How To Take Risks In Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business ArticleThere are many skills required of a person when they run a business. They need to be able to cope with lots of different situations and turn them around into successes for the business if possible. They also need to be able to manage people, deal with finances, organize marketing, and much more. Something that you might not have thought about before, but that is certainly an important trait when it comes to business, is risk-taking. There needs to be an element of risk-taking in any business if it is going to grow and thrive successfully. If you’re concerned that you aren’t taking enough risks (or perhaps even taking too many), read on to discover just how to do it right.

Search For Solutions

Risks in business should always be calculated ones. This means that you have looked at the situation you might be heading for and determined what the negative outcomes might be. Although you might not like to think in these terms, it is crucial – pretending that things won’t go wrong is a sure way to have problems because if something untoward does happen, you won’t know how to deal with it.

That’s the key; you need to know the potential negative outcomes because you need to know how to combat them if they do arise. Search for solutions for each issue that you might come across, and if they do occur you can deal with them. If they don’t, then you have nothing to worry about.

Think Long-Term

Having an idea that is a possible risk is one thing, but being able to continue once that idea has been implemented, whether the results are good or bad, is another. You need to not only think of the idea and weigh up the risks, but you need to think of the long-term for your business as well. Ask yourself what will happen if the risk you are taking does pay off, and what will happen if it doesn’t. This is important because you don’t want to take the first step and then not know where to go after that. A long-term plan is much easier to deal with broken down into smaller parts – it is also less risky.

Whether you’re launching your own Amazon associates site or building an e-commerce empire from scratch, the same principles apply when it comes to risk and long-term thinking.

Be Adaptable

Even if you do have a plan in place, you need to be able to adapt (and adapt the plan) if anything changes. Trying to continue with your original idea when you really should go in another direction won’t help you and won’t help the business. This is no longer a calculated risk but is instead a stubborn refusal to see that change needs to happen. This will hurt the business, and those being asked to carry out the tasks on your behalf could become extremely stressed by the situation, knowing it the wrong thing to do but unsure how to deal with it. A stressed employee might need time off; they might even need help from the Law Office of Scott D. DeSalvo.

Test First

You might be tempted to launch your new idea straight away because you’re so excited about it and you’re sure that it will do well. However, this is not a calculated risk – this is just a risk, and that’s not a good thing. Wait until you have all the facts and details you need to be able to launch successfully; launching a product and not having the right marketing in place, or not being sure how good that product, service, or idea really is, can be damaging to your business.

How to Scale Your Business Using Cloud PBX

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article
 
Scaling in business is always a big deal, because it is the only way to accurately measure growth and success. If you do not have the right systems in place, however, scaling can become very difficult. There are many different systems to scale, and not having the right framework into place can cause delays and even hiccups in your operations.

Take your telephone system, for example. Hiring more workers as you scale your business more globally means your network needs to become increasingly complex. Rather than be inhibited by these extra hires, choose a Cloud PBX system that scales with your company and doesn’t hold you back.

How Can a Cloud Based PBX Help Your Business?

PBX, or Private Branch Exchange, is a network for phone calls and other communication methods used within a company. It is how you can call different departments when you need something, and how clients can get a representative for the specific answer or solution that they are looking for.

There are a variety of reasons why a Cloud Based PBX system can help you, as it:

1. Allows for an unlimited number of lines

So you can scale up or down as you need to without any hassle. You could add people through the call routing system without even adding extra telephones to your office floor.

2. Is only limited by your own Internet’s capacity

The only limit to this tech is your Internet speeds. If yours are slow, try contacting a few internet service providers today to see if there are new plans available to upgrade or switch to.

3. Has one bill to pay

When you choose an all-in-one service, you don’t have to worry about what services you use and which you don’t, because all of it will be on one bill.

4. Is easy to set up

Choose the right company, and they will set up the entire system for you without a hitch and at no extra charge.

5. Offers seamless communications

Once you have your cloud based PBX system set up and running, you can then enjoy seamless communications between departments. Boost productivity, improve customer service, bring in more business, and everyone’s happy!

