Category Archives: Efficiency

How can I structure our employee meetings to keep everyone on task?

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Today’s comment came from a busy professional and an entrepreneur:

How can I structure our employee meetings to keep everyone aware and on task of what we’re working towards?

Recently, there has been miscommunication between my team members and management on the best practices for our company and where our resources should be spent. I don’t want to waste any more time and am looking for innovative ways to get my employees focused. Please advise, thank you.

Change YOUR FOCUS FIRST

Communication can be both the problem and the solution to most team and management issues. Your attitude of “I don’t want to waste any more time” – may be part of the problem. Taking additional time properly communicating with your employees will save team and department time. But it may seem to you that it’s taking more of “your time”.  My recommendation is to invest your time in communicating more often – to help your employees stay focused.

Quick tips

Here are some quick tips to turn the problem into the solution:

  • Do you have a published company vision, mission and purpose statement for the company? If not – please create one and make is visible to everyone.
  • Can everyone on your team paraphrase how their roles, responsibilities and tasks support that company vision, mission and purpose statement? If not – please have the managers have regular one-on-one meetings to both emphasize and creatively empower the team to accomplish the company’s goals.
  • Do you conduct regular one-on-one meetings with each individual? Don’t assume that a group staff meeting is enough. In this global and diverse work environment, many people may be working remotely or on different shifts. They may not have been at the meeting OR have misinterpreted the information.
  • Do you use effective Change Management procedures when you do add, modify or delete goals. This means you clearly identify the tasks that are removed or re-prioritized when a new task is added. Most of the time, employees are unfocused because management continue to give additional tasks without understanding the current tasks that the employees are working on. By instituting Change Management procedures – you review the level of effort for the requested change, the effects and consequences of the requested change to the other items AND all the significant stakeholders are aware of the changes and consequences.
  • Do you hold quick daily staff meetings (no longer than 15 minutes) to review the day’s goals, status and issues?
  • Do all your staff meetings have a Purpose/Goal, Agenda list (with time limit) that support that Purpose, and a Summary of the resulting action items and owners?
  • Are your meeting’s minutes properly visible on your internal website or via email – that clearly outlines your tasks and goals?

Conclusion:

Switch your goal from “I don’t want to waste any more time” – to “I want to better communicate with my employees” and you will accomplish both goals.

For help on leading a more effective staff meeting, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

Or sign up for a complementary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

Get ready for a Terrific 2016!

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Get ready for
a Terrific 2016!

Year-End Specials From Rose Coaching!

Are you ready to have an incredible 2016?  The new year is just a few weeks away, and Rose Coaching is prepared to help you grow your business with THREE SPECIAL packages to help you hire the right people, increase team productivity, and make 2016 your best year yet!

1.  Rose Selection Bundle – A quick job-fit diagnostic

  • Clarifying your 2016 business goals
  • Assisting in outlining your ideal candidate for a position
  • Three Kolbe A™ Indexes to outline strength and compatibility indexes
  • One hour Rose Coaching Consultant to help you analyze reports and determine specific needs for a position
  • Cost is $500 (50% off retail price of $1000.00)

2.   Rose Coaching Team Productivity Bundle – Designed for teams of four-five employees

  • Clarifying your 2016 Business Strategies and staffing needs
  • Five Kolbe A Indexes to outline strength and compatibility indexes
  • Assistance in identifying the best roles and responsibilities for each employee that successfully supports the your current business goals.
  • One hour with a Rose Coaching Consultant to help you maximize team productivity to maximize your current business goals
  • Cost is $800 – (53% discount off of our retail price of $1500.00).  An additional $85 is charged for  each additional employee (after the first five), up to a maximum of ten.  Call us for teams of more than 10 employees.

3.  Three-Month Trial of Team Workshop and Mastermind Groups for $322.50.

  • Clarifying your 2016 Business Strategies and staffing needs
  • Clarifying your 2016 Business training needs
  • Twice-Monthly team workshops on specific team issues and business goals (FMV $1000)
  • Big discounts on Rose Coaching On-Line Professional Development Courses (FMV $1000)
  • Individualized monthly one-on-one employee coaching/mentoring  (FMV $450)

If you have any questions about any of these offers, contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info .
Not sure which program fits best?  Schedule a complimentary chat to see which program is best for you at  <MAKE APPOINTMENT NOW>.

These prices are available only until January 31st, 2016.  SO DON’T WAIT!  Gear up now and make 2016 your best year ever!   And by the way…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Should I focus on just one niche customer group initially?

