You have a great idea for opening a self-service coffee shop. Customers make their own coffees while enjoying a24-hour open-mike session where patrons can recite poetry, sing songs that they have written, and just express any discontent or happiness that they feel. The idea is one that you have been rolling over in your mind for a while, but just as you are about to risk your financial future on this venture, you get stuck on worrying about whether the business will be profitable. Running a business effectively seems like an impossible task, especially for someone with little expertise, but it can be done with planning and organization.
The best advice regarding running a business relates to planning. For those starting a business, the company begins with a plan outlining the way that the business is managed. For those who own a business and are having trouble in the areas of management, review the business policies to see which ones need improvement. During this review, focus on the central problems that are in the business and then make them the focus of improvement. Generally speaking, a system, by definition, illustrates the way in which an operation works. In business, by reviewing each system within the organization for weaknesses, owners and managers can effectively identify problem areas and address them. Furthermore, focus on tasks that are done repeatedly in the business to see whether a plan exists dictating how the assignment should be completed. If there is no plan specifically written for this task, then write one. In essence, for every task that is completed, there should be a step-by-step set of instructions telling employees what to do. Also, as a part of planning business operations, set up a calendar system that blocks out time for certain activities, and make this calendar accessible to key employees who can serve as a point of contact for company information.
Another major part of running a business successfully involves hiring good employees, as your employees carry out the daily instructions of the company. When hiring, managers should advertise the position in various places for the maximum amount of exposure. Use popular professional networking sites to advertise positions, and at the same time, invite candidates who meet the qualifications to interview for the position. On the company website, notify the public of your interest in hiring employees for a particular position by pointing them in the direction of the human resources link on the site. Another outlet for advertising is placing ads on other sites such as employment sites or recruitment agencies. While employment sites such as Monster.com are free, recruitment agencies usually charge a fee, but the fee might be well worth hiring a good employee.
During the interviewing process, look at the overall application, which includes the applicant’s education and experience. Educational credentials are very important in determining a person’s content knowledge in a given area. In some fields, a person must have a degree and certification to work in a particular area. For example, accountants need a master’s degree before working in high-profile management positions. By getting a master’s degree online from UAB or any other program, the applicant would be well-qualified to be a manager of any company, with experience of course. Their educational credentials are important in determining whether they have the requisite knowledge to perform their job duties. While education is important, prior work experience speaks to the types of interactions that a potential employee has had while working. For example, you are interviewing two employees who work for different companies but only one has worked with diverse populations. Depending on the target demographic of the business, the applicant exposed to diverse populations might be a better fit for the company because of their work experience. By focusing on education and experience during the hiring process, you can create a solid core of team players who encourage creativity and spontaneity while keeping the environment positive. Ultimately, the people hired will work with clients, but more importantly, these people reflect company goals.
Running a business effectively has two prongs. The first prong involves planning the way in which the business operates on a day-to-day basis, from reviewing past polices and updating them to implementing new ones. Organizational policy is the key factor in running a business because it tells employees how to perform daily tasks. The other prong relates to hiring practices. By advertising and recruiting, hiring managers have a wide field from which to draw candidates. Finally, by placing work experience and education as priorities in hiring, managers can target the appropriate candidates who can function successfully in their position.