We all suffer from bad habits; some of which are caused by a lack of self-awareness. Sometimes, feedback is key, enabling us to pick up on the habits that are harming us. This is especially true in business, where some bad habits could lead to problems in your operations. Now, we aren’t talking about picking your nose in front of customers (though you should probably avoid that), but other habits need to be brought to your awareness.
Consider the following:
Bad Habit #1: Failing to delegate to others
You aren’t a master at everything, no matter how much control you try to retain. Delegating to others gives you a break, and it also shifts some of your work over to other staff matters who may be better at a specific task than you are. Your team will probably appreciate the added responsibility too, and will be grateful for the trust you have bestowed.
Bad Habit #2: Spending too much money
This is something we can be guilty of in our personal lives, but it also spills over into our professional lives too. Whether it’s those unnecessary expenses, such as office lunches, or spending way over budget on tech that you don’t particularly need, you need to curb the temptation to spend if you ever want to see the fruit of your profits.
Bad Habit #3: Not taking time out to learn
You may have been to business school or taken courses such as an MSC in management. Does that mean your learning is over? Of course not. It pays to brush up on your skills, especially when it comes to sorting out your weaknesses. You should also remember that in business nothing stays the same, so focus on your learning to keep up with the industry and consumer demands. After all, you don’t want to be left in the dust by your nearest competitors.
Bad Habit #4: Not listening to complaining customers
Okay, so you probably nod your head and appease your customers whenever they have a complaint. However, you need to REALLY listen to them, as their feedback is invaluable. Good customer care will skyrocket your business, so make them the center of everything you are doing, and if action is needed after you have listened to yet another grumble, get on it straight away. Word of mouth is everything in business, and your reputation will plummet if your customers grumble about you elsewhere.
Bad Habit #5: Working too hard
There is so much to do in the day, so it’s not surprising if you fall into the trap of pushing yourself to your limits at times. However, life is about more than work, and you will only make yourself ill if you continue to spend all your days working. Again, this is where delegation comes in, as do time-management skills. Get out of the office more, enjoy your family and leisure activities, and better organize your time at work.
Closing
Did any of those bad habits ring true to you? If so, take your finger out of your nose and concentrate on overcoming them. Both you and your business will benefit if you do.
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