How to Scale Your Business Using Cloud PBX

Choosing the best Cloud PBX will depend entirely on your budget and needs. In most cases, however, being able to pick and choose which features your company needs will always be your best bet. That way you can choose the best VoIP for small business operations now, and then include more services in your plan as you scale up seamlessly.

Choosing systems that can be scaled with ease is the best investment you can make for your new company. You won’t need to reinvest or overhaul your operations just because you hired a few new people or even created another department. Instead, you can simply set them up. That is the power of cloud computing. That is the way you will grow and succeed.

Getting Started with Small Business Protection

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Safety is paramount to the success of your business, which is why larger companies dedicate entire departments to protective measures. Small business owners don’t always have that luxury, leaving them to handle unique risks without a massive amount of protective resources. That creates a real challenge, one that can often lead to digital, physical, and even legal issues most are unprepared to handle.

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article
 
So, what can you do? Before leaving your failsafes and security protocols to the wind, check out these tips to help make protection a top priority at your small business. From simple office rules to management tools, here’s the ultimate safety strategy.

Get Rid of Personal Devices

Step one to your plan of action should be eliminating personal or bring-your-own devices in the workplace. This reduces the risk of weak links in your security plan, helping to keep the lid tight on your operations.

While this isn’t always possible, there are workarounds to achieve the same result. Instead of removing these devices from your place of business, adopt a universal security package for your employees. The usefulness of managing and auditing your entire IT infrastructure’s user access rights with a tool like SolarWinds can’t be understated.

Malware Matters

As tight as security may be on your employee end, the world of the web is a malicious place. Malware protection is a vital safeguard for your business, manning the front lines while data enters and leaves your servers. It’s still important to train employees on security and safety measures, but this set-it-and-forget-it protection is something you can’t do without.

Unique Passwords

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article
 
While this 90’s rhetoric shouldn’t need restated in 2018, the number of hacks from even seemingly airtight corporations in the past few years suggests that it hasn’t set in just yet. With a single data breach costing upwards of $1 million on average, this is one area of security you literally can’t afford to overlook.

Ensuring every member of your staff uses a strong password is crucial these days. Have them keep the word used unique, add numbers, and make sure they utilize symbols if possible for the best results. Also, it helps to have your employees change their password every six months to a year.

Physical Security

It isn’t something most business owners want to think about, but individuals within your operation can be just as dangerous as those on the outside. While it is important to trust your employees, it never hurts to utilize cameras and locks when possible. Plus, these tools are an excellent means of theft prevention.

Backup Your Data

From contracts to daily sales, today’s businesses record almost everything online. Technical malfunctions happen at the most inconvenient times, which is why backing up your data is essential. Instead of opting for pricey equipment, consider cloud storage as a frugal yet secure alternative. There are numerous cloud storage services available that can help you create “hard” copies of important information.

Insurance

Even if you’re in the earliest stages of operation, business insurance can save you an enormous headache. Depending on what your business entails, you may need varying types of insurance. Public liability, home business, and indemnity are a few popular examples. Regardless of which kind your business needs, protecting yourself in the event of a worst-case scenario is vital.
Other small business insurance needs include:

  • General liability
  • Professional liability
  • Errors and omissions
  • Owners policy
  • Workers compensation
  • Property
  • Home-based
  • Product liability
  • Vehicle
  • And business interruption

Physical Protection

No, not bodyguards. Physical protection and security come in a wide variety of forms. Each of which is equally as important as the digital ones you’ve set in place. A simple example would be ensuring that your brand is unique to avoid any litigation or legal ramifications.

Another example would be the use of physical documents for contracts and agreements. Aside from creating a professional look, it further protects agreements made between you, your employees, and your clients with a hard copy. Adding arbitration clauses to those contracts is another physical security measure that can prevent legal ramifications down the road.

