How can workers set themselves apart in this new era of layoffs?

We first need to look at history and realize that we have been through recessions before. We are a nation of resilient people; we will get through this recession but what we do today will determine how we bounce back and set the stage for generations to come. As a young nation, this is just another learning curve – but a lesson that we cannot afford to be forgotten. At times like these, it is important that we focus on can be done to move forward.
Even in recessionary times, consumers still purchase goods and services. It is time to reconsider the value you are offering your customer. How do you set yourself apart from the competition.

What I have seen lately are requests to offer some business tools like etiquette and social skills that will not only improve the overall image of the company, but it also offers value to the employees regarding their personal and professional development. One of my clients hired me to offer multiple training dates to provide seminars on office manners and courtesy as well as meeting and greeting. When a company chooses to invest in their employees with skills in these areas, they will see the return on investment in customer satisfaction and retention. This will affect their bottom line because customer service is not an option. Without customers there is NO business.

Five Key Ways Worker set themselves apart.

1. Be Essential- Now is the time to be sure to arrive early ( at the very least on time) and stay late if needed. Ask others in your department if you can be of assistance. Finish your projects in a timely and efficient manner. Make sure you are the one person that the boss would hate to lose.
2. Be Seen- This is the time that you want to be visible and demonstrate ambition. Difficult times require companies to seek out and take care of their best people. If possible, determine a way to stand out from the crowd. If you are in sales, what can you do to get your numbers up. Companies will not likely layoff their Star employees.
3. Be Your Best Self- Are you giving 100% while on the job? Do you spend time on personal calls or surfing the internet? Remember that the company time is the company’s time; therefore you need to be fully present while at work. Would you fight to keep you on the job?
4. Be Budget Conscious- Think of new ways to generate revenue or cut cost. You may just have an idea that can save both your job and your company.
5. Be Valuable- Build your skills. Companies can spare employees who skills are obsolete. Consider taking professional development courses to keep your skills up to date and joining professional trade and networking organizations.


Final thoughts:

It all begins with a realistic assessment of our current effort on the job. Are we giving 100% effort to our job? Are we being the one person the boss would hate to lose? If we were told to let go of 10% of the workforce, would we be considered collateral damage. There are some things that we have no control over like the recession; however we can decide if we want to be a part of the solution. Remember the 85% of your success if based on your people and social skills, these are skills we can learn.

My book Professionally Polished, Business Etiquette Savvy for Today’s Competitive Market will be available in March at my website www.makeyourbestipression.com .

Today's Business- Regarding Pricing

There is a value perception that goes with price cutting. People often think that something is of greater value when it is priced higher. I recommend that business owners need to focus on offering more value to their client that is not related to price. There are also options to partner with like businesses to offer a sample of another product or service. For example: If someone ordered a book on line about interviewing skills, that order could also include a special value of a professional pen by another company. The two companies could then share the data of that on-line customer for future prospecting.

There was a speaker that found someone that had a product that complimented his program. He approached that company and when someone ordered the companies product or service, the speaker offered a complimentary 30 day membership to his coaching program. He has had over 60% of those customers continue on with the program. This is an example of a win- win for both organizations. The company was able to offer more value to their client and the speaker gained new customers without increasing his operating expenses. This is also a way to reach a new market segment that the speaker may never have been able to connect with on this own. This is a strategy you can implement today and continue to use tomorrow.

It is important that a company has a web marketing plan as well as a direct marketing approach. It is also important to bring the personal relationship back into the sales process. So often we have lost this personal touch, and now is the time that customer service needs to be a priority. Remember every customer wants to know what is in it for me.

You may consider doing a small survey of their clients to find out what they would like to see. Often our clients will tell us if we will just ask. Offer an incentive to have them fill out the information. It may be an expense, but this is invaluable. Not only are you getting their buying points but they are telling you how to keep their business.

Lastly, I believe that all businesses need to focus on building relationships. They need to join an organization and really spend the time and energy to get to know people and build a reputation of the go to person for their product or service. At the end of the day, people do business with people they like.