IS YOUR BUSINESS OR CAREER GOING THE WAY YOU REALLY WANT?

If the answer is no, maybe one solution is in the small things, the details. With all the competing demands in our lives, details are easy to overlook, yet so important. Those details can have far reaching effects.

We may never become aware of the specific effects, but we will see it in how well our businesses or careers do over time.

The following are some important details that too often get overlooked.

1. Thank people whenever they do something for you or pay you a compliment. Acknowledge that you know they have extended themselves and that you appreciate it. People who feel unappreciated are unlikely to extend themselves again, send you referrals, become your customer or client, or go the extra mile as an employee. A simple email or voice mail message will sometimes suffice. Sometimes a card or letter or a face-to-face exchange is better. Saying thank you is important, even if what they did for you was not helpful. It is the intent that counts. Thank everybody, not just the "important" people. You never know who may be helpful to your business or career. There is a bonus in cultivating the habit of gratitude: your life becomes much richer.

2. Keep your commitments no matter how small. This lets coworkers, bosses, customers, clients, employees know that they can count on you. This is incredibly attractive and will keep 'em coming back for more. It is easy to be over-committed and then not be able to do what you agreed to do, but you will lose people that way. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. And when you do make a promise, under-promise but over-deliver. That means committing to a deadline that is several days later than when you know you can deliver, or promising a quantity or quality less than you can produce. Then you deliver your project before the deadline or in a higher quantity or quality. People love being pleasantly surprised and feel as if they are getting added value. Promising less than you can deliver also gives you the leeway to accommodate emergencies or opportunities that pop up and still deliver quality in a timely fashion.

3. If you can't deliver as promised, keep people updated regularly on The situation and the progress you are making. This is true whether the problem is due to circumstances beyond your control or due to your own mistakes and poor planning. People do not like to be kept hanging. They will cut you a lot of slack if they know you are doing everything you possibly can to correct the situation. And the only way they can know that is to be kept in the loop. This can save relationships. For those who are perfectionists, you can still deal with mistakes. Accept that they are going to happen and deal with them superbly.

4. Make it a point to let people know they are important to you. Employee retention and customer retention are two of the biggest challenges facing businesses today. There are many inexpensive ways to let people know you appreciate them. For instance, remembering customers' or clients' birthdays. Send them a card and perhaps a small gift. Call them to see if they are pleased with your product or services and ask for suggestions about how you might do better. Recognize employees and reward them for a job well done. Give them a day off or a special parking space.

The same principle applies to your relationships with co-workers, support staff, and your bosses. Cards, token gifts, taking them to lunch are simple ways to express appreciation. Paying attention to the details is an investment of time and energy that will pay handsome dividends. Remember, God is in the details.

Ann McAllister, Ph.D., is a Success Coach who partners with executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, teams and organizations to achieve excellence. Copyright 1999 Ann McAllister, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

The author can be contacted at Coach@AnnMcAllister.com or 770-399-6619.