6 tips to keep your business "cutting-edge"

If you've ever become involved in business, or are considering this now, it makes sense to think about the reasons which could enable you to pioneer your own way forward.  Growth can be temporary. It can come in spurts or, it can be perpetual, providing you decide to do what it takes and take steps to remain informed.  Consider the potential benefits of these principles that could help keep you on "cutting edge" of whatever you do (or would like to):

1) Think twice before expanding.  If you contemplate an increase in business size, costs and complexity will rise exponentially.  Having foresight means you'd seek a comprehensive overview of the implications in all departments. Many business owners underestimate payroll and other cost rises that not only reduce profitability, but also jeopardize overall reputation and even stability.  Alternatively, what could you do differently now to help meet the goals of a desired expansion?

2) Constantly see yourself as a small business.  Even if you do grow bigger than a mere start-up, its useful to understand why returning clients value smaller business. Things like customer service, attention to detail, prompt service, knowledge of industry developments, expedited replies to inquiries, eco-friendly initiatives and a sense of family, are reasons that could help you stay connected to your client needs.  Why not investigate what you have in common with other businesses? It could help you stay on top of your game or, redefine the game and how you play. If this means you see big advantages in ignoring traditional long-term business plans, so be it.

3) Encourage innovation.  You have a wealth of talent in your employees and, in all likelihood, you haven't even begun to tap into this goldmine.  By encouraging your staff to propose in-house changes, developments, to sollicit clients and take other initiatives, you're stepping back and enabling people to discover and prove their hidden talents. Why not let focus less on profits and more on people so everyone in-house and in society would benefit more?

4) Loosen the reins. Whatever your role or prospective business roles, you'll benefit from refraininng from making people around you feel like they're under surveillance.  As people begin to feel self-conscious and followed around or followed-up on, its more difficult to develop a sense of trust.  Giving people a degree of freedom to do their job is also an opportunity to enable people to develop initiative, observation and other useful skills to lessen your load.  If you loosen reins gradually, then you can evaluate competence and assign responsibility accordingly.

5) Demonstrate transparency.  When people feel connected to the bigger picture, and know how it affects them personally in their day-to-day roles, they can also learn to think more for themselves in relation to others.  This kind of leadership approach can be empowering and promote participatory democracy.  Entrepreneurship demonstrates an understanding that markets and taste preferences are constantly changing.  How do you take steps to surf the waves?

6) Reach out for advice & ideas.  No matter how much life experience you have or how brilliant you are, its unlikely you'll be en effective "one person production." Consider what expertise you have and how that could be enhanced br interacting with people who have other types of know-how.  In order to remain cutting edge, you need to know how this image is perceived and portrayed and also by whom and for whom.  The more informed and inquisitive you are, the better off you'll become. What initiatives do you take?