Leverage is the ability to influence a system or environment, in a way that multiplies your efforts. Better said, it is investing the right amount of effort, through the proper channel, to yield greater returns for your business.
For small businesses, there is no greater leverage than your people. But with so much riding on the line, delegating may seem like a scary first step. However, the best-run companies not only properly equip their employees with tools to succeed (like WorkWave’s field service management software), but also utilize their skills and experience to help grow their business.
- Step 1: Ask customers what times they are available, then upload the request into Route Manager.
- Step 2: Confirm the planned arrival time – and stick to it.
- Step 3: Equip your sales and customer support team with visibility into live ETAs via GPS tracking.
- Step 4: Use Route Manager 360 notes to stay updated on customer satisfaction.
Here are four simple ways you should be leveraging your employees to improve your business:
Leverage Their Skills
Have you ever asked yourself… “Who would do this if I wasn’t around?”
Cross-training your employees not only helps develop their skill set but ensures your business is protected. Make sure employees can adequately handle their responsibilities and are capable of fulfilling other roles within the business should they need to. By investing in your people you are creating a more informed, impactful workforce that is capable of better servicing your customers while safeguarding your business.
Leverage Their Successes
It’s true that great ideas get copied. Try not to reinvent the wheel.
Your business can reap the benefits of the hard work (and successes) of your employees. Take the existing best practices that your employees have utilized on the job and apply them to your existing business model. By taking the factors that have helped them succeed (either at their current or previous job) and integrating them into your business – you can build, carve, and adapt your own company according to a more proven methodology.
Leverage Their Failures
Although it can be disappointing or even discouraging, failure is a powerful motivator and a catalyst for change.
Just as you can leverage your employees’ successes, also leverage their failures. Routinely ask your employees for feedback on what is not working – and why. Focus on what they experienced and (if possible) how they corrected it. By drawing from failures both past and present, you can embrace failures rather than distance, deny, or discourage them. It can also help small businesses innovate faster, by incorporating the lessons learned from your workforce to further instill best practices.
Leverage Their Connections
Many small businesses, especially in rural areas, employ people with extraordinary work histories.
Many have worked for big corporations, or have even run their own businesses. Many have connections, credentials, and training that you don’t. Leverage that knowledge and experience by sending them to do jobs that require a larger amount of skill or expertise. Involve them in decision-making. Have them mentor younger, less experienced employees. If you have an employee with a greater skill set, have them teach or train other employees.
Your employees are a powerful asset for your field service business. Make sure you’re giving them the tools needed to succeed. Field service software like WorkWave Service is helping back offices operate more efficiently and providing field workers with mobile tools to be more productive while on the go.
