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Justice Simango

Strategic business objectives are goals deemed most paramount to the current and future health of a business.

Objectives are prioritized by an organization through a thorough analysis of business practices such as a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Though prioritisation of strategic objectives is unique to each business, common objectives exist. Six of the most common areas to focus strategic business goals are in the areas of market share, financial resources, physical resources, productivity, innovation and action planning.

Well,to me, this is common sense because a business cannot move forward without defining specific action steps for achieving the best results for the customer while increasing profits.

But, think about what a smile can mean for your business.

What if every customer who walked through your door was greeted with a smile? When the transaction was over, how would your customers feel if you smiled and thanked them for their business?

Do you think it would impact your bottom line?  The answer is obvious. A smile is one of the easiest ways to build your business. Not only do your customers feel good, you and your employees get the same positive benefit.

Your joy will radiate toward others, lift their spirits, and then come back to you. Since it’s free and makes almost everyone around you feel better, I personally feel it’s an important aspect of good manners.

Etiquette experts say that, most employers today want happy employees so flash your friendliest and most joyful smile to plant that initial seed during your business adventure.Your smile might be the very thing that gives you the edge over your competitor with equal experience.

As the 2017 business curtain comes down, we bury all the misunderstandings, conflicts and all broken business ties that transpired among vendors, investors and business owners. A few months back, I witnessed a petrol attendant quarrelling with one of his customers at a local service station. I didn’t really pay attention to the argument, but what caught my attention, was the manner in which the petrol attendant was smiling. When you don’t see eye-to-eye with someone, you can debate in a friendly manner as long as you smile rather than scowl.

This lets the other person know that you respect his or her opinions, even if you don’t agree.

There are obviously days you may not feel like smiling.  Perhaps it is late in the afternoon and you haven’t had a chance to have your lunch. You really have to work to smile.  Perhaps the last person you spoke to on the phone just chewed you out. When the phone rings again, if you haven’t recovered from that unpleasant experience, a grin is hard to come by.  Every customer deserves a pleasant greeting no matter how you feel.

In addition to exceptional services and products, people want three things from those with whom they trade with. None of the three will cost you a cent.

People want and need:
-Eye contact
-A smile
-To hear their name

If you and your employees didn’t practise smiling during the course of 2017, it is not too late.  Do it every day from now on, make it a priority and reap the benefits.

You might be surprised by how much of an impact a simple smile can have on how others perceive you. People will see you as friendly, happy, and an all-around positive person.

If you look in the mirror and smile at yourself before you walk out of the door, you’ll probably feel a bit better.

Here are some important tips on the etiquette of smiling:

-Allow your whole face to smile. You will look more genuinely pleasant, or even happy, when your cheeks move upward, the corners of your eyes crinkle, and your eyes become narrower and sometimes actually appear closed.
-First impressions are extremely important. Most people remember the first time they met someone, so it’s a good idea for them to look back and have the image of your smiling face committed to memory.
-Make eye contact. When you smile after looking someone in the eye, that person feels as though your happiness is directly related to him/her. It’s as good as giving a genuine compliment and will give her positive feelings toward you.
-Smile when meeting or greeting someone. It’s nice to know the proper way to shake hands, but it’s even better if you smile at the person while you’re doing it. She is more likely to remember your name, and if you are in a business setting, she’ll listen to you more attentively.
-Show joy in gestures and movements. Since a person intuitively reads body language, a smile is one of many types of body language that they will respond to. When you face someone without any of your limbs crossed and have a smile on your face, you’ll appear more open, confident, and trustworthy.
-Don’t tell someone else to smile. If you see someone frowning, telling him to smile probably won’t get the result you want. It might even have the opposite effect and make him mad. You’re better off smiling appropriately with the hope that your positive action will rub off on him. However, if there is a good reason for his frown, don’t try to cheer him up. Be sympathetic.
-Know when not to smile. There are times when a smile is inappropriate, like when you hear the news that someone close to your friend has died. These situation calls for a sympathetic reaction as you try to comfort the other person with words of sympathy.
-Leave with a smile. When it’s time to part ways, smile as you say your goodbyes. This will leave the other person with a positive feeling and make him look forward to seeing you again.

You might have the best organizational annual budget for 2018, a brilliant action blueprint and you might also be part of a bunch of employers that claim to have an excellent work force, but I assure you that, good business manners will accelerate the growth of your business in 2018 and beyond.

-therefore wish my fellow smiling businessmen and women a prosperous 2018. Happy New Year!

-Justice Simango is a Business Etiquette and Grooming Consultant who writes in his own capacity. He is a member of Toastmasters International.

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