Three areas to Spring Clean in your business…no brooms

photo by Elizabeth Albert via Flickr
photo by Elizabeth Albert via Flickr

It only takes a couple warm days to get a serious case of Spring fever and if you live in the Midwest you got a good taste of it over the last few days.   The birds are chirping, the air smells different, and even though old man winter probably isn’t completely gone, we know the seasons are changing.

Spring cleaning is a ritual some people look forward to and some of us (ok…most of us) dread. But either way it is something that needs to be done or you will risk being featured on the next season of Hoarders!  When it comes to your business, this same idea of cleaning is important to keep your business moving forward and the most important ones don’t require a broom!

Check out these 3 areas you should focus on for your business spring cleaning:

Appearance

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.   You have worked for that first meeting for months, the day is finally here….just how much time do you have?  1 minute? 30 seconds? 10 seconds?   Would you believe 1/10th of second?   Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov ran a series of experiments and found in just 1/10th of second a stranger forms an impression based on our facial expressions.  And, furthermore they found longer engagements don’t alter the opinion significantly?   Guess that confirms there is science behind “Love at First Sight”!  If you want a refresher course check out these 22 suggestions with photos.

Negative Energy

Get rid of it!  Do your employees, co-workers, customers, clients, and family pick up positive or negative energy from you?    If you asked your employees on a scale of 1 – 10 to anonymously grade you or their work environment with 1 being (-) and 10 (+) what number would they give?    Consider asking them.   Does your business spend more time talking about what is wrong vs. what is right?    If what is wrong is the constant focus, your audience hears “Problems-Problems-Problems”.  When you focus on what is right, your audience hears “Potential-Potential-Potential”.   Just reading the words creates a different emotion; there is a huge difference in the two.   This is not to suggest there isn’t accountability in your business, but the idea is without some positive reinforcement you’re not much fun to be around.  When you appreciate the good, the good appreciate.

Sharp Tools

No, not your mower blade, this doesn’t require wrenches.  Where in your business are you a little rusty?  Do you understand your numbers?  Is your sales team really at the top of their game?  When is the last time you checked out a program a little outside of your comfort zone that may give you a slight edge in your industry?   Do you commit to reading business books, but never find the time to read them? Would you like to learn the nuggets of great business books without having to read them?   Right now while this is fresh in your mind, take a few minutes and challenge yourself to commit to at least one thing this Spring to improve your Business Acumen.  Maybe it is a course at a community college?  The options are limitless, but it requires you to be brave enough to take action.  Write them down now, if you click off this post without acting, chances are you never will act on it.   So don’t delay.   Go do it!   We know you can!

As always if you have any thoughts or suggestions we love to hear them.   Start Cleaning!

Chris Steinlage Kansas City Business Coach