month, which talks about your core value.  

Use the language of your core values everywhere. Use them in your job descriptions.  

Use these words when employees join your business. 

Use them when you evaluate work they do.  Link every result with a core value.  If you do, your strategic plan will become the guide for the culture of your business. 

That will yield more sustained business growth.

4) Not having consistency in using core values in decisions

Do you use your core values in your decisions as a business owner? Are you consistent in using them? 

If not, it’s time to change. 

When you decide on any issue, connect it to a core value.  

When you reprimand or praise, refer to a core value.  Build a ritual. Keep a few rules. Repeat yourself. Be consistent. 

You will soon find out that your employees are now able to work more effectively. They understand how you decide. Importantly, they know how they should decide on their day-to-day work. 

If you avoid these 4 mistakes, your strategic plan will not only be practical but also produce lasting results for your business.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead working with a business coach and improve your net profit margin, boost your ROI or steady your cash flow, then let's talk. Set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.