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of TimePeace: Making peace with time – and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management and work-life balance strategies. I help busy professionals and entrepreneurs create effective systems so that they can comfortably delegate to others, be more profitable and have time to enjoy life even if they don’t have time to learn new technology or train their staff.  I have a knack for taking big ideas and converting them into smart, sound, and actionable ideas.

 

At the end of the day, I transform the way you run your business into a business you love to run.

Today’s comment came from a busy entrepreneur:

Should I focus on just one niche customer group initially?

I have been trying to get feedback from my ideal target audience but I am finding the group hard to reach. There is another target audience that could benefit from my service. I am not as passionate about that group but I think they may be easier to get feedback as I build out my business. Should I focus on both or only one?

 

I recommend that you focus on one target audience. But I also want to caution on your method of reaching those people. If your method of reaching “people” is ineffective or flawed – then it doesn’t matter how many target audience you go after. Maybe it’s not that the group is hard to reach. Maybe it’s the way you are going about it. If the ladder is true – then you will have the same difficulties with the second group.
My recommendation would be to study up on the most effective methods to reach your target market. Find other business owners that are successfully marketing to that same target – and find out how they are doing it. Start partnering with complimentary business that shares the same target audience. Business network with those who are already successful in marketing to your target audience. Learn from those that have achieved what you want to achieve.

Periodically re-evaluate your target niche

Be watchful on who is attracted to your products and services. There may be other groups interested in your products or services. For example, Chris owned a Curves Club for women.   She wanted to have her club hours during the day (9am-1:30pm and 3:30pm-7:00pm). This makes it difficult for younger, working women use her club. She didn’t want to extend the hour, so she mostly marketed it toward retired women.

But if Chris takes a second look at her niche, she could expand it to include:

  • Mothers with school-age children
  • Women who owned their own business
  • Women who worked from home

Conclusion:

Keep the end in mind that your products and services will evolve. Therefore, your target clients will also evolve and change. Review your product funnel strategy to see if different product levels will attract different clients.

 

For more information or help on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

 

Or sign up for a complementary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

 

With a business that is not quite working, is it better to start new or to pivot?

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of TimePeace: Making peace with time – and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management and work-life balance strategies. Steve Wynkoop and I talk a lot about designing and managing our professional careers on a weekly interview on SSWUG TV.

At the end of the day, I transform the way you run your business into a business you love to run.

Today’s comment came from a busy entrepreneur:

With a business that is not quite working, is it better to start new or to pivot?

ultimatumIf your business is not working well enough, should you change directions or start a new business? I have been reading up on pivoting your business in a new direction, but how is this different than just starting over? Is starting over with a new brand better? How do I figure out which option is better?

 

The phrase “working well enough” – is a very abstract and vague. I had a client that “felt” her business wasn’t growing “fast enough”. “Fast enough” and “working well enough” are not business owner terms.

When I asked her what her growth goals were, how many clients or products she needed to sell to accomplish her yearly income, or how many leads does she need to convert to sales to make those numbers – she admitted that she didn’t have those types of plans in place.

Know Your Numbers

My recommendation is to know your numbers:

  1. How much money/income do you want to make yearly?
  2. How much income do you want to make quarterly? ( A/4)
  3. How many products/services do you need to sell to make your quarterly numbers? (B/Price of products)
  4. What is your lead to sales ratio? (How many people do you need to talk to or network with to make one sale?)
  5. How many people do you need to network with to sell the right number of products to make your quarterly goals? (D*C)

Once you understand the numbers you need to accomplish your goals, you can start tracking your progress and make the necessarily adjustments.

Pivoting doesn’t have to be a big thing

After you understand your numbers and have a better idea of where you are falling short, you can pivot or change directions in only the areas that need tweaking. You may find that your lead to sales ratio is 25 to 1 (meaning that you need to network with 25 people to sale 1 product or service). To meet your goals, you need to sale 5 products/services a month. This means that you need to get in front of 100 people monthly. Some things you may consider doing are:

 

  • You may decide to add monthly speaking engagements to your marketing strategy to increase the number of people you meet in a month
  • You may decide to increase the price of your products and services to lower the number of monthly sales needed
  • You may decide to improve your salesmanship to reduce your lead to sale ratio

Conclusion:

Without understanding where you want to be and where you are today, it’s going to be difficult to decide whether you need to start new, pivot or tweak. Knowing your numbers is the first step in deciding your next step.

 

For more information or help on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

 

 

 

Or sign up for a complementary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

How do I co-exist with other vendors?

