Successful Businesses Plan their way to Productivity and Profits

CEOs, directors, department heads, supervisors, entrepreneurs and small business owners all have one critical business component in common – the need for a business plan. Whether at the outset of starting a business or many years down the line, there is no substitute for strategic planning.

However, business development and coaching expert, Greg Brown of GB Executive Solutions, says formulating that plan and getting all-important input from your team and buy-in from staff is the key to planning success.

“Meetings are an essential part of the business planning process and can save time, increase motivation, productivity and solve problems. They are vital for management success and communication and enable you to organise your business and plan ahead for the year to come. Engaging your staff in planning meetings and properly communicating the required results is vital to business success and therefore productivity and profits.”

Successful planning also depends on the time and cost factors being taken into consideration at the very start of the process, starting with the planning meetings themselves.

Greg also has plenty of experience as an event facilitator and works with many high-level executives and entrepreneurs across a variety of industries.

“Whatever your business planning or budget cycle traditionally the ‘dark’ days of January and February are for ploughing on with the prospect of Spring and renewal some way off.  Taking control, when your staff are probably feeling at their lowest, will breathe new impetus into your organisation, whether it’s reviewing or planning new business and strategy.”

Although many businesses’ yearly plans run from April to March, in line with their financial year, the most efficient and organised companies use the relative calm of the early New Year to start their planning well ahead of this time.  From business development meetings to board reviews to budget planning, there are many different areas in which planning is essential, especially with business growth and revenues at stake.

Choosing the right venue for your meeting is one of the most important factors to consider.  Your venue needs not only to have all the facilities that you require for your meeting, but it should also be:

•    In a convenient location for your attendees, especially if your organisation is multi-site.
•    Able to provide integrated catering for your event; many events are a serious let down simply due to the awful lunch served up during what should be a relaxing and recuperating part of the day.
•    Competitively priced and within budget.
•    Adaptable in terms of numbers and requirements.
•    An appropriate setting for the type of event or meeting you are organising – many business venues are indistinguishable from each other.  How can you expect your staff to be at their best and show up 100% when they are faced with the mediocrity of pale blue/grey walls day after day?

“By far the most effective board and top team events I have facilitated have been off-site, away from the hustle and bustle of the office.  And being faced with a pleasant view or setting, such as rolling hills or fields, has an amazing power to unlock your creative and problem-solving potential, as well as streamlining general thinking processes.”

Setting and environment is important on many levels as evidenced by the West Surrey branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) who chose the leafy-Surrey venue of Loseley Park for one of their events.  IoD Administration and Events Manager, Julie Jerbic, said, “We chose Loseley as a venue initially because of its reputation as a prestige venue, the accessible location and stunning setting that the stately home and its grounds provided.  It is now the venue for our annual new members event, which results in a positive networking experience for all involved.”

In fact, according to Goleman in Primal Leadership, the link between climate, or environment, and business has been reaffirmed, stating that for every 1% improvement in the [service] climate, there is a 2% increase in revenue.  Workers who feel upbeat and part of a company will go the extra mile to please customers, both internal and external, and therefore improve the bottom line.

Research also shows that changes to the work setting or environment can boost productivity by 20%, so it would follow that a pleasant and visually stimulating environment for your next meeting would lead to enhanced productivity and results, even if at first glance it may seem to be the more expensive option.

Of course, it is always to prudent to budget for any business activity, just as it sensible to plan your meeting some time in advance.  This will give you sufficient time to make all the necessary arrangements as well as ensure that all the key players for the meeting are available.  Another important reason is that many popular meeting venues are booked some time in advance during peak periods.  A meeting in the New Year, gives you the extra head start, but means that you have more choice and availability – usually at a lower price.  You can have your meeting and book it!

Article Source: http://www.theukarticledirectory.co.uk