Your Business | Voices My knowledge of operations comes from years of working in the trenches. I’ve learned by osmosis mixed with being told no and a lot of trial and error. I worked my way up from an entry-level role to a C-suite position, and along my journey I have learned and seen so many things. But I always come back to the basics. No matter how many books you read on management, at the core there are basic steps or tips that determine every outcome. Let’s get back to the basics in running successful promo businesses. Here are five quick tips to achieve operational success: 1 Do The Work Don’t skip steps in the process. Take time to do your research, vetting ideas and processes. Doing this will allow you to make better decisions that will directly affect what you are trying to accomplish. This preparation is essential to creating a solid plan. Slacking in this area can be costly and may lead to the downfall of a project or process. 2 Listen And Solicit Feedback Listen and trust people of tenure in the roles or positions closely tied to the process or plan. Solicit feedback and stay in constant communication. Involve all key players and eliminate silos. This will create understanding and alignment among the team. Alignment ensures all players are working in unison to accomplish the goal – a superpower often forgotten. 3 Execute It’s easier said than done, but always critical. Be clear about what you want to accomplish. Set goals or milestones, and be accountable. Discipline will be necessary, so you can avoid shiny things taking you off course or going down rabbit holes. It is easy to become overwhelmed, so execute each task in phases or steps. Break things down into bite-sized pieces, allowing a buildup to completing the intended goals. 4 Measure At this point you have done a sizable portion of the work. Too often, this is when fatigue kicks in. You have been working so hard that you neglect to measure the fruits of your labor – but the work is not over. Retrospective meetings are important, but it’s also crucial to have tangible data No matter how many books you read on management, at the core there are basic steps or tips that determine every outcome. PPAI • JUNE 2023 • 29
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