A business motto is a phrase that represents a set of company beliefs. These mottos give a company direction and focus. At Brigade, we have about a half dozen of them we’ve adopted for the success of our business and our clients’ businesses. One we use often is “Where’s the hot potato?”
Just like the literal hot potato, no one wants to hold on to it for too long. Sure, you can pass it to me, but if it isn’t meant to stay with me, I better move it along, or I’ll get burned and so will the client. By seeing our tasks as “hot potatoes”—the client request, the phone call that hasn’t been returned, the deadline that’s approaching—we make sure no one gets burned, and an important opportunity doesn’t grow cold and useless.
Three Ways we Move the Hot Potato
Here are the three ways we keep a hot potato moving along in our business.
- First, we’ve established systems for everything we do.For example when I bring on a new client, and that engagement letter is executed, our established systems help us execute work for them as soon as possible.
- Second, we don’t stray from the system we’ve established.This is vital. Sure, crazy things can happen to interrupt a system. But no matter what, we’re committed to making sure that hot potato does not get dropped by anyone on our team or by the client. For example, when we’ve onboarded a new client, they have been brought into the fold the same way that prior clients have and future clients will be. When we onboard the same way, every time, the results are positive.
- Third, we, follow up, follow up, follow up, and follow up some more. We look out for one another to make sure things are moving. If you’re done on your end and you’ve tossed the hot potato, that’s good, but be sure the next person in the chain is aware you’re ready for them. This is especially is important if it’s been tossed to the client and it’s supposed to come back to us. By having a company culture where we follow up on each other, not just clients, we’re truly helping the company succeed.
Simple, yes, but truly effective because we are steadfast in our commitment to follow these three principles at all times. We are more than bookkeepers, we offer our clients operational improvements that propel their businesses forward. Want to hear more about it? Send me an email, and we’ll talk!
