Tuesday, November 6, 2012

ARE YOU GETTING BETTER?

Several years ago I heard Tom Peters, maybe the foremost management expert in the United States, make the following statement

"If the other guy's getting better, then you'd better be getting better faster than the other guy's getting better ---or you're getting worse".

That quote always stayed with me and kept me on my toes. If I was feeling like we were really good, I would remember this quote. Once you are in the race you cannot rest. It is imperative to constantly be improving your company and yourself. Always be looking for ways to take the lead in new niche markets or how to become more proficient in the markets you are currently serving. 

There are more and more "sharp" business people entering our industry and I always tried to remember that just because we have been in business for a number of years does not mean we know it all. You see, some companies can be in business 30 years but it is just 1 year repeated 29 times over. Which one are you? It is my belief that many really small companies that have been in business for many years are not there because that is where they really want to be. They haven't taken the necessary steps to get better. 

So....HOW ABOUT YOU? Are you getting better faster than the other guy's getting better. There are a tremendous number of opportunities today to get better and become a leader in not only your market area but in the industry. Let me just mention a few opportunites for you to get better. 

How have you embraced professionalism with your staff and yourself. Have you pursued getting your Certified Building Service Executive (CBSE) designation? What about the middle managers in your organization? If you are one of these have you pursued the Registered Building Service Excecutive (RBSM) designation?  Both of these display to your customer, friends and industry peers your desire to become more professional in your chosen profession. To get more details on these designations you can go to www.bscai.org. There you will find all the details for proceeding. 

How have you embraced green cleaning and sustainability? Have you really studied what it all entails and then taken the steps to become the expert you will need to be in order to get better faster than the other guy's getting better? It is not going away you know.

To list just a few opportunities---

Green Clean University is an outstanding opportunity for learning and displaying to your customer your expertise. David Holly the chancellor has developed an OUTSTANDING curriculum for becoming the expert you need to be. 

Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) is an excellent way to show the world that you think enough of your organization to certify your company. Better hurry, your competitor may already be pursing the certification and then who has the competitive advantage? 

ISSA Cleaning Expert (ICE) available as an opportunity for you to show your customers and prospects that you have personally taken the time and expended the energy to become a true professional in this industry.

All three of these opportunities can be researched at www.issa.com. You owe it to yourself and your organization to explore these opportunities. 

I can also tell you that I have clients who have pursued the LEED Accredited Professional designation and have obtained business that their competitors couldn't touch. Check out all the opportunities to learn and become a green cleaning expert. This is not a fad that is going to disappear. It is here to stay and that is good. 

Add to all this the numerous opportunities you have each year to attend the BSCAI convention and ISSA trade show, the BSCAI CEO conference and Executive Seminar along with the helpful educational webinars produced ongoing by each of these organizations and there really is no excuse for not getting better faster than the other guy's getting better. Don't forget, our vendors produce a variety of outstanding webinar learning opportunities throughout the year. Take advantage of these and involve the appropriate people in your company as well. They will appreciate it and help your company become more professional.

How about taking advantage of the talent you have in your own organization and conduct quarterly supervisor and management workshops. Another excellent way to improve is to bring in regional or national experts in the industry to conduct one and two day in house workshops for your company. I did this in my company and my staff grew immensely in knowledge, self esteem and confidence. Can you think of additional ways to get better? I'll bet you can and there is no better time than now to get started putting together an education plan for you and your staff. 

So what will it be for you? The year of 2013 is approaching rapidly. How about making yourself a promise that you and your company will expend the effort to get better faster than the other guy's getting better? Determine what path you want to take and then go for it. 

The reality of business today is that you just may not have a choice. Those that continue to make the effort to improve and progress are the ones that will prosper in our industry and those who chose not to are the ones that have 1 year experience many times over and will be asking "what happened"?

Which will you be? 

Till next time. 

 

  

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