We recently connected with Denise Boutwell and have shared our conversation below.
Denise, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
Success in business depends on several key factors including mindset, strategy, and execution. Have a clear vision and goals. You must have a strong work ethic and persistence. Understand your industry, competition, and target audience. Business landscapes change rapidly. Stay flexible and open to new ideas and also embrace technology and trends. Surround yourself with the right people (mentors, partners, and employees). Have strong leadership and team building skills. Inspire, motivate, and empower your team to work towards common goals. Build a strong brand that differentiates you from the competitors. Be decisive and strategic when facing challenges. Learn from failures and adjust strategies when needed. Offer exceptional customer service and listen to your customers and their pain points. Educate them on why they need your goods or services. Remember, happy customers lead to repeat business and referrals! Always continue to learn and most importantly, never give up!
Denise, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Denise Boutwell is the Founder and Owner of DCM Business Solutions, a Telecommunications Business servicing the entire United States. Your service provider for VOIP solutions, Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems (ERRCS), In-Building Wireless/DAS, Gunshot Detection, and Managed Wi-Fi solutions.
At the very young age of 6, Denise knew she wanted to become a lawyer when she grew up. After graduating high school, she got her paralegal degree with the intention of going on to law school, and then life happened. She got married and her husband wanted to start a Communications Business. He asked her to “help” him get the business up and running. That helped turned into becoming President of a successful communications business with services that included PBX/VOIP sales, installation and services, cabling, electrical, video signage, in-building wireless, fiber optics, and underground utilities.
Her communication business had contracts with Comcast, Verizon, and LGC Wireless companies. Some of her completed DAS/In-Building Wireless/Wi-Fi projects included Ronald Raegan Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport, & Mayflower Hotel. Her business was an AVAYA Business Partner and had over 4,000 phone customers in the Maryland, Virginia, DC area. Because of her business’s exceptional customer service and experience, her business was awarded work for a past President of the United States, and numerous congress and senate members.
She achieved a certification (WBENC) as a certified female-owned business. Denise has always had a passion to help people and make a difference. She has a track record of excellent performance in handling multiple contracts at one time. Her leadership skills along with her creative thought process enabled her to generate new strategies to run a successful business. She was brought up to “be a person of your word”. When you say you’re going to do something, you do it! She strives to be a person of her word, and she always strives to do the right thing!
Denise has adapted to the change in times and technology. In doing so, she has created a business to help all small to medium-sized and even enterprise-level businesses. With over 20 years of experience, companies can feel confident in the level of expertise they will receive.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Managing a team while maintaining high morale requires a balance of leadership, communication, and support. Some key components to keep in mind are:
1. Communicate openly and with transparency-Keep your team informed, encourage open dialogue, and be approachable and available,
2. Recognize and appreciate contributions-Acknowledge hard work and achievements, implement a reward system (bonuses, shout-outs, promotions), and celebrate milestones and wins.
3. Foster a positive work environment-Encourage teamwork and collaboration, maintain a culture of respect, and address conflicts quickly and fairly.
4. Empower and develop your team-Delegate tasks to show trust and build confidence, provide opportunities for growth through training and mentorship, and support a work-life balance to prevent burnout.
5. Lead by example-Demonstrate integrity, accountability, and work ethic, show enthusiasm and resilience, and be consistent in your actions.
6. Encourage innovation and ownership-Allow team members to share ideas and take initiative, support calculated risks and learning from mistakes, and give autonomy where possible to boost engagement.
7. Regular check in’s-Hold one-to-one meetings to understand individual challenges, conduct team surveys or feedback sessions to gauge morale, and act on feedback to show you value their input.
Keeping morale high requires consistent effort, but a motivated team is more productive, engaged, and loyal.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Growing clientele effectively requires a mix of strategic marketing, relationship-building, and delivering exceptional value. Here are some ideas:
1. Leverage word-of-mouth and referrals-Encourage satisfied clients to refer others by offering incentives, build strong relationships and consistently exceed expectations, and ask for testimonials and display them on your website or social media.
2.Optimize your online presence-Have a professional website, utilize SEO to ensure you rank high in the search results, and be active on social media platforms relevant to your audience.
3. Use content marketing to establish authority-Write blog posts, create videos, or host webinars that provide value, share case studies and success stories, and offer free resources to attract leads.
4. Network and build strategic partnerships-Attend industry events, trade shows, or local business meetups, partner with complementary businesses for cross-promotion, and join professional groups or online communities to connect potential clients.
5. Invest in paid advertising-Run targeted ads on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram and track and optimize ad performance to improve ROI.
6. Personalize your outreach-Follow up with prospects after initial contact and use email marketing to nurture leads with personalized messages.
7. Provide exceptional customer service-Go the extra mile to solve client problems, respond promptly and professionally to inquiries, and maintain strong relationships to encourage repeat business and referrals,
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