Like many growing entrepreneurs, you probably want to begin moving faster and scaling your business. But, you’re already tapped for time and energy as it is!
So, what’s the secret to reaching the next level without sacrificing every ounce of energy you’ve got? Systems. Effective business systems provide structure and consistency, eliminate a lot of time-consuming steps and help ensure that your business activities are seamless and efficient.
But the steps to building great business systems aren’t always obvious. Let me show you how to make your systems work best for you.
Step #1: Look at Your Essential Business Functions
The first question to ask yourself is what are the main activities that keep your business running smoothly? This will look different across industries, but you’ll want to consider all activities, not just client-facing ones. Maybe you send weekly emails and publish blog posts, do your bookkeeping every Friday night or refresh your website every month.
This step will give you a big-picture overview of your day-to-day business activities. By the end, you should have all the nuts and bolts of your biz laid out in front of you.
Step #2: Break Down Each Function
Now it’s time to dig a little deeper. Take a closer look at each function so you can really understand each step in the process. Let’s take scheduling your weekly social media content for example – there’s a lot more to it than signing into Facebook and whipping up a few posts. You probably do some research, use a program to create graphics, spend time writing captions and scheduling the content and use tools to track your performance.
Write down the step-by-step process you complete to successfully fulfill each function. Keep a close eye on how many steps each one has, too. This will help you get clear on where your time is going. Plus, those longer tasks will be perfect candidates for systematization.
Step #3: Ready, Set, Systematize!
Remember those functions we identified and itemized in step 2? Now, it’s time to build some systems to optimize them! These can be internal processes with your team or automated with software. The key is to be as efficient as possible.
Delegate must-do tasks across your team and anything that can be done by a computer, let it. Programs like Dubsado and ClickUp can do the everyday heavy lifting, leaving you and your team more time to think ahead.
Step #4: Test Your Changes
You should evaluate your changes regularly and make adjustments as needed. You might find some tweaks work better than others or that a tweak doesn’t work at all. Don’t be afraid to change things up even if it means starting from scratch again.
Whether there is a formal review process or you take a more collaborative approach, keep a close eye on how the changes you make impact your productivity.
Remember, perfection doesn’t happen overnight. Building systems is an ongoing process that you’ll need to revisit as your business grows and evolves. And if you make mistakes along the way or try new things that may not work out remember that failing forward is still progress!
_________________________________
Developing systems for your business is a major key in growing and evolving into the successful brand you’re aiming to be. Start by looking at your business functions, breaking them down into smaller pieces, looking at your goals, testing the changes you make and regularly revisiting the process.
Ready to learn more about building a successful business? Head here now:
APPLY TO ALLERGIC TO HOURLY™
What would it mean to you to hit 6-figures without tracking your time, working 40+ hours a week, & being glued to your laptop? Allergic to Hourly™ helps you create a business that fuels your freedom without being stuck charging hourly rates. Fill out your application as soon as possible so we can send you an advanced private training with all the details! The deadline to apply for the next session is at the end of this month.
TAKE THE SOLO TO CEO QUIZ
If you feel stuck in your business but aren’t sure how to get unstuck or what steps to take next, take the Solo to CEO Quiz. We’ll ask you some questions about your business, give you a score, and then give you actionable next steps & resources to help you get unstuck and create momentum. Click here to take the quiz.
FREE TRAINING: 5 SYSTEMS YOU NEED TO GROW YOUR ONLINE SERVICE BUSINESS FREE TRAINING
In this free training, I show you everything you need to know about the 5 systems your business needs to grow sustainably, how to build on the things you’re already doing in your business, the tools I use to pull in bigger clients with less effort, and how to set your business up to support the life you really want to live. Sign up for the free training here.
FREE TRAINING: THE 4 MINDSET BLOCKS KEEPING YOU FROM STARTING YOUR SUCCESSFUL SERVICE BIZ FREE TRAINING
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business as a freelancer, consultant, or service provider, then you know that the hardest part is just getting started. I know there’s so much info out there, it’s hard to know where to start or what to do next. I put this training together to connect the dots for you and help you get started successfully. Sign up for the free training here.
Read the next blog post: 5 Foolproof Ways to Grow Your Network
