I came across this article called "10 Steps your business should take now to thrive in 2011" in "Entrepreneur" magazine, which can be found on-line (copy) http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/217512. It is geared towards smaller businesses; however, going back to the beginning of our class discussions, based on Euske's article "Public, private, not-for-profit: Everybody is unique?" it makes senses to draw a connection between for profits and non-profits in this recipe for success.
Here are the 10 steps in a Nutshell. Judge for yourself:
I have included some details from the article on few of them & added my comments/comparisons to the non-profits (in brackets) to illustrate the point.
1. Overhaul your business plan (mission) - in a climate as unforgiving as this, stasis is death. Do the math and zero in on the best strategy to win new business (donors/grants/etc)
2. Double down what works
3. Experiment - talk less, listen more - the best ideas often come from conversations with your customers (constituents), suppliers (supporters perhaps) and most of all employees
4. Fire your D-Grade customers (members/ Board members/ employees or anybody else who is draining energy and resources of the organization)
5. Become an "A" Customer - (look for favorable contracts and great deals)
6. Expand your Network
7. Leverage your Brand - "What do you bring to the table that no one else is serving up to clients (constituents, such as excellent services through dedication, creative solutions, accountability for donor's support/ etc.)
8. Get some credit - mortgage market is starting to thaw - seize the opportunity to get a loan (or better line of credit with the bank)
9. Fire Up Your Employees
10. Team Up
As Euske commented, "Framing the organization as unique limits the applicability of available solutions and applications thereby inhibiting usefule change." I think his comment makes a lot of sense.
Zana
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