How Systems Can Help Grow Your Business

When most people start a business, rarely do they intend to simply sustain their operation at a single location. Entrepreneurs aim for growth; they have the vision to scale their growth so that they can take their business to new heights.

While it’s true that these goals aren’t unattainable, many business owners fail to take the proper actions to help their business thrive. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of small businesses fail within the first year.

So how can you ensure that your enterprise doesn’t become just another statistic? Start by establishing systems to help grow your business.

For example, consider a business that has several franchises. Whether it be a burger restaurant or a car dealership, you can bet that the teams use and follow the same processes at each location to produce a consistent caliber of work.

Begin by Defining Employee Roles

When considering systems, some might assume that you need to compile a massive manual on how to run your business.

There’s no need to get started on composing a never-ending employee handbook for your staff to ignore. Rather, you should start by considering the roles of your staff and the responsibilities associated with them.

When your staff has an understanding of what each person on the team must do, you dramatically reduce the