There are only 2 things you should be focusing on and doing to be a good NDIS business.
A lot of experts, mentors, and influencers have a great deal to say about what you should be doing to be a “good” business, in fact it seems that these days everyone has an opinion. Some are helpful, others pin you down into purchasing tactics that could end up potentially hurting your business.
Straight to the Point
There are only 2 things you should be focusing and doing to be a good NDIS business.
1. Be a brilliant and relevant NDIS provider; and,
2. Getting paid for all that hard work.
If you take a look at all the planning, analysing, and strategies in your business, it all boils down to these 2 goals – to deliver and to get paid. Simple.
Brilliance feeds the mind.
Have you ever felt a sparkle when talking to someone whose ideas and input can make your brain just sing out and go “DING! DING!”, “light bulb!” or just simply “brilliant!”?
These people did not come into this world having all that wisdom. It’s an accumulation of knowledge, skills, and experience… and you cannot obtain that overnight. It’s their dedication and passion to their field that makes them brilliant.
If you long to be on that side of the conversation. Aim to be the most brilliant, if not one of the most brilliant NDIS businesses ever.
And here is how you do it, by mastering the following;
- NDIS goals – a good NDIS business should be aligned to the NDIS goals, short and long term. It doesn’t stop from the time you start believing, it also requires the action to push forward and achieve the goal as an NDIS business.
- Your business’ scope and services – Have you ever experienced talking to a service representative who is not familiar with the company’s scope and services? How did that help with your impression of the business? Bet it isn’t a good one, right? The NDIS covers a lot of areas of permanent and significant disability. Being on top of what the NDIS can cover, and what your NDIS business offers, will help you set a clear line on what your business can and cannot offer, and answering technical questions accurately and confidently.
Relevance fills the heart.
Sure, all NDIS businesses can be brilliant in knowing and understanding the technicalities… but this is not the only ingredient to a good NDIS business. You need to connect to your clients on a personal level, only then will your client feel your sincerity and your effort to not just do business, but to be an instrument to help them with their needs.
Make a connection:
- Personalise. Address the client by their name, take note of their relevant likes and dislikes, and connect on a personal level. NDIS clients need help, and most have emotional, psychological, sometimes even spiritual needs. Nobody in a needing state wants to talk to a robot going through a checklist. Be human.
- Listen to clients. Hearing the same issue all over again from one client to another may make one assume that the current client’s concern is the same from the rest. It isn’t. Take the time to listen with a fresh ear and listen to understand their needs.
- Talk “with”, not “to”, the clients. Talking to the client is a one-way conversation. Talk with the client and use partnership words like “us” “we” as an effort to make them feel that you are on this together.
- Go the extra mile. A good NDIS business does not only attend to what the client wants…a good NDIS business also goes the extra mile to educate and action to what the client needs.
Get Paid
A good NDIS business takes care of its clients, and its business. Getting your cash flow in control is an indication of a good NDIS business. If you can manage your finances internally, you can also do an excellent job in managing government funding.
What are the consequences if you are not getting paid for jobs you have completed?
- Poor cash flow and increase in risk;
- Possible utility and business supply impacts;
- Delayed staff payroll, leading to unhappy employees; and,
- Less opportunity for growth in systems, training, and self-improvement.
Tips for getting paid on time:
- Stick to your business’ terms and conditions. Get the job done on time and meet payment requirements as per agreement.
- Have an efficient and effective invoicing system. Whether you have an in-house or 3rd party invoicing system, make sure that the system is fitting and is working when sending, following-up, and receiving invoices.
- Payment option. Extenuating and mitigating circumstances may arise which affects getting paid timely. Have a process in place – create payment options and offer discounts when deem necessary.
