As the founder and CEO of Business Success Consulting Group, Adi encounters terrific business owners, coaches, consultants, entrepreneurs, and more every day. So, it was only natural for her to create a podcast that allows her to have a deep discussion with these fascinating leaders. Systems Simplified is the result. In it, business leaders from every industry share their tips and strategies so that you can utilize the lessons they have learned.
Ten Lessons You Can Take Away
Each podcast interview provides a different look at business growth. These fascinating perspectives provide insight that every business owner can utilize to grow his or her company.
While Systems Simplified is jam-packed with knowledge, we wanted to provide ten key lessons that you can use right now.
1. Examine where you are right now before setting goals.
Setting goals is the first thing most business owners do every quarter or year. However, only spending time on setting goals for the future misses one vital step. That is, discovering the place from which you are starting.
Before goal setting, take a look to find out what you are doing now that is working - and what isn’t. Bring in your team and have a discussion. Are you all on the same page?
Understanding the place from which you begin will help you decide upon realistic goals moving forward.
2. Set up metrics and measurables
When a business owner sets growth objectives for a department or the entire business, there must be a way to measure whether employees and departments meet expectations. If you don’t track metrics during the year, then it is impossible to make dynamic changes throughout the year so that your team meets your business goals.
That is why it is crucial for you to set up and track overall metrics for your business. On top of that, it is constructive for department leaders and individual employees to use metrics to track their production throughout the days and weeks. This allows them to self-monitor and make changes on the fly, making it easier for you to take a step back and avoid micromanaging.
3. The earlier you build systems, the easier it is to grow your business
This is a hard-won lesson that many business owners have shared with us. Sometimes an area grows and evolves so quickly that it seems impossible to document the processes and business systems that are contributing to the growth. However, it is often more difficult to backtrack and do the documentation later.
One vital business system to set up is the documentation of processes and procedures. The use of such documentation builds consistency and growth into your business model right at the beginning. Additionally, deciding to document systems along with your company growth means that you do not depend on your business to slow down so that your documentation can catch up.
4. Delegate
Documenting your business processes and procedures allows you to delegate tasks. This means that you will have additional time to grow your business, improve processes, and do big-picture planning.
5. Automate by utilizing documentation and systemization
Automation is a game changer in many businesses. Business owners from every industry have used automation to grow without hiring an exponential number of employees - and still increasing efficiency.
However, to set up automation, you must document and systematize your business processes. Building out company systems goes hand in hand with automation.
6. Consider documentation time as an investment
Is it difficult for you to spend time on documentation? Think of that time as an investment in your business. Just as you spend time planning, goal setting, and researching the latest industry products, you must devote time to establishing and documenting processes and procedures.
7. Revisit your systems and update them
Systems have cycles, so you will have to continue to revisit them and keep them up-to-date. This does not have to be your task and yours alone, however. If you make documenting and utilizing processes and procedures an essential part of company culture, your employees and managers will update systems naturally, as part of their growth cycle.
8. Don’t be afraid of trial and error
Trial and error is used in every business. Whether in creating the best product to sell or setting up systems. Don’t be afraid to try something and see that it needs to be changed or altogether scrapped. That’s how we learn and grow - and improve our offerings. This applies to every aspect of your company, including business systems.
9. Set up systems where they are most needed - first
Creating business processes and procedures in a chaotic area can feel daunting. Tackling that disorder may be a difficult task. It’s much easier - but less effective - to document systems in calm departments that are running well.
But, as noted in that previous sentence, tackling areas that are running just fine is not as effective as setting up systems in the departments that desperately need them. When setting up processes and procedures, start with the part of your company that is in the most chaos or always seems to be the most significant focus of your time and attention. That is the area which needs to be organized the most.
10. When you hit a roadblock, find a way to persevere
Perseverance is the hallmark of any entrepreneur. As a business owner, you will need to carry on through thick and thin - and even re-do work that you thought was complete. It can be daunting, but these challenges are what makes business ownership such an adventure.
Are you ready to get systems in place at your company? You don’t have to do it alone. Contact Business Success Consulting Group today!
