strategy & tactics
Business Best Practices
At KnowledgeFest Indy, Chris Cook of Mobile Electronics Association discussed goal-setting, community involvement, team-building and much more. WORDS BY ROSA SOPHIA
At KnowledgeFest Indianapolis this past October, Chris Cook of MEA led a casual discussion on business best practices, touching on topics such as annual reviews and delegating tasks—which can be complicated depending on a business’s specific situation. The main takeaway was to “always stay focused and never stop learning,” according to Cook. “I like to look at how people in other industries are doing things, too,” he said. “I like to make a goal to learn something new every day.” Brandon Green of The Car Audio Shop in High Ridge, Mo. led the workshop with Cook, helping in roleplay situations to demonstrate issues. For him, he said, delegating tasks to employees can be one of
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the most difficult aspects of running his business. It can be hard, Green said, “to step back and allow them to do their job, and trust them to do that job.” Cook noted that while no team member will ever do a job or a task the same way the owner or manager would (each person is different, after all), “It’s still taking a lot off your plate.” While everyone handles tasks differently, Cook noted, “It’s getting the job done,” letting owners work on the business instead of in it. Here are five strategies drawn from the discussion, which business owners can discuss with their teams and begin applying today.
#1: Make Sure You’re On the Same Page A business owner should always be on the same page with their team, so the group can collectively discuss issues and how to solve them. “In trying to get your business and employees on the same page, there’s a reason to try to reach the finish line,” Cook said. “You can’t keep adjusting goals. You have to put a line in the sand, own it and move forward with it.” While it can be adjusted when absolutely necessary, Cook noted that both team members and clients are seeking stability: “It helps [find stability] if we’re all trying to reach the same finish line, and trying to help the same people the same way.” To ensure everyone’s on the same page, Cook advised focusing on the business’s primary mission, which everyone on the team should already be familiar with. Additionally, make sure what you’re saying in your personal life matches your business life. “As soon as people find your Facebook page, you’re being judged by what you say. Avoid getting personal online,” he added. “Ignore all the outside noise. Find what works for you. What works for you may be different than what works for other people. Then, work to exceed the goals you set.” #2: Set Attainable Goals It’s important that goals be attainable. Larger goals can be split into a number of smaller ones, with milestones marked along the way to help keep a business on track, according to Cook. “If your goal is to double revenue, and you have a couple of years to achieve that goal, you have to have a strategy in place to achieve it,” he explained. “You have to have markers in place, and you have to get to each one. Each marker is a check-point.” Green said The Car Audio Shop is aiming to double its revenue by 2024. “We’re constantly working on growing the business so we can do that. That’s a long-term goal,” he said, adding, “Our short-term goal is getting the second shop completely set up.”