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of TimePeace: Making peace with time – and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management and work-life balance strategies. Steve Wynkoop and I talk a lot about designing and managing our professional careers on a weekly interview on SSWUG TV.

At the end of the day, I transform the way you run your business into a business you love to run.

Today’s comment came from a busy entrepreneur:

How do I co-exist with other vendors?

Food-VendorsScenario; You are pitching to a potential customer about your service offerings, and potential customer says that he is already working with a vendor in the same space. How do I stay in the mind of this potential customer and remain an option?

 

Firstly, I would avoid saying anything negative about the other vendor. If you know something about the other vendor – take this opportunity to highlight some of the things that vendor does really well. Then talk about the differences between you and the other vendor. Highlight your differentials without saying anything negative about the other vendor. Sometimes you can create a special niche while you are talking to these potential customers.
For example: “Yes. I know that vendor. They are very professional and have great prices in larger, big package orders. What differentiates my services is that I focus on custom orders and sizes. Every client has an individual technical support person (a real person). Your assigned support person has the authority to solve your issue. They don’t need to wait for approval. So, whenever you need a more individualized service, please keep me in mind.”

 

Start networking with those same vendors

Stop regarding these vendors as competitors. Start networking and offering your help and services to them in a sub-contractor possibility. Find a way to collaborate by advertizing your niche or differentials to them. For instance, offer the vendor your services for customization to help them provide a fuller package to their clients.

How to you work with a vendor

 

Once you are in a working relationship with your “now collaborative” vendor, make sure you have a clear “understanding of work” between the companies. Some things you need to include:

  • Explicit description of the work and time line
  • Pricing or hourly rates – and how/when the payment will be made
  • Acceptance criteria (make sure you agree upon what “done” really means)
  • Consequences of note meeting the delivery timeline or quality requirements
  • Agreement of who is the project manager (decision maker) on the project.

Conclusion:

Clearly understanding the project, who is in charge, what the time lines are, and pricing/charges often greases the wheels to a smooth project.

 

For more information or help on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

 

Or sign up for a complementary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

How can I grow my business with more services?

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of TimePeace: Making peace with time – and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management and work-life balance strategies. I help busy professionals and entrepreneurs create effective systems so that they can comfortably delegate to others, be more profitable and have time to enjoy life even if they don’t have time to learn new technology or train their staff.  I have a knack for taking big ideas and converting them into smart, sound, and actionable ideas.

 

At the end of the day, I transform the way you run your business into a business you love to run.

Today’s comment came from a busy entrepreneur:

How can I grow my business with more services?

My recommendation is to take the time to design your Product Funnel Strategy.

product funnel2Product Funnel Strategy

Within each separate brand – you should have a product funnel strategy that leads your target client up your product/service pricing structure. Normally people start off with free samples – to allow the target client to get to know you (like a first date). You may offer a complimentary discovery diagnostic sessions, newsletters, articles, short audios/video for your services.

 

Then you create some low, mid, high end offers that align with your brand and message. For example, you can create group workshops, subscriptions based programs, one-on-one service programs, and then high-end product bundles with some affiliated partners.

 

The idea is to design your road-map of how to start attracting people down that funnel. People may be first attracted to you and your message via some free offers, blog articles, free how-to videos. Then you will want to introduce those people (already taking advantage of your free services) to your lower or mid-range products like a subscription based program, a group consulting/mastermind program, a group workshop series, etc. Then you use your mid-range products to lead some clients to the higher range programs (which can be bundling of several products and services together)
If you take the time to create and design your product funnel upfront, you can better market and up-sale your business.

How do find the time to create these products/services?

Keep the end in mind. Whenever you are working with a current client, find ways to productize that effort. Build these programs as you go along. Reuse and recycle your intellectual property.

Some examples:

  • When someone asks you a question – convert your answer to a blog, an audio, an article, a webinar, a video
  • When you are working one-on-one with a client – create a worksheet, workbook, template or checklist
  • When you create a webinar, convert it to an online course with your webinars videos, audios, worksheets, etc
  • Then start bundling these different products and programs together for the higher priced programs.

Conclusion:

Keep the end in mind. Reuse and recycle your intellectual property and keep it in line with your brand and message.

 

For more information or help on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

 

Or sign up for a complementary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

Should I have specific segmented brands or one brand that does all at different price levels?

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Today’s question came from a busy entrepreneur about his marketing plan.

Should I have specific segmented brands or one brand that does all at different price levels?

