Business is a mixture of so many things happening in your day all at the same time. As a successful business person, especially as a CEO, president or business owner, you have to wade through many, many things simultaneously. Some would refer to it as multi-tasking, but it’s much more than that. Now add into the mix, common sense.
There’s…
- What you want to have happen in your business day
- What will happen
- What can happen
- What you and your co-workers can do or accomplish in a day.
That’s why the role of common sense is essential to your business success every day.
When you write your daily, weekly, monthly or yearly business plan, it is usually written with what should happen. Yet you need to pause and consider carefully both the short term and the long term business viewpoint.
Asking yourself: What’s realistic?
If the business plan isn’t realistic. If you can’t produce or accomplish what is included in the plan. Then why is it in the plan?
The key is to ask: What’s possible?
There’s a phrase often used in business: Under promise. Over deliver.
Keep this phrase in mind when organizing and putting into action your business plans.
This is where common sense becomes essential to your business success.
It’s good to dream about what you want to do or want to accomplish but it’s another thing as to what is realistic; what can be done based on timelines and deadlines every business day.
Know what your limits are but always reach beyond those limits when possible. In fact, make it possible as often as you can. But use common sense. Always.
Common sense in business isn’t always common.
For example, those who move into a management role, including as a CEO, president or business owner, within a company can sometimes forget what it was like as an employee. This can lead to not paying attention to what the marketplace needs. Or not paying attention to what’s really possible and in alignment with company goals.
Common sense in business means paying attention to the realism that life brings to each business day.
Common sense includes:
- The needs of co-workers
- The needs of customers
- The needs of business associates
- The needs of yourself
- The ability to deliver what’s promised.
The last point is vitally important: The ability to deliver what is promised.
Regardless of your job function or business role, you must have the ability to deliver what is promised.
You can’t say, for example: … will have that over to you tomorrow. When in reality, it’s not possible, for whatever reason. Change happens. It’s just a fact of doing business. But to say what you know isn’t going to happen or it’s postponement after postponement with missed deadlines. Not acceptable. Nor are the excuses acceptable.
Promises are sacred things.
If you promise someone, for example, the check is in the mail. You better make certain the check is in the mail because someone is expecting it. If not received, you’ve broken a business trust.
If you promise or guarantee a project or a shipment will be delivered by a particular date and it doesn’t arrive as scheduled, you’ve broken a business trust.
Truth and trust is golden in today’s business world. It can take you and your business far along the vast pathways of business success.
Common sense and broken promises are the opposites of each other. Common sense builds business relationships is essential to success. Broken promises only lead to mistrust, stress and a loss of business.
Common sense combined with how you think about business will equal success.
Make common sense the key element when outlining your business plan and how you intend to go through your business life each day.
Remember:
- Write down your business plan.
- Review what you’ve written.
- Ask yourself: Does the plan make sense?
- This applies to all sizes and types of business plans.
- Consider, when appropriate, to have others review the plan for additional input.
- Ask: Is this possible?
Starting today, incorporate as your new mantra:
Does this make sense?
It’s a phrase you should always have an awareness of in your mind.
If you can do that, each business day will bring success!
To your success!
Howard Lewinter guides – focuses – advises CEOs, presidents and business owners throughout the United States to MORE success – MORE profit – less stress. Get MORE from your business! Talk business with Howard: 888-738-1855.
Also published as a guest post on the Linked Into Business blog.