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Finally, physical protection for a small business can be as simple as creating a safe work environment. Working to prevent accidents and encouraging non-discrimination as well as non-harassment policies might not be the first thing on your mind when the word protection comes to mind, but they are just as important as cyber security measures.

Protecting Your Business

Security isn’t something to take lightly in any business venture, but you don’t have to shell out your earnings on an entire department just to make sure your organization is protected. By following the tips and advice above, you can keep every aspect of your small business from digital to physical secure while keeping things affordable.

StrategyDriven Enterprises

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StrategyDriven Enterprises, LLC

StrategyDriven is dedicated to providing executives and managers with the planning and execution advice, tools, and practices needed to create greater organizational alignment and accountability for the achievement of superior results.

We help our clients create and execute a clear, forward-looking strategy – translatable to the day-to-day activities of all organization members – that’s critical to their realizing success in today’s fast paced market environment. Not only does a compelling, well executed strategy align individuals to a common purpose, it ensures that purpose best serves the company’s mission.

The StrategyDriven website provides access to a wide array of best practice business planning and execution tools, streamlined process flows, how-to articles, example-rich podcasts, and customizable ready-to-use program management templates. Premium Members receive access to over 200 members-only articles, whitepapers, models, and tools and templates; providing an in-depth look into critical business performance areas; placing specific focus on the alignment of organizational standards, programs, and behaviors to the optimal achievement of mission goals. Sevian Business Program purchasers receive fully implementable business performance improvement processes out-of-the-box, enabling the acceleration of business growth and heightening of operational efficiency needed to significantly improve bottom line results.

Collectively, our products offer business leaders the opportunity to access the knowledge of a highly educated and experienced staff without the associated overhead expense.

At StrategyDriven, our seasoned business leaders deliver real-world strategic business planning and tactical execution best practice advice – a blending of workplace experience with sound research and academic principles – to business leaders who may not otherwise have access to these resources.

Contact StrategyDriven Enterprises, LLC

Phone: (770) 765-3692

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.strategydriven.com

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Enhancing Your Small Business’ Curb Appeal

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business ArticleA lot of business owners underestimate the importance of their curb appeal. This is what people see when they first approach your company. You know what they say – first impressions count! You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, which is why the curb appeal of your business is of paramount importance. You want to give off a professional and strong impression, and there are a number of different ways you can do this. So, let’s take a look…

Consider the front door – There is only one place to begin, and this is with your front door. After all, this is arguably one of the most visible parts of your company. If your business’ front door is starting to look a bit dirty and dull because of pollution from the street, it is certainly time to make some changes. Getting the door professionally cleaned is the minimum you should do. A replacement is usually the best solution.

Paint new lines on the parking lot – This is something that is very simple to do, yet very effective. This straightforward DIY job can give your business a new and fresh look while also making sure the parking lot is a lot easier to navigate. It is a good idea to seal your coating of paint to ensure that potholes and cracks do not occur.

Invest in landscaping services – There is no substitute for enlisting the assistance of professionals like the local tree experts in Eau Claire. If you have a considerable outside space surrounding your business, commercial landscape design is a must. Landscapers do much more than creating an attractive outside space. They create a space that is easy for you to maintain and represents your brand identity. They will take the time to get to know your company so they can create a design that fits in with your brand and will impress your target consumer based.

Visible signage – What is your business signage like at present? Is it bold and striking? Is it easy to read and see? If not, then you have a big problem! Make sure the signage is easy to spot, easy to read, and big in size.

Add a few plants – Last but not least, do not underestimate the power of a bit of greenery. A lot of business fronts look dull or plain. This is where plants come in. They can bring your outdoor space to life, making a massive difference. Go with potted plants because they are a lot easier to maintain. You may even want to consider fake plants if you do not want to deal with the maintenance side of things.

As you can see, there are many different ways that you can enhance the curb appeal of your business. If you follow the suggestions that have been presented above, you will notice a considerable difference in terms of how your business appears and, consequently, what potential customers think of it. Do not undervalue just how critical this is.