All markets have different performance and cost needs. Should we have multiple product brands – i.e. low cost/low performance and mid/high or have one brand that can stretch across multiple performance levels and price according to options? It makes sense to economize the product manufacturing chain but, what is everyone’s experience when consolidating a full portfolio into a single brand lineup?

Your Brand should solve a specific problem for a specific niche or class of people. If you have multiple visions/missions you should have separate branding and marketing strategies. For example: Sarah has her Health Coach business and she also sells her own brand of peanut butter.   Sarah should have separate branding and marketing strategies for those very different product and businesses.

 

product funnel2Product Funnel Strategy

Within each separate brand – you should have a product funnel strategy that leads your target client up your product/service pricing structure. Normally people start off with free samples – to allow the target client to get to know you (like a first date). In Sarah’s example, she may offer a complimentary discovery health sessions, newsletters, articles, short audios/video for her coaching; and free samples of your peanut butter for her other brand.

 

Then you create some low, mid, high end offers for each separate brand. In Sarah’s example, she can create group workshops, subscriptions based programs, one-on-one coaching programs, and then high-end product bundles with personal trainers, personal chef, image consultant, and a high-end shopping spree when your health goals are met.
If you only want to sell your coaching and peanut butter to High-Profile, Affluent clients (that’s your target client) — then you advertize, market and visit only the places where the High-Profile, Affluent people are. Your price points are selected to match the budgets of your target niche/clients.

 

Do you have an umbrella Brand that covers all your products?

You will have an Umbrella Company that owns the Health Coach and Peanut Butter business. But the branding will be different. For instance, Kraft owns Kool-Aid, Velveeta, Miracle Whip and Maxwell House. But each of these products have their separate branding, target market and product Funnels.

 

I know your situation is different. Why don’t we schedule an appointment, where I get to know more about your unique situation? And then I will be happy to make recommendations on what your best steps are moving forward. To schedule an appointment, book it HERE.

 

 

Should I focus on just one niche customer group initially?

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I have been trying to get feedback from my ideal target audience or nice but I am finding the group hard to reach. There is another target audience that could benefit from my service. I am not as passionate about that group but I think they may be easier to get feedback as I build out my business. Should I focus on both or only one?

 

I recommend that you focus on one niche. But I also want to caution on your method of reaching those people. If your method of reaching “people” is ineffective or flawed – then it doesn’t matter how many target audiences you go after. Maybe it’s not the that the group is hard to reach. Maybe it’s the way you are going about it. If the ladder is true – then you will have the same difficulties with the second niche or group.
My recommendation would be to study up on the most effective methods to reach your target market or niche. Find other business owners that are successfully marketing to that same target – and find out how they are doing it. Start partnering with complimentary business that shares the same target audience. Business network with those who are already successful in marketing to your target audience. Learn from those that have achieved what you want to achieve.

If you would like to chat more about this, please setup an appointment.

Where Do I begin to Market My Business

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Where Do I begin to Market My Business

As a business solutions consultant, I constantly get the question: “Where do I begin to market my business?“

Regardless of the type of business, the first step is to create a marketing plan. Your marketing plan will outline your business goals, your marketing goals, and your marketing budget. It will also include how you are going to measure your progress against those goals as well as your time-line or schedule for success.

Simple Marketing Plan:

Below is the minimum that you need in your marketing plan.

  • Identify a target market.
  • Develop a strong marketing message and hook.
  • Create one piece of marketing collateral that will attract prospects and set you apart
  • Get visible in your target market.
  • Keep following up to build relationships and credibility.

 

Marketing Next Steps:

Become an Expert. Start exposing your expertise, tips, techniques and skill through various media. It’s easy to create videos, audios, articles, eBooks, and speaking engagements to get your name out there.

Cultivate Raving Fans. Start collecting fans that are interested in what you have to offer. Create your social media pages such as a Business Facebook page. Use your Facebook pages to collect your fans’ contact information such as name, email addresses, and phone numbers.

Determine your niche. What are you selling and to whom? Start by using skills that you already have, such as writing, web design and graphic arts. Seek out familiar industries. Cleary define your target client and demographic.

Make a list of your potential market. Reach out to friends, local groups and places where you do business. Most professions have associated professional organizations. Start attending your professional association meetings, conferences and expos aligned with your field, as well as various local business networking events.

Go where your clients meet. Once you have clearly identified your niche, visualize where those people meet, do and have. For example, if your target client and niche is affluent men over 40 years of age, take up golf.

Advertise your marketing business online. Start out with a Business Facebook page. Eventually, you need a web site with your own domain name. However, you can get started by using a free Facebook sites. Make sure to use a professional business template.

