March 7, 2024
Over the years, I discovered and implemented two critical systems that allowed me (and the founders I work with) to maintain a pulse on my business, no matter where I was.
When I say maintain a pulse, I mean the non-negotiable things that must be done regularly for the business to operate successfully. For this, you need an accountability system. The second is a weekly scorecard to provide you with key information about operations.
These two systems allowed me to remove myself from operations for 7 years. They provide all of the necessary information you need to know if your business is operating as it should, without the help of team meetings.
To clarify, I’m not encouraging you to disconnect from your business fully. But I believe you should have the option. Additionally, it's critical for scale, and these are the systems that will make it possible with peace of mind.
Now, back to the accountability system.
Some businesses have SOPs, very few clarify what done looks like, and almost none have a way for team members to submit their work. And without a submission system, you have no accountability.
But there’s a problem - now someone (often the founder) has to spend time reviewing work submitted. This can be very draining.
The solution? An automated accountability system. One that automatically notifies the founder (or direct reports) when processes aren’t done when or how they should. I built a simple system like this (linked in my signature) but the tool you use doesn’t matter. As long as you have systems that automatically notify you, you’re good.
SOPs —> Definition of done —> Submission systems —> Automated notifications
If you’d like to read more about how I define responsibilities (turning them into accountabilities, as I call them), Click Here.
The second system, a weekly scorecard, provides you with the necessary 7-15 metrics to keep track of the company’s health. This can include number of leads, new clients, closing rate, MRR, best-performing content, cash position, accounts receivable, etc.
If you’d like to learn more about the weekly scorecard system, Click Here.
Having systems like these allows your subconscious to relax and eliminate open loops. Without them, the opposite is true, and removing yourself from operations will not be possible.
Stop having to assume if operations are smooth, and implement systems to start knowing.
Go ahead and try it:
- Create a weekly scorecard of important metrics
- Do a braindump of all manual processes
- Document SOPs for each process
- Implement a submission system
- Automate notifications
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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