Page 186 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

• Listen to customers, employees, and people who know the

business. Create a culture of good critics, and be aware that
managers can become out of touch, even within their own
organization.

• Learn Six Sigma—it can improve costs and service for customers,

by providing a disciplined way to make process improvements.

• Recognize the need to be “problem curious,” constantly looking

for ways to differentiate and improve.

• Provide a clear, exciting, compelling vision of what the future will

look like. People value a guiding light, as it provides certainty.

• Invest in the future and innovate. In 2005, two-thirds of Xerox’s

revenues came from products launched within the previous
two years.

• Be entrepreneurial—find ways to sell products and control

costs.

• Manage cash.
• Remember that strong leadership is essential. A business relies

on its people—and people need to be aligned around a common
set of goals and plans.

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