Quality Business Tips
Better Business Practices
November 2020
You’ve worked with QBS to improve your office equipment and IT infrastructure, but that’s not all we can provide to make your business as successful as possible.
Read below for November QBS tips for better business practices, personnel management and other topics with which your business is involved each day. We welcome your feedback!
Customer service
- Consider the people you work with as your customers and give them the same level of attention and respect. It will keep you in the mindset of good customer service and provide you with a more pleasant working environment.
- If a customer doesn’t use a civil tone with you, don’t meet him or her at that level. Remain calm and focus on the facts of the issue rather than the feelings generated by the harsh treatment.
- With new customers, ask probing questions to uncover possibly hidden aspects of what is being discussed. Customers appreciate someone who takes the time to ensure they have a good understanding of needs and requirements.
- While it may be tempting to add an idea or clarify, keep quiet after asking a question even if the customer doesn’t answer right away. They may be thinking about how they want to phrase their response.
- Start out a meeting with a new customer by noticing a personal effect of theirs and mentioning something positive about it that you know. That often sets the groundwork for good two-way communication.
Cutting Expenses
- Review your telephone bills each month with a critical eye. Telecom companies often charge for unnecessary services. Seek outside help for this if you don’t understand telecom terminology.
- When assigning purchasing authority, periodically review the purchases made by different employees and adjust maximum amount levels accordingly based on the fiscal practices of the employee.
- Before an annual budget is decided, speak with employees and ask what’s important to them with regard to additions or changes in their physical environment. A little expense for improvements goes a long way toward improving employee morale.
- If your company is using credit cards for purchasing, be aware that other cards may offer better terms for transferred balances or multiple purchases.
- 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to join TechSoup (https://www.techsoup.org), a clearinghouse for greatly-reduced software from major companies such as Microsoft, Intuit, and Adobe.
Management
- When assigning tasks, you’ll get better results by matching the task to the person. Try to give tasks that will capitalize on the person’s skills and talents.
- When assigning tasks and projects to new employees, give them low-risk tasks and projects at first to build the person’s confidence.
- Ensure that task and project milestones and communication expectations are clearly understood by all involved. People assigned tasks should be reporting progress on a regular basis.
- Give employees space to add their own spin on assignments. Listen to their ideas and allow them to incorporate their ideas if they don’t cause any negative changes.
- Remember that the person assigned to a task or project may not perform or complete the task or project as you would. Don’t be tempted to take over or reassign the work if the result isn’t exactly what you expected.
We’re hoping these tips are useful to your business. QBS has been helping businesses all over Maryland with award-winning office equipment and a variety of IT services that cover all aspects of your technology infrastructure.
Contact us today to discuss how we can improve your business practices through the most efficient use of technology and possibly save your company money in the process!
Gary Abosch
Senior Director, IT & Service Operations
Quality Business Solutions
410-337-3700