By David Crary
Note: This is the eighth in a series of blog posts with tips aimed at helping field service businesses improve during seasonal slow periods.
I have said it before and I will say it again - Knowledge is power, my friends. I know for a fact I would not be able to create software for the field service industry without having the background knowledge I gained from owning a field service business myself.
There are many ways you can learn and also train your employees that will significantly benefit your business. And what better time to sit down and learn than when you actually have the time and effort it takes to become more knowledgeable?
There are many options you can take to better educate yourself on your field service industry and just business management in general. Here are just a few:
Network – Network with your peers. This is a very simple way to stay educated and up to date.
When you attend conferences, which I will touch on a little further down, introduce yourself to those in your industry. Networking with your peers at conferences is great because they are usually too far away to be your competition, but still understand your business. You both gain benefits from talking to each other, so get out there and meet your peers!
Each week, I meet with a group of individuals who are business owners. We call ourselves the “49ers”. We have breakfast and after breakfast, one person will usually stand up and talk about their business or something happening in their business life. Not only is it great to hear other people’s stories, struggles, and solutions, you also have an opportunity to team up and do business with each other.
When you are an entrepreneur, you really only know what you know. The benefit of groups like these is that there are 50 or 60 other people with all of their own knowledge that you get to learn about. And that is the biggest benefit, getting outside, beneficial knowledge.
Education – When we get out of school, we usually think we are done educating ourselves. We received our degree or certification, so why should we continue to study? But the advantage of studying outside of school is that you are able to study things that actually interest you.
Small business classes are a great option in the offseason. You have the time to go to an all day session and test out what you learned before the busy season hits. An alternative to physically going to the class is attending webinars from the comfort of your desk or home. Webinars are great because you simply log in, sit back, and listen to a speaker present. Most webinars also allow you to ask questions at the end. I have become a big fan of these over the years, especially when it comes to presentations given by presenters who are out of state.
(Interested in attending one of our webinars? Click here to register for “Empowering Your Business with Technology” scheduled from 1 to 1:45 on November 28.
If you just can’t find the time or money to attend classes, pick up some books at your local library or book store. It is rare that an entire book will apply to your business, but I have been able to find many tips, tricks, and even general ideas that would have never crossed my mind before. A few that I have found very beneficial are:
- Traction by Gino Wickman
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Conferences – I cannot say enough good things about industry conferences. The information you gain from these are immeasurable.
Conferences are my favorite on this list because they provide you valuable information from outside sources all in one place. You can attend presentations given by professionals, speak with experts in your field, watch demonstrations, and preview the newest and greatest equipment out there.
Plus, it helps you build connections to network with in the future. It is always a good idea to have contacts that you can bounce ideas off of or ask for advice.
Need help deciding which conference to go to? For those in the Green Industry, we highly recommend the Green Industry Conference held in annually October in Louisville. The educational tracks are usually really great, plus the indoor/outdoor equipment displays are worth the price of admission.
Employee Training – Don’t be selfish! Share the wealth of knowledge with your employees.
Encourage your techs, office staff, and whoever else works for you to attend workshops and to come with you to conferences. You want an experienced staff working for your business, and what better way to get that experience than to attend training classes?
Your staff may be hesitant at first, but encourage them (use force if necessary!) to attend training classes. They will benefit as much, if not more than you because they see the field first hand and will perhaps understand how to apply what they learn to certain customers better than you can.
Need software training? Lynda.com is a great training resource. Plus, they also have some good business videos like “Sales Skills Fundamentals” and “Insights from a Business Coach.” And HindSite Customers should be sure to check out HindSite University. We’re working hard to deliver more and more on-demand training resources every month.
No matter which route you take, I strongly suggest you get out there and educate yourself. Find out what customers are looking for, what new equipment is available, and how to better manage your business. It never hurts to keep learning, and in fact, it will most likely help you to keep growing as a business.