I was driving home from work last night when I saw a bee inside my car. I remember leaving my window slightly open and then suddenly hearing a quiet buzzing sound. That was when I saw the insect repeatedly bumping against my windshield. I rolled down the window to let it escape, but it continued its futile escape attempt.
The little bee thought it was trapped.
Eventually, I stopped the car, grabbed a plastic cup, caught the bee and released him back outside.
When I got home, I realized that so many business owners were similar to that little bee. As someone who has been working in the BPO industry for quite a long time, I’ve seen lots of business owners acting the same way. They thought they were stuck, and despite the obvious escape route, they still insist on doing it their own way.
Some business owners realize their mistake and they find their way out. Others, however, run out of resources and their business eventually shuts down.
How to get unstuck
What do you do when your income is gradually slowing down, or worse, has completely stopped? There is no single answer for this question (I wish there was!) However, there are several ways to get your business up running again. Here are some of them.
Reevaluate your vision
Sometimes, as time goes by, business owners forget why they even started the organization in the first place.
Many customers patronize a business because of its strong and compelling vision. Aside from that, when a business owner constantly reminds employees about the organization’s vision, they will work with a higher morale knowing that they are working for a bigger reason.
Identify what your customers really need
As an entrepreneur, it is your job to offer products and/or services that will benefit your customers. Complacency can lead your business into a deep ditch. When your business begins stalling, one of the first things to do is take a close look at your target market.
What are they looking for? What do they want/need? What are the current trends that people seem to like? Find the answer to these questions and see if you are offering a relevant, interesting, and useful solution.
Develop deeper relationships
Our society today suffers from people having poor relationship with each other. In business, building strong bonds with your customers, employees, and co-entrepreneurs is essential. In fact, I dare say that having the right connections is enough to get your business rolling again.
But how do you build better relationships?
First, learn how to connect. Earn your customer’s trust by listening to what they have to say. In the internet age, there is no reason for any business owner to remain distant. Allow them to know your personality, let them see that your business is something more than a faceless corporation and you will dramatically improve your relationship with the people around you.
It’s common for businesses to get stuck every once in awhile and that’s actually a good thing. In fact, when you begin to feel that you’re treading waist-high waters, you can use it as an opportunity to slow down. Use it to learn more about your about your business, your customers, and even yourself.
Has your business ever been stuck? What did you do about it? Let us know in the comments below.