Link all of your personal social media. Ask your friends to “share” or forward the news about your new marketing business. Your new business must show clients that you know how to use the latest resources effectively.

Market your business constantly. Every email you send should have information about your new marketing business in the form of a web address, slogan, or similar at the bottom. Holidays are opportunities to share a greeting from your business Facebook page. Social gatherings present an opportunity to mention your new business.

Get referrals. Once you have a client or a lead, ask them to tell others about you. Consider offering a discount on their next project when they bring you new clients. Don’t be shy about asking for written or video testimonials.

I know your situation is different. Why don’t we schedule an appointment, where I get to know more about your unique situation? And then I will be happy to make recommendations on what your best steps are moving forward. To schedule an appointment, book it HERE.

With enough notice, it would be my honor to guest-speak at no cost to your group organization.

I have a presentation on “3 Keys to saying YES to everything but on your own terms”. To sign up for the complimentary course, go to www.lauraleerose.com/Say-Yes

 

How can I get clients for my business?

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose.  I am a speaker and author. I am an expert in time and project management.

I help busy professionals and entrepreneurs create effective systems so that they can comfortably delegate to others, be more profitable and have time to enjoy life even if they don’t have time to learn new technology or train their staff.  I have a knack for turning big ideas into on time and profitable projects.

At the end of the day, I transform the way you run your business into a business you love to run.

This question came from a busy entrepreneur:

I am building my health coach business and trying to get clients. I am using social media outlets, emailing other holistic businesses to connect with, and offering workshops to local natural grocers. Getting individual clients is something I really want right now to bring in income and I’m having trouble. Any suggestions?

Defining your target clients:

“Health coach business” is pretty broad. My recommendation is to narrow your niche. You need to be able to clearly identify your target client. For instance;

  • What are the demographics of your target client?
  • What specific problems do they face and want to overcome (be as specific as possible)?
  • Where do they normally live and shop?
  • What kinds of foods do they normally eat?
  • What are their hobbies?
  • What kind of lifestyle do they current have?
  • What kind of lifestyle do they want to have?
  • What income do they make or want to make?

Once you have clearly described your target client – go to places where your target clients are.

For example: if your target client is affluent women, above the age of 40, interested in health – then check out the country clubs to see if you can give talks and workshops there.  Narrowing your target market or creating a niche will actually help you attract more clients and better market yourself.

Next Steps:

Once you have a clear picture of your target client and niche, then market to your Power Team. Your Power Team is small businesses that share your same target market and provide complimentary services.

For example: Small businesses that wish to locate ‘affluent women above the age of 40, who are interested in health’ would include:

  • Gyms, Personal Trainers, Aerobics Instructors
  • Personal Shoppers and Image Consultants
  • Health Spas/Day Spas
  • Beauty Supply consultants
  • Hair Stylist

My recommendation would be to find and collaborate with an affiliated partner in your Power Team group. Create package deals which include services from one or more of your affiliated partners.

Example:

Total Mind and Body Makeover Introductory Package Includes:

  • 3 months Health Coaching (weekly one-on-one coaching)
  • 3 months of Gym Membership
  • 2 celebratory Spa Days (you can take both days yourself, or go once with a friend)
  • 1 Image Makeover with an image consultant, personal shopper and make-up expert

This introductory package offer would go out to your affiliated partner’s contacts, be on their websites, and be equally promoted by them. The promotional package price will be appropriately divided by the participants.

Another sample package could include the “free” offers that the affiliated partners already provide.   For example:

  • 1 Health Coach one-on-one session
  • 7 days membership at the gym
  • 1 free 30 minute massage
  • 1 session to match clothing color to skin tone, and body type.

The idea is to package what the affiliated partners already freely provide, into a more attractive starter package. Providing a more end-to-end solution or 360° program can differentiate your programs from competitors.

Where do you go from here?

Once you have the right programs in place, co-market with your affiliated partners. Create catalyst events that encourage the clients from each business to mingle and visit each shop.   Offer to host a party for the Image Consultant and Make-up Artist at your establishment. Have them invite their clients into your shop for a free Make-Over.

I know your situation is different. Why don’t we schedule an appointment, where I get to know more about your unique situation? And then I will be happy to make recommendations on what your best steps are moving forward. To schedule an appointment, book it HERE.

With enough notice, it would be my honor to guest-speak at no cost to your group organization.

I have a presentation on “3 Keys to saying YES to everything but on your own terms”. To sign up for the complimentary course, go to www.lauraleerose.com/Say-Yes