Prolific Pastors 5 Surprising Strategies to Increase Business Productivity and Profitability by DeAndre Salter l Business Strategies l Advice for Entrepreneurs l Business Tips for the Average Person l Savy Business Tips

In today’s cut-throat business climate, the pressure to generate profits quickly is often unrelenting and intense. From accommodating anxious shareholders and contending with new competitors that seemingly surface by the hour to providing goods and services to a large customer base and maintaining relationships with vendors and business partners, the daily grind is complex, to say the least. And, to do all of this efficiently, effectively and expertly can be daunting to say the least.

Maximizing both productivity and profitability in a business often takes out-of-the box thinking. But, don’t stop there! It’s also wise to go a step further and think “against the grain;” to look at issues and approaches through a different “lens” and from a different angle - even one that is counterintuitive or contradictory. The wisdom this can reveal can rapidly take a business to new heights.

With this in mind, consider these 5 surprising success strategies based on common career and organizational views held by many business managers and owners:

‘Shake the Dust’

It can be difficult to give up on something you feel passionate about, especially if this is something you have spent a lot of time and resources developing. But sometimes when you keep going in a direction and you feel as though you aren’t going anywhere, it may just be the right time to change direction. Not to be confused with quitting, changing direction is simply focusing your efforts and talents on a different area as opposed to giving up all together. In Matthew 10, Jesus empowers his disciples to go out, minister, and make a difference in the lives of others. But just because your efforts are there doesn’t mean they will be well received. Jesus wisely advises in verse 14, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” Meaning if you are not seeing success, shake it off and something or somewhere else. God is looking to bless effort that is in the right direction.

Superheroes are Their Own Enemy

When the going gets tough, and rest assured it will, it may be time to lighten the load - don’t be reluctant to make difficult cuts. Too many managers and entrepreneurs have a superhero complex, often taking on far more than they can handle, both as a business professional and even in their personal lives. Paul survived a terrible storm by instructing the captain of the ship to throw whatever they could overboard. The lesson here is that weight sometimes is simply weight. Your best asset is your mind and the rest might just be weighing down or distracting your efforts for success.

Delegating or even shutting down select initiatives and programs may be just what’s required to avoid a big picture catastrophe. In business, there is a practice known as "lean operation" - the proverbial process of "throwing things overboard" that slow a business operation down. In nearly every business, there are processes or personnel that are not optimal. They are "heavy" and sometimes dead weight, and if you ever endure a financial storm, they may sink the ship. This “weighted "tackle" of financial liability takes many forms, including outdated technology, inefficient manual processes, failing marketing campaigns, and unproductive staffers. All can threaten the entire business during a tempest. Lightening your load rids you of those obstacles that weigh a business down, and makes business process much easier to manage.

Clarity Trumps Cash

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Quite simply, those who have purpose work more productively and become more profitable. In other words, clarity of vision spurs production. King Solomon warns us about “doing things in vanity.” When things are done without purpose and meaning they can become idols and we can place those things above God. We see throughout the bible that God has a habit of tearing down idols. If you place your business above him you put it at risk. Ask yourself what are you doing it for, and what is the significance to you both professionally and personally? The best business mindset acknowledges that no matter what industry you’re in, clarity breeds conviction and conviction spurs success. Once you’re focused on the substance of the work and the way in which it’s executed, money is sure to come. However, focusing solely on money-minded objectives is a driver for failure because, in the end, money is nothing more than a by-product of the overarching purpose you’re trying to achieve. The real payoff is the quality of your production output, the way you go about achieving it, and the resultant benefits to those you serve.

Giving is the New Receiving

Wealth building should not be a self-serving goal. Some have said that money is the root of all evil, however; the actual quote is “the love of money is the root of all evil.” In fact, money can be the root of a lot of good-doing. Joseph of Arimathea donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after the crucifixion. Had he not been a man of wealth he wouldn’t have been able to carry out what is one of the most pivotal events in the history of the faith. For many, a strong business venture may be the path to helping those with less resources and more need. Today's philanthropists are as diverse and unique as the causes they support. Many approach charitable causes with the same drive and commitment they apply to building their businesses. Some take it a step further and establish their own purposeful charities that can be more effective and helpful than some of the more traditional non-for-profits in existence. Of course, businesses gain tax-related and other less altruistic benefits from philanthropic work, but that does not negate the powerful and positive societal impact of the effort.

Sharing Wealth Makes You Richer

Since the recession that gripped the nation in recent years, there has been a lot of light shed on the great disparity of wealth among Americans. The “Occupy Wall Street” protests reflect just a small amount of those people who feel disadvantaged by the financial upper class. Many people view money and success as if there is a limited quantity of both. Rest assured there is enough to go around. Indeed, wealth doesn’t have to be something that everyone feels the need to compete for, but rather shared and “paid forward” for the greater good. When you focus on multiplying the amount of wealth as opposed to dividing it, you may be extremely surprised how well this mindset can work in favor of your own growth and gain - financial, emotional, spiritual, social and otherwise.