Category Archives: accountability

Daily sales behaviors?

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Daily behaviors completed and measured get results. 

I utilize and require sales people working with me to use a tracking system consisting of 7,500 points per year. I know that if a sales person does the behaviors consistent with Prospecting, Telephone, Email, and Face-to-Face customer contact at a rate of about 33 points on average for 230 working days per year, can bring in $3,000,000+ in sales bookings for the company. It is a proven process. It works.

Many sales people won't do daily behaviors. Doing and tracking is hard. 

A lot of sales people get little or no training in selling behaviors. I’ve met, hired and fired sales people who are afraid of the accountability a system creates. 

Couple a good behavioral system with consistent on-going training and sales happen. 

The system can actually be set up for the entire year. Think about that. Set up your sales schedule for the next twelve months, do the daily behaviors and watch your income go to where you want it to go and no excuses.

POWERFUL STUFF!

Contact me for more point system information. I'll also direct you to some good sales training to go with it.

Make 2019 your best year yet!

2019 Goals, Planning & Resolutions! Make 2019 the best year yet!

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Yesterday on the news there was an article about Saturday the 12th being “Quit Day!”.  I couldn’t believe it, being a news article. 

The discussion revolved around the idea that the 12th is unofficial day that many people “Quit” working on and abandon their New Year goals and resolutions.  — WOW!

I write about the importance of goal setting and maintenance for the entire year.

Don’t give up:

Here are 5 tips to keep your goals moving for 2019:

  1. Make sure you have goals written down and easy to find.
  2. Look at your goals daily, create the habit – Look at them daily.
  3. Make time to work on your goals daily, even if you spend a few minutes. Just spending time to review them keeps you aware.
  4. If a goal seems too hard, revise it.  Look at smaller parts of each goal to work on, keep forward progress.
  5. Never give up — Find a way to stay accountable and you will see and feel results.

Make 2019 your best year yet!

Goals — Are yours written? Are you working them daily?

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After much reading, discussing and watching I am convinced that over 95% of people going into a new year don't have written measurable goals for the year.  Many or probably most have heard this and know the importance of goal setting goals, still not written down.

If you are a sales person and say “Wow! I need more sales to make my year!” — You may be out of luck. If your sales cycle takes longer than 10 weeks from start to close to shipment, you are running out of time.

Now is the time to begin looking toward the New Year 2019. Begin by setting an appointment with yourself for 30 – 60 minutes. Get blank paper or a blank computer screen and begin writing your thoughts and ideas for accomplishment next year. This first cut at goal setting doesn't have to be neat — just take time to think about and write your ideas and thoughts down. My beginning session is usually quite messy and unorganized.

Put this information away in a place you absolutely won't forget where it is so that you can retrieve it, early December.  Then set an appointment with yourself for 30 – 60 minutes early December and get your list out.

In December you will be amazed at the progress you will have already made toward thinking about and planning your goals for next year. Your fist list may be messy, but you will be ready to define and refine the list. You will be subtracting, adding and modifying the original set of goals. Make the list a little neater and resolve to begin your goals and measure your goals.

Why do I believe in doing this? It's because I use this method every year and then I set a tracking system and measure progress. This works!

Try for yourself and get into the 5% group of people who actually write and strive to achieve their goals. Remember a lot of “Luck” goes along with a lot of preparation.  

While continuing to build my own goal system I have found and in process of reviewing a software program that looks very promising — Click and have a look 

I'll comment further as I look at this software — Let me know your thoughts.

Make 2019 your best year yet!

“WITH” — Why is this here?

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I don't have the name of the originator of this acronym. Why Is This Here? – “WITH”

As we continue the 5s + 1 journey, we find that it is not as easy as it sounds. Touring the manufacturing facility we continuously see items not in place, and in many cases not in place where they should be.

To get a feel for the process, start with your current area and surroundings. In my home office I notice piles of “Gonna-Do” projects forming. Seems like they start and stall. Look at the papers, folders, files, boxes or whatever and say: Why Is This Here? – “WITH”.

Look at just one item/project for a few minutes. Review what is in the pile, folder or box and throw away the truly non-essential items. Decide if it is really a goal contributing project, a nice to have project, or maybe a wishful non-critical project.

You will be amazed just sitting at your own desk, home or office and look what is out and waiting, or not needed. I know this thinking is not for everyone, but you will find out of place clutter in the oddest areas.

Walking around with this attitude helps keep momentum going especially if you are trying to 5s + 1 a manufacturing facility.  Getting started, doing and sustaining the 5s + 1 attitude is a difficult process.

  1. Sort 2. Straighten 3. Sweep/Shine 4. Standardize 5. Sustain +1 – Safety.

Remember:  Why Is This Here? – “WITH”

Good Luck on your Lean Journey — Once started you will find applications at work and at home.

Make 2018 your best year yet!

Customer satisfaction!

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Have you ever made one or more of your customers mad and didn’t even know it. Consider the following:

What is one of the worst things you can do to a customer — Cause opportunity for an RMA – Returned Material Authorization — something is wrong and the customer is not happy!

An RMA is the black mark of black marks.

I started my career of customer service in the world of RMA and Warranty.

It can be one of the most frustrating things you can do to a customer.

1.     The product was bought to use not send back.

2.     On-time, instant gratification, great product — gone.

3.     There is a tremendous need for a system, procedures, and people to handle the returns. 

4.     Both Sides are MAD – Customer returning product and the supplier trying to handle non-routine work.

From experience of owning a company I have witnessed the process of people in the organization knowingly shipping product, that was bad, to make the monthly numbers. 

When I discovered this several people were immediately removed from my organization. 

BUT

As I stopped and reflected on what happened, I decided I was probably part or all of the cause. 

