by Siti Ibrahim

Created on: June 29, 2009

Entrepreneurship - is starting new organizations or particularly a new business. It is often a difficult undertaking. For a new business to be successful, your new organization needs to earn its respect. You, as an owner of the new company are responsible to shape up the organization to gain respect; a respect from public, from your employees, your customers, your competitors and from your shareholders.

The next question is; how to gain respect? To gain respect is to earn respect; respect should be earned. Yes, it takes time to earn respect; and it's not an overnight job!

Firstly, you need to start up by setting everything right. You must create a good working culture or environment. You need to recruit competence and good people; trained them on details of your services or products. Your people will represent your company during your absence. You must trust them. Ensure all your people have good attitude; they must be professional, friendly, have good interpersonal skills and should respect each other. In any organization, employees are the one who will portray the company's image; so, let your people portray a good and positive image. Remember, your people can make or break your company's reputation. So, take good care of them.

Secondly, pay special attention to your products or services. Your company will only gain respect from your customers provided that your services or products have great quality. It is not easy to gain that trust but once your customers trust in your products, services and including you as the owner; your company are gaining respect from them. There are many competitors outside there, you need to have that value added factors and you need to be more creative. Find your X-factors; may be you should shortening the delivery time, prolong the guarantee period or introducing money back guarantee policy to your products or services, etc.

Thirdly, respect your customers and your potential customers. Respect doesn't mean that you always agreed with what they said or requested. You must be able to discuss or negotiate in a professional manner. Be honest and sincere. Follow up your customers but don't force them or pushing them to close sale. Just ensure that they are comfortable discussing with you. Don't talk too excessively. Be a good listener; suggest a solution to their problems which related to your products or services. Give your sincere appreciation to your customers. Make them come back. Don't criticize other competitor; let your customer be the judged. Remember to maintain your professionalism yet be friendly and firm.

Take part in any social responsibility program in your area. Join the big company in the social event. Make your company be known; be proud of your company regardless of the size. But, remember not to brag too much about your company. People hate that attitude!

Lastly, do not expect to gain respect immediately. It always takes longer time to prove that your company deserved that respect or admiration from others. All your good deeds will be rewarded; so, there is no need to force on that issue. As an entrepreneur, you bear the full success and failure of your undertaking. Your business is your responsibility. Take that responsibility, gain respect and be flexible. Then, you will find that your business will be successful.

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