Prior to the recession during what we would now consider to be the good business times, most CEOs, presidents or business owners sat behind their desks not having much contact with the customer, delegating to their employees as the sales and profits flowed in.  They never made sales calls, never left their office, all day they just talked to their key people and shuffled papers back and forth.

The recession and what may now be considered the post-recession period has resulted in CEOs, presidents and business owners changing the way daily business is conducted. It’s back to the basics and a return to the front line, meaning… If you haven’t already done so, you need to get out of the office.  Spend time in every department of your company.  Encourage your employees to continue to look for efficiencies to cut costs and boost sales.  Don’t hesitate to ride along with your sales people to see what is going on.  Show them how to make a cold call or how to open a new account.  Personally visit established customers to maintain their business. Everywhere you go listen, listen, listen for new ideas and strategy.  Be interactive with your employees and customers.  Have a positive attitude.

Today’s economy requires that you spend more time running your business and experiencing what is going on.  There’s a great quote from a book entitled, We Were Merchants, which was recently reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. The book is the story of the Sternberg family and their ownership of the Goudchaux’s department store chain in Louisiana.  One paragraph in the review goes like this: … The author describes “the Sternberg way” of retailing as emphasizing “courtly, old-world manners, personal attention to customers, an instinct for what sells, and a keen eye for what was occurring on the floor of his store.”  When a prospective employee asked where his office would be, Erich Sternberg would look him over and say: “My friend, at the bottom of your shoes.” Everyone would be on the floor serving customers…

Regardless, of a good or a bad economy, the one essential business strategy every CEO, president or business owner needs to remember is exactly what Mr. Sternberg talked about – that your office is at the bottom of your shoes.