I stopped cold — all managers were summoned and we decided this needed correction. Aanother moment of getting the Lean Journey started and not really being aware of it. The underlying cause was bad operating systems. We did not have good repeatable processes to ship material.

So began the journey. We did get better and improve. We began the real “Lean Journey”

I was amazed at the rate we lowered RMA’s at our company! — and — our growth took off.

 

Make 2018 your best year yet!

Comments welcome!

 

AS9100d – Aerospace Quality Management System / Lean Manufacturing!

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Have you ever thought about the “Lean Journey” and the process of having AS9100d – Aerospace Quality Management System?

I believe that obtaining the certification of AS9100d is a tremendous accomplishment for a small company.  As the required standards are reviewed and met you can find many parallels within and complimentary to “Lean Manufacturing”.

The basis of AS9100 accommodates and describes less waste, improved efficiency, less rejects, improved on-time delivery and standard processes and procedures.

In my previous company I believed in, recommended and achieved AS9100 certification.  Then about 10 years ago I really began to think through and build our company around lean manufacturing techniques. 

We recognized tremendous improvements — in all areas of our company!

I believe this is the way to go in the Aerospace Supplier Environment.  Too many times I’ve heard company presidents and owners say they couldn’t or wouldn’t get the AS9100 certification.  Too hard, Too much paperwork, my systems won’t accommodate the certification — Blah, Blah, Blah.

I am now affiliated with an Aerospace Machining and Fabrication company.  We have achieved AS9100d certification — We are expanding and growing with more “Lean Manufacturing Principles”.

Organized Chaos!

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I wrote about our move almost a year and a half ago.

Over the course of 8 working days we moved the office and machinery from 18,000 SqFt to 22,500 SqFt, with more expansion room available. The company is in a larger more modern facility, one building versus two.

We ran customer jobs right up until power was cut and the machines were moved out. From a delivery standpoint only one order went late. We opened Monday with our most critical machines operating.

The fundamentals of 5s and Lean begin. The shop is now set up for better more efficient operation. Is it perfect? No! When jumping on the “Continuous Improvement” train, it is never ending. We will be moving and tweaking forever.

We are looking forward to shaping our destiny and becoming a better company to operate, a better place to work, and a better supplier for our customers.

Then we were in “Organized Chaos” mode. Now we are better — still in somewhat “Organized Chaos” mode. Getting better every day!

Make 2018 your best year yet!

 

Customer contact and follow-up!

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Ask a sales person –

“When is the best time to follow-up with XYZ customer?”

“When is the best time to follow-up on a recent quote?

All too often we hear, It’s too early, or I am not sure now is the right time, or I don’t want to bug the Buyer/Customer/Etc.

Have you ever taken the time to think about “Follow-Up” in selling? It is estimated that you need 7 contacts with potential clients/customers before a transaction happens.

I am self-taught in selling and when I found a really good system I latched on to it. I have studied and used the Sandler Selling system for many years. (I would be happy to provide my contacts to anyone interested.)

One great technique that I learned and use is the Sandler Technique of using an Up-Front Contract with potential customers.

 Simply ask the prospect/client for the next time contact would be appropriate. Set an exact date and time if possible or get at least a time frame for contact — Then do what was agreed upon!

Too many times I have had sales people working for me or trying to sell to me stop — after the very first call.

Never get caught in this trap — It’s too soon to call — “Oops” now it’s too late the order was let to someone else.

Make 2018 your best year yet!

 

Sales goals 2018! Are you being held accountable? Do you want to be held accountable?

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Sales goals 2018! Are you being held accountable? Do you want to be held accountable?

Soon the next year 2018 goals will be set for sales!

As a salesperson are you ready to go get them? If you are setting high aspirations and goals for next year's sales, are you being held accountable? Can you hold yourself accountable? Can you see the year through and complete your sales goals?

Unfortunately there are many sales people with very loose structure. The boss says go forth and bring home business, with no discussion of how much or what type. There is no discussion as to how the business is going to be brought in.

I do have an accountability group of various sales people wanting to figure out how to have accountability for their actions and report on how well, or not well they are doing.

Finding these type sales people is difficult. Most don't want to report and have accountability. We have had our group for several months this year. A small group and already have seen drop off because recording behaviors and adhering to them is difficult.

The core group that we have believes in recording, reporting and discussing weekly sales efforts. AND, they are ready to talk about what went wrong, what went right, how much success they had and what they want to do to get better next week.

Not for faint of heart or excuse makers — we do now have 3 openings.

Are you ready to watch sales go to another level? Let me know.

I hope 2017 is ending as a great year. Get ready to make 2018 even better!

 

 

 

Third quarter — Are you making your sales or ready to make excuses?

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Excuses

Third quarter makes or breaks sales success. You as a sales person need to have the pipeline going with plenty of upcoming opportunities working. Many sales people have lead times of 9 to 15 weeks. If you aren't booking orders this quarter you won't be able to fill the last quarter of the year — Then out come the excuses.

Obviously if you haven't completed booking all orders for the year by end of this quarter or early into next quarter sales for the year can't happen.  Management questions of performance will begin.  What is happening?  Where are the sales?

The problem with sales that bothers me most follows:

I've read that more than 1/2 sales people do not have the right skills to be successful. Not because of lack of talent, but the inability of organizations to provide specific tools and training for sales success. Many companies do not have a defined sales process. Many companies don't have a process to share best practices.  Sales managers don't coach sales people. There is often no tracking system. 

With this being true, sales people have no choice but to become excuse making machines. 

Having defined processes based on success are imperative. Over the years from personal experience and really good sales training I have developed a program for sales success. Several sales people from other selling areas have taken this system and developed and adapted it to their specific situation and have attained really great selling success.

Let me know thoughts and/or if you want more information.

Make 2017 your best year yet?