A quick self-evaluation can be an important starting point on the path to business improvement. Rate your company’s attainment levels in these nine areas to see how you’re doing.

1. Ambitious, clear goals. If you don’t strive to be the market leader, it’s unlikely to happen.

2. Defined market. Clearly fixed market boundaries help you to serve customer needs and make the best use of technology.

3. Customer focus. Keeping the customer first gives the clearest guide to effective market orientation.

4. Customer relations. Systems allowing you to keep all functions close to the customer add value to the products and services you provide.

5. Innovation. Strategies designed to foster creative advances in technology, services, and processes enhance your ability to meet customer needs.

6. Competitive position. Knowing your competition helps you defend your market position and create competitive advantage.

7. Internal strength. A solid inner core built on adding value to services and products will help to differentiate you in the marketplace.

8. Employee motivation. Careful selection and training of employees combined with an effective retention program will improve productivity.

9. Leadership. Effective leaders blend authority with participation to guide their companies to success.