Running a business means knowing where you're going, with what resources, and how to adjust along the way. This is what some twenty female company directors came to explore at the workshop led by Valérie and Clara, and organized by the MEDEF Landes women's group on May 20 atExco SOMOGEC in Mont-de-Marsan.
Understanding company management: more than just numbers
" Steering means translating strategy into concrete, measurable and adaptable actions. In an uncertain and changing environment, it's essential to regularly analyze your company's activity and question the relevance of your business model", explains Valérie Cardonne, Director of Consulting and partner at EXCO Fiduciaire du Sud-Ouest.
Management enables us to analyze, guide and adjust our trajectory on an ongoing basis. It is not limited to financial indicators: it also encompasses commercial, human, environmental and innovation dimensions. Each company, depending on its priorities, can structure its management around the areas that are most important to it. The key is to formulate realistic, motivating objectives, and translate them into action plans adapted to day-to-day operations. This is how strategy comes to life, and becomes the driving force behind sustainable performance.
From strategy to operations: Exco's expertise
At Exco FSO, this operational translation takes the form of personalized support. Clara Saint-Paul, a management consultant based in Mont de Marsan, presents the "Mon Tableau de Bord By Exco" offer , a personalized, visual and dynamic solution, specially designed to support each manager in his or her decision-making process.
An effective dashboard is a compendium of essential indicators specifically adapted to the company's activity," emphasizes Clara. In addition to providing a clear vision, our support includes regular monthly or quarterly reporting and discussion sessions. It's during these meetings that our human approach really comes into its own: we analyze the data with the manager, formulate concrete hypotheses and together propose courses of action to be validated".
From diagnosis to action plan: the fundamentals of management
During the workshop, Valérie and Clara presented a clear and structured 5-step approach:
- Internal and external diagnostics: regularly update your strategic analysis using tools such as SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), PESTEL (global vision of the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal environment) or value chain analysis (identify value-creating activities and optimization levers).
- Definition of objectives and roadmap: formulate SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) objectives and translate them into operational action plans.
- Budget modeling: estimate the resources needed, project activity and secure the economic feasibility of projects.
- Choice of key indicators: select relevant indicators, both financial (sales, cash flow, sensitive expenses, etc.) and non-financial (order book, sales by product, % personnel expenses, absenteeism rate, energy consumption, waste volume, etc.), directly linked to the objectives set. Information must be reliable, available and limited in number. Visual representations facilitate understanding and encourage action.
- Monitoring and adjusting: monitor as you go, comparing actual results with forecasts, analyzing variances and adjusting trajectories. This enables you to anticipate difficulties, make objective decisions and involve your teams.
The concrete benefits of good management
Adopting a structured management approach brings a number of direct benefits, including :
- Anticipating risks and opportunities.
- Faster, more informed and more confident decision-making.
- Mobilizing teams around clear objectives.
- Better relations with financial partners.
Comprehensive support from Exco FSO
- Valérie Cardonne Valérie Cardonne: "Running a business means accepting to regularly challenge oneself. Our mission is to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses, improve their performance - economic, human and social - and bring their projects to fruition, with confidence and serenity.
- Clara Saint-Paul Clara Saint-Paul: "We support the manager as a trusted partner, providing a structuring perspective and translating data into decision-making levers. The "Mon Tableau de Bord By Exco" service offering supports our mission by providing a synthetic view of the situation and support during regular monthly or quarterly discussions. These key moments lighten the manager's mental load, validate hypotheses and fine-tune the company's trajectory in complete confidence".
To find out more about how we can help you manage your business, get in touch with your usual contact or contact us directly.
