In this last installment of our Building a Business series we’re going to talk about change. Change is inevitable. In our second post of this series, Focus on Service Done Well, we discussed staying committed to your core purpose as a small business. This laser-like focus doesn’t imply that your business won’t undergo or implement changes.  Instead, these changes should serve and bolster your core purpose.  Your service and product line will evolve.  Technologies emerge.  Sony didn’t stick with the Betamax.  And some people probably complained.

That’s the topic of this post.  Well-planned and strategic change is often vital to your business’s survival and success.  And not all of your customers will be pleased.  But just as you can’t allow customers to force you off track into services you don’t need, you can’t let these same customers prevent you from making necessary changes.  And you can’t roll out a change and yet still continue with the old way, thus duplicating your efforts, just to pacify  these customers.  You must cut, allow the bleeding and subsequent healing.  This healing comes as you educate your customers on the benefits of the new way and how to best handle this change.  Document, inform,  offer webinars, do face to face training if necessary and receive their feedback.

When you implement a change it will be the byproduct of much thought, research and strategic planning, and a decision that it was essential to your core focus.  And ultimately, the change would be beneficial to your customers.  But the reality is that most changes will be met with some critical reception.  Expect it, and move forward with confidence tempered with empathy for your clients.

Our core purpose has always been to help our clients succeed by providing a proven way to control labor costs and increase their customer satisfaction.  While our features and tools to accomplish this purpose may change and evolve over time, our core purpose does not.

We know this is the end of the first quarter, however, it is never too late.  We wish you the best year ever and hope that our Building a Business series has been helpful. We welcome you to comment and like us on Facebook.  Also, please give us a call and let us help you build a great business.