What Recession? Coaching Company Helps Customers Post Record Gains

We all know that during an economic downturn, if we think in a way that leads us back to business as usual, we are setting ourselves up for even harder times ahead. While no business owner looks forward to an economic winter it serves at least one valuable purpose: It brings us back to the core philosophies that made us successful.

Brad Sugars, founder and president of the worldwide business coaching firm, ActionCOACH, as well as a best selling author, says that during the recent recession, his firm has noticed a change in focus from their clients.

“We’ve noticed more of our issues these days relate to money and finances versus the team building and recruitment issues we dealt with quite a bit over the past four or five years.”

Understandably, business owners are looking at their weekly and monthly numbers with a sense of anxiety. When this happens, they turn to Brad Sugars and his company, ActionCOACH for advice.

Just like we do at home, when the amount of money coming is lower than usual, we have to address why and reprioritize our spending. First, Brad says that business owners must know their numbers inside and out. Developing a plan without a data driven approach is counterproductive to business growth. How many times have we based a decision on a theory when, in fact, the data told us something completely different?

Next, make a company wide commitment to adhere to the plan. During times of economic slowdown, the changes a business has to make are rarely comfortable. They require a strong commitment to the discipline of not falling back to what has always been done. The perfect plan is only as good as its execution.

Finally, Brad reminds his clients not to forget about the customer:

“These days, owners need to focus on their current customers, and need to get a marketing plan in place that generates new leads and customers.”

While it’s important to analyze the numbers, it’s even more important to remember that the numbers are generated by the people that believe in you, your business, and your product.

Along with coaching, Brad points his clients to his books for those looking for even more ways to thrive in a recession.

“There are dozens of strategies in each of those books that owners can use immediately to start turning their companies around.”

While a recession often results in our monthly numbers trending lower, Brad Sugars believes that any company can thrive in this type of environment.