5 Ideas to Jump-Start Your Business System Development!
The next time you drive to work, notice all the systems going on around you--roads and intersections, traffic lights, signs, sprinklers, curb and gutter, power lines, automobiles, crosswalks, and so forth. Each system was created to accomplish a specific purpose.
Similarly, the moment you walk in the door of your business you are confronted with the systems you or your employees created. Pause for a moment and look around. How many systems can you identify, and how well are they performing?
I've been in many businesses over the years, and I can usually spot system weaknesses very easily. Put on your Systems Thinker hat and you too will quickly see problems and inefficiencies. However, noticing system flaws does not improve them one bit. You have to take action!
What's Your Plan?
The hardest thing about creating effective business systems is finding the time and having a game plan that works. The road to the small business scrap heap is paved with good intentions, so you can't put off this important task.
Below are five elements of a good system-development game plan.
- Get in the "Zone" for an hour each day (preferably in the early morning) doing the things that matter most. Work on your business not just in your business (Michael Gerber). This is where the inspiration flows and great ideas come. This is the most important hour of your day!
- Become a Systems Thinker. As you walk around your operation, look at everything from a systems perspective. Use customer or employee feedback, performance data, and personal frustration to guide your problem-solving priorities. Take your observations and ideas to your next staff meeting.
- Larger companies should establish a system-improvement management team; the business owner often takes the lead. The team leader--whoever it may be--is responsible for all improvement projects and has the authority to make decisions for the company. Smaller business owners can form a system-improvement committee. The more people you involve in the improvement process, the more success you will have.
- Create a regular time and location--at least weekly--for system improvement meetings. Identify the bottlenecks and weak links of your business. Discuss ways to innovate and achieve better results. There are no meetings more important than those that elevate your business systems for finding and serving customers, and taking waste out of the business.
- Determine how your system documents will be formatted, bound, saved, and easily accessed (e.g., pdf files, binder, file cabinet). Create a directory on your computer's hard drive to archive all system files and master documents. Set up a file cabinet drawer as a system library of checklists, forms, and resource materials used by team leaders. OR get Box TheoryTM Gold software, which will do all of this for you (a no-brainer in my humble opinion).
Don't Put It Off Any Longer
Your need to create effective systems is never going to go away. You have to do it, and THE SOONER THE BETTER. Good systems make life easier, save you time and money, and are the basis of every great business endeavor.
Make the commitment today. You can do this, and I know you will!
Wishing You Prosperous Times,
Ron Carroll
P.S. - Box TheoryTM software was designed for working on the business. You can check it out at www.BoxTheoryGold.com/pricing.