ISO 9001 makes your business more successful because everyone who works within a quality workplace is happier.
Why are they happier? Here are just three reasons.
You’ll be richer – and more attractive
Yes, really. You’ll be richer. The overriding reason to get ISO 9001 certified is to win more business.
In a world that’s more competitive by the day, you need to stand out from the crowd. You might be surprised to learn there are only about 40,000 companies in the UK that are ISO 9001 certified, from a total of 5.7 million. OK, many of those are very small businesses but there are still more than half a million companies with 5 or more employees. So, an ISO 9001 certified business is in a very select group.
And as you know, many larger businesses and public sector organisations won’t even entertain the idea of selecting a supplier that isn’t ISO 9001 certified. You won’t even clear the first hurdle of the PQQ (pre-qualification questionnaire).
More business, more money, more eligible.
You’ll have more time for hot dates
Chances are that at some point in your career you have – or you will – work in a rather chaotic organisation where you don’t know who’s doing what. So things either don’t get done at all, or you duplicate effort and tread on each other’s toes.
Well, in an ISO 9001 certified business with proper processes (and no, it doesn’t necessarily mean pages of written procedures), everyone knows their role. You’ll see this referred to as ‘setting out areas of responsibility’ or ‘improved efficiency of management processes’. However you phrase it, your business will function more smoothly, you’ll spend less time in meetings, there’s less waste and duplication of effort and there’s considerably less stress. It’s a happier place to work.
You get more done in less time and can go home earlier. More time to spend with your significant other.
You’ll win people’s hearts
Management is hard. Whether you supervise one person or ten thousand, having their careers and livelihood in your hands is a big responsibility. Some love the responsibility; some find it a burden.
Either way, you’re going to be more effective as a manager if people are on your side. An ISO 9001 Quality Management System gives you the framework to do this. For example, you’ll have to commit to communicating with staff, to ensuring they have the skills to do their jobs properly and to listening to their feedback. It doesn’t take a genius to see that employees appreciate that and will thank you for it. And who doesn’t want to be popular?
This positive vibe permeates through everything your business does and results in better products and services you provide to your customers. So, your customers will like you more, too. And after all, people buy from people, so it’s good for business.
