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The Getting Things Done workflow is a very powerful approach to managing the actions and tasks that we need to accomplish every day. It may not have occurred to you that it is possible to apply the 5-step workflow as a framework for your business.
That is, clients and customers are inputs like any other, and as such you can manage them as you would an e-mail.
Apply the GTD Workflow to your business
The system itself is quite simple, and can be handled with a tool like HighriseHQ, Salesforce, or any other customer relationship system - or with a pencil and paper. You can adapt these basics to whichever system you currently use.
Collect - This first step is handling the initial lead, whether it comes in via advertising or a sales call, you collect as much information about the client and their situation as you can. Are you getting the right information? Are you asking the right questions?
Process - In step two the client’s wants and needs are analyzed and possible solutions are generated.
Organize - Create a proposal based on selecting the best of the possible solutions.
Review - Also called “the pitch”, go over the proposed solution with the client, presenting the features and benefits of the solution. This is also the step where objections will be raised. Since an objection is a request for more information, it enables you to further examine the client’s needs and determine the need behind the need. This will allow you to further customize and personalize the solution.
Do - Ask for the sale. Whatever business you are in there comes a time to close the deal and ask the client for their business, and then complete the transaction. Implement your solution and ask for a referral.
How could you implement this very simple framework in your own business? Do you currently have a formalized sales process in place? What do you suppose a workflow system like this could do for your training and retention expenses?
Leave a comment.
If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/aatrpj. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen
There is an excellent thread on Time Management over at Work.Life.Creativity about managing time (and managing up) in an office environment that is filled with distractions, including the boss!
Here is part of the the initial post:
I work with a team in a very small business (I’m one of six FTEs, and we’ve got two PTEs). Sadly, my boss is an entirely distraction-driven person, and many of the folks in the office (I’m not there most of the time - I telecommute) abuse this and make it worse, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t think that they mean to do it, but it’s the way that the business seems to have been set up (to a certain degree, I’m the nOOb to the staff).
As a result of the distraction-driven nature of the business, he constantly misses deadlines and puts projects on the backburner…and then complains about the fact that nothing seems to get done.
This is a great forum, and I am glad to be involved with it again.
If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/5xqzh7. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen
Personality Poker is a fast-paced, highly interactive game that helps employees (and individuals) understand how they contribute to - and detract from - the innovation process. This is a personality test specifically designed for innovation and gives you yet another valuable tool to enhance both your professional and personal lives.
If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/5tslmy. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen
Good morning all, I have a guest post up at Slacker Manager today. It is the third installment of the Leadership series for the month of May.
It’s a little different from what I normally write about, so please check it out, and leave a comment. I would love to hear what you think.
If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/6p5brx. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen
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January 26th, 2009 by Stephen
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