Some businesspeople struggle to succeed in summer months. It’s as though they’re in a slump.
It’s the hottest and most humid time of the year in many regions. Business seems to stagnate as the weather becomes hotter and sultrier.
Perhaps you can relate. Have you and your team been slumping? Have you lost motivation?
If so, you probably need a break, and fear a sluggish start to Q4. Yes, it will be here before you know it.
Here are things you can do to break out of your slump:
1. Consider the big picture.
Write down what success means to you. What does it look like? Envision your success.
2. Assuming you’ve written goals for this year, review them.
Hint: If you don’t have written goals, that’s part of your problem. Are your goals realistic? What’s changed? Are your goals relevant to the situation you’re in now?
3. Evaluate what you want to achieve by the end of the year.
Focus on solutions, not the problems. Start doing the necessary footwork. Tackle the most difficult task each morning. This will help to prevent feeling overwhelmed. (See: Business Success Checklist to Work Smarter, Not Harder)
4. Review your mental and physical health.
Do you need a physical? Start an exercise program, if only for long walks. Your exercise program might need to include pushing away from the table to avoid extra helpings or dessert. Changing your exercise program often means stop jumping to conclusions about trivial matters or threatening issues.
Consider a new thought response: “No matter what there are no big deals; no matter what.”
5. Check your cash flow.
Review what’s working and what isn’t. Stop procrastinating on financial decisions. If your cash flow is poor, you feel poor because you can’t pay the bills nor can you use money for what you’d like to do. Your image can also suffer with vendors or with customers, if you don’t manage your cash flow. You can creatively manage your cash flow in seven ways.
6. Remove all stress factors to the best of your ability.
This usually includes getting rid of all clutter. Make sure work spaces are clean and organized. You have a 35 percent better chance of living longer if you feel happy. That’s the upshot from a 2011 British study that links feelings of happiness to longevity. So the emphasis is on feelings. Makes sense, right? (See: 24 Tips to Reduce Stress, Work Happier for Top Performance.)
7. Spend more time listening to your employees.
While it’s true there are companies that are aware that good morale among employees propels profits, many businesses are missing opportunities for growth. It’s not because of marketing. It has to do with internal issues. Why? There’s still a wide gap between what managers and workers think about trust, according to a study. (See: Profit Drivers – How and Why to Partner with Your Employees)
8. Devote more attention to your personal life.
That includes your significant other, family, friends and pet. Read a good book, and spend time enjoying your forgotten hobbies to clear your thoughts. And focus on having an attitude of gratitude. Many businesspeople focus too much on the 10 percent that’s not working instead of celebrating the 90 percent that is working.
9. Practice the principle of contrary action.
Change your routine in all that you do. For example, drive to work using a different route. When you go grocery shopping, steer the cart down a different aisle than you normally do. This will help you to become more open-minded, and you’ll more readily spot opportunities for growth.
10. Plan a break whether it’s for a week or a long weekend.
Get the help you need so you can disappear from work. You can’t afford not to take a break.
11. Volunteer some time to help a charity or someone less fortunate than you are.
Believe me, there opportunities everywhere. You’ll feel better and will have an extra spring in your step.
From the Coach’s Corner, here are related tips:
For the Best Cash Flow, Manage Your Inventory Costs with 8 Tips — With proper inventory management, you can lower your expenses and increase your cash flow. For many businesses, that means taking a look at your inventory costs. When your products aren’t selling, obviously, it hurts. Products just lurking and collecting dust in your warehouse are costing you money.
Four Tips to Motivate Employees When You’re Facing Adversity— Effective bosses have antennas to alert them over looming challenges. If they don’t have such an antenna, it’s important for them to develop one for multiple credibility reasons. Even the bosses of small companies can suffer from image problems externally and internally. Either one or both will adversely affect profits.
“Slump? I ain’t in no slump… I just ain’t hitting. “
-Yogi Berra
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