June 29, 2023
What if I told you that as a business owner, it is possible to step away from the day-to-day grind, focus more on growth, and achieve an extraordinary level of productivity?
Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? Well, it's not. It's a reality for those willing to take the right steps toward systems optimization and leadership. I know not only because I’ve helped many other business owners like you, but I’ve also achieved this with my own companies.
Over time I’ve been able to refine and simplify this process into the 5 steps below. Enjoy!
1. Create a Process Map of Existing Processes
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In our case, that first step is creating a process map of your existing operations. It's like the GPS of your business — You can't plan the journey if you don't know your current location.
By visualizing your processes, you're doing more than just gaining an understanding of your business operations. You're setting the stage for improvements and identifying bottlenecks.
2. Automate Processes with the Greatest Friction
Once your process map is in place, it's time to identify the areas causing the most friction — Those processes that are cumbersome, time-consuming, and simply too manual. Automation is a game-changer here.
By automating these high-friction processes, you not only eliminate inefficiencies but also free up time and resources. You'd be surprised at how much more you can achieve when you're not bogged down. This step also generates a quick win for you and your business.
3. Systemize and Create Accountability
With your high-friction processes automated and optimized, you can now turn to the remaining manual ones.
You systemize these tasks by clarifying:
- Ownership
- Frequency (daily, weekly, etc.)
- What 'done' or 'success' looks like
Creating systems isn't just about increasing efficiency. It's about fostering a culture of accountability within your organization — A critical aspect of leadership and success.
For a copy of my Accountability System, Click Here.
4. Delegate Low ROI Tasks
Once you’ve systemized the manual processes within the business (including your own), it becomes a lot easier to delegate because you’ve already clarified them in detail. You'll be able to quickly see important tasks that you own but yield a low return on investment (ROI) and could not be automated. These are the tasks that must be delegated during this phase.
It’s not about passing off the grunt work; it’s about leadership, recognizing where your time should be spent for the company's vision, and empowering your team.
For a copy of my free guide to find, hire and onboard virtual assistants, Click Here.
5. Focus on Growth
The previous four steps are critical before trying to grow your business. It’s not only difficult to sail a leaky ship, but you also run the risk of crashing your entire operation. After systemizing and automating, you’ll have fewer open loops, be more present, and ultimately be a lot more productive toward growing your business.
First, clarify your company vision if it isn't already crystal clear. Once you have a vision, align it with your team. For a copy of my free company vision template, Click Here.
Secondly, implement a project management system. This will ensure that everyone is working toward the same goal and moving in the right direction.
Lastly, implement a meeting system to track progress, identify potential hurdles, and celebrate wins. You should also incorporate a weekly scorecard of the most important metrics to maintain a pulse on your business no matter where you are. For a copy of my free weekly scorecard system, Click Here.
Follow these steps and you will optimize your business operations, create a culture of accountability, and actually start growing your business. It's not about working harder, it's about working smarter. And most importantly, inspiring your team to do the same.
Go ahead and try it:
- Map out your business processes
- Automate high-friction tasks
- Systemize manual processes
- Delegate low ROI tasks
- Focus on growth
See you all next Thursday 👋
PS. Whenever you're ready... Here are three ways I can help you systemize & automate operations:
- Learn how to find, hire, and manage virtual assistants → Free Access
- Manage projects, meetings, and resources from a single place → Learn More
- Let me help you automate operations and exit the day-to-day grind → Work With Me
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