Beat the Recession: Twenty-five Clusters of Five: Number 4

A recession often means down-time. The phones are less busy, there are fewer invoices to chase and less time on the road. All of which stacks up to one message: leverage your down-time and improve every system you can think of such as:

1. Check, improve and if necessary re-write your T&C. They were last reviewed in 2005 and have too many holes in them.
2. Set up a training session to improve negotiation skills. A decent session will be paid for in margin/profit preserved.
3. Speaking of profit-are you getting all the data you need to do you job brilliantly? Where is the money made? Where is it lost? Which are the truly profitable accounts as opposed to the ones which shout loudest?
4. Are expenses under control? I know over 500 needs your sign-off. What work-around have the team created?!
5. Speak to every one of your suppliers. Assuming they are doing a good job: thank them.