Every founder of a business wants their idea to thrive. However, intent alone is not enough. You must also put in the effort and pursue that which will help you achieve your goals. But where do you start? Which actions will help you become savvier in business and allow you to grow your business more successfully? If you’re interested in making next year one of growth, here are some tips to help you become the outstanding business owner you’re looking to be.

1. Develop systems that’ll help your organization achieve its goals.

Starting your own business can be in and of itself an amazing accomplishment. However, you must have direction if you’re going to continue to run a sustainable business. This is where goals come in. Whether you’re looking to make an impact, reach a certain profit, or achieve a certain level of growth, goals help you stay on track and guide you in the direction that you need to go. But what few will tell you is that goals are only half of the battle. You also need systems and processes behind your goals to drive forward progress.

One excellent system to turn to when you need both goals and actionable items is a system known as Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). OKRs work by helping you identify objectives, which are three to five things that you wish to accomplish (often a broad goal of your organization), and key results, four to six specific, measurable, and actionable items that allow you to achieve your goal. For example, your objective may be to reach a six-figure income and a key result may be to sell x number of products or services. If you’re interested in using the OKR technique in your business, the best starting point can be to listen to an Objectives and Key Results podcast to dive deeper into how the system works.

2. Make a positive customer experience a priority.

There are a lot of important factors that go into creating and running a successful business. However, it’s important to remember that customer service is at the heart of every business, something that holds true for businesses of all sizes. No matter what product or service you provide, you can only be successful if you have the right service team providing great customer service to those who approach your business. But how do you begin? The first step is finding the right cloud contact center software that offers advanced features like CRM integrations, AI-powered analytics and metrics, and an omnichannel routine that helps you reach your customers regardless of the method of contact. Then, you just have to find the right agents who place a major emphasis on providing an exceptional customer experience and customer satisfaction. With the right team members and contact center solution, your customers will be in good hands!

3. Always be on the lookout for ways to improve your knowledge and skillsets.

The health and progress of a business are determined by the quality of its business leaders. In order to always grow your business and improve upon it, you need to grow and improve upon yourself as well. Make it a point to find ways to build upon your current knowledge and learn new skills that help you run your business more effectively. Whether this means taking a marketing course, going on a retreat with other entrepreneurs, or even getting a formal college education, there are plenty of ways to grow your knowledge. If you’re looking to boost the full organization’s growth, find CPE solutions that serve to bring everyone in your whole company to the next level. When the entire team grows, they have no trouble aligning themselves with the company mission, and the organization functions more successfully.

4. Discover how others have achieved success (or learned from failure).

There are many lessons that can be found in those who have either failed to launch a successful business as well as those who are our competitors. Take some time to dive deeper into the stories of other entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses and what their journey looked like. It’s in failures that we can learn some of the best practices to help our businesses avoid these issues and in the best possible outcomes that we can learn from the success of others. When we set aside our need to do everything by ourselves and take a page or two out of someone else’s book, that’s when we’re truly able to thrive.

5. Learn how to become a more effective asset for your business.

There are plenty of bad habits and less-than-desirable personality traits that business owners share. Unfortunately, many of these can be detrimental to your business. That being said, everyone can develop self-awareness and begin to cultivate the positive habits that make leaders and those working alongside them need to be more successful. But what traits should you be looking to cultivate within yourself? Effective leaders are often considered to be:

• Excellent listeners: Savvy business owners listen more than they speak. This helps them absorb information and take effective action rather than basing their decisions solely on their own thoughts and beliefs. When people feel listened to, it makes for a better work environment amongst both leaders and employees.
• Decisive: Although great leaders take the time needed to assess risks and lay out the advantages and disadvantages of making specific choices, they do not shy away from making difficult decisions and do not avoid decisions as a whole.
• Organized: Disorganization is one of the natural enemies of business. If you’re naturally disorganized, it’s vital that you develop systems and processes for better workflow, design your day for efficiency, and find ways to keep both digital and physical items in their place. The more organized you are, the better a business owner you’ll be.
• Fully-focused: Great business leaders are focused on the task at hand as well as their overall goals. Ask yourself, what drives you to get out of bed in the morning and conduct the business that you do? What commands your focus and drives you forward? If you lack focus, whether it be in terms of the overall picture or in regards to staying distraction-free throughout your workday, look for ways to keep your eyes on the prize.
• Helpful and empathetic: Every individual within your organization is their own person. Savvy business leaders understand this and aim to be helpful and empathetic towards their employees. Do your best to ensure that your staff is taken care of and that you’re investing in them as much as you invest in yourself. The more you aim to help others, the more you’re going to get out of your business endeavors.

Starting your own business can be a difficult endeavor, and the work is not done once your business has been launched. If you want to become one of the more successful business owners, you have to understand how to grow with your business and become the leader that it needs to become sustainable. If you’re looking for ways to become a savvier business owner, use the guide above to learn more about what goes into entrepreneurs who truly stand out from the pack and achieve their dreams.