You may dream of trailblazing entrepreneurism to solve problems.
Once you find the right path, however, follow that route faithfully to avoid a maze of distracting, suboptimal options.
Systems and processes may seem boring, but they also lead to many benefits for the business, customers, and yourself.
"๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐." โ Allan Dib
How systems and processes improve your business:
๐๐น๐ช๐ต โ Determine and formalize the core functions of your business to consider an exit strategy. Future investors and buyers want to know how the business can be repeated for years to come.
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด โ Ensure a consistent and fast process for buying and delivery by creating a shared playbook for sales, fulfillment, and support. Map the client journey and have checklists at each stage.*
๐๐น๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ โ Replicate best practices across teams and projects. Standard onboarding and performance evaluation processes bring employee respect and impact the bottom line.
๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ง๐ช๐ต๐ข๐ฃ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ โ Rely on metrics to make healthy margins repeatedly. A clear process may lower labor costs and allow experienced employees to focus on innovation and growth.
๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ต๐บ โ Delegate responsibilities once a system exists. Save yourself time and energy frequently explaining how things should work and focus on product and business development.
"๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐." โ Simon Sinek
If you want to reap these benefits, then follow these steps:
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ ๐ด๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐
1. Prioritize areas of the business which are crucial, regular, lasting, and lengthy
2. List the objectives, processes, tools, and people involved in each system.
3. Identify all the potential ways to improve each system. You may want to remove or consolidate steps, delegate certain responsibilities to other people, and/or automate functions.
4. Test your new system to see if improvement occurred and if there are any unexpected results. For instance, you may sell more product but simultaneously earn less profits.
5. Seek feedback from many sources. The amount of feedback should equal the importance of the system.
6. Build and follow feedback loops.
After major growth, the whole system may need to be changed. New investments and major expansion should prompt major change.**
Build effective systems for productivity, asset creation, and your sanity so you can continue exploring other ways to expand.
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* Keep in mind the critical use of checklists in such important roles as surgeon, airline pilot, and rocket engineers.
** Posts on organizational change can be found here: https://bit.ly/3xIeIzO and https://bit.ly/3wT33hN
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