Our national economy is in distress; the real estate market has radically changed; major banks have become insolvent; cash and lending is not readily available and it appears as though we are about to enter a prolonged recession. This scenario sounds rather bleak, so what is the best way for a restoration contractor to respond?
Consider that many economic challenges are self-fulfilling prophecies. In the August issue of Trends Magazine I read about America’s psychological recession. The premise of the article was that employees are feeling the stress of job insecurity and economic stress based on the news or perceptions. It goes on to state that nearly three quarters of all employees are not actively engaged in their job and do not have a commitment to their current employer. One half of all workers had a desire to change jobs.
Before we discuss your leadership role in the company, it is important to discuss the business realities. It is true that competition may be increasing, banks are tighter with their funds, houses have less equity than last year and uncertainty abounds. As the owner or manager of your company, you need to chart a course that will help you be successful during these times. This effective strategy involves strategic marketing, cash management, fiscal responsibility, and solid business practices.
Creating a marketing plan is one of the basic responsibilities of managing a business. Many times, companies choose to cut back on marketing during uncertain times. It is better to maintain marketing but focus your efforts. There are several things to consider in putting together your marketing plan: your plan should be built around accomplishing goals; marketing is not the job of the marketing department, rather it is the responsibility of the entire company, especially the entire management team; and finally, marketing is an all-the-time activity, not just when you are slow.
If you do not currently have a line of credit with your bank, there is good and bad news. The bad news is that you are not likely to get a loan unless you are exceptionally sound financially. The good news is that you are not going to get a loan and will need to be a good steward of the cash in your company.
There is nothing like a bit of financial crisis to command a business owner to think about fiscal responsibility. I like to listen to Dave Ramsey on the radio, and really have come to like and appreciate his message. He talks about being debt free and living within your means. One root cause of our current financial situation is that too many people are spending more than they are making. When things are going well this is not as important as it is when times slow. Take this opportunity to assess your overhead and establish and stick to a budget. This strategy is effective in good and bad times.
I spoke with the RIA’s Pete Cosigli the other day about how the current business environment was affecting restoration contractors. I agreed with his assessment that there is an entire generation of restorers who have never experienced home foreclosures, tight lending practices and growing competition. His assessment was that companies have to return to solid business practices. These items include checking title reports and payment updates on mortgages, having sound collection policies, creating an sticking to a budget and implementing a sound marketing plan. All of these items are basic business practices especially necessary in the current economy.
Take this opportunity to tune up your business so that when we return to “the good ‘ol days” of plentiful work, ample cash and a focused workforce, you have an improved and effective business. As the leader of your company, you have an awesome responsibility to obtain discretionary effort from your employees. The items just discussed are all about the hard side of management. Let’s look at the soft side of management and your role as a leader.
When you are seeking discretionary effort from your employees, it is important to provide discretionary recognition. The basis for the soft side of management is your company culture. Company culture can be an elusive concept yet it exists in every company whether you are aware of it or not. I think that Jon-Don’s Steve Toburen defined it best when he said that company culture is “just the way we do things around here.” I like to define company culture as the way that your company “feels.” When you spend any amount of time in and around an organization you get a feeling that is apparent in the energy or lack of energy in an office; some might call it an aura.
The basis for company culture is communication. Communication is an elusive concept and way of doing things that deserves an article of its own. I will say, though, that communication is rarely about what you say; it is more about how you say what you say, and what you do not say. If you understand this concept, you can start to define and direct your company culture.
Company meetings are a great way to express and develop culture. Some might look at staff meetings as a very expensive waste of time. I stood in a room of 125 very excited team members as they heard about victories; stories of legendary service; the company’s commitment to safety; staff social gatherings; employee rewards and awards and more. Watching how the employees held their heads high when they walked out of the room, I found this meeting to be an exceptional use of company resources. Company meetings are essential if you have ten employees, and they are essential if you have 100. Employees want to feel that they belong, and they want to belong to something bigger than their own position.
Recognizing exceptional performance; celebrating accomplishment; communicating vision; having standards of excellence; upward mobility; staff training and having effective corporate communication are all essential elements of creating a strong company culture. If I were to walk into your company how would it “feel”? Is your culture driven by sales, service, quality and excellence, or by negative reactive influences?
Challenge yourself and your management team to create a strong corporate culture and be in control of the process. Keep in mind that a culture exists even if you do not make a conscious decision, so take a proactive approach. When you understand this element of your company, you have the key to excelling no matter the current economic cycle. Know that your employees may feel general uneasiness about the economy or their lives at home. Make your company a sanctuary where they can escape daily crisis and contribute to your company mission and vision. Know that, as the leader, it is your job and obligation to manage company culture. Be a leader who gives your employees hope and confidence; it will pay off no matter what is happening in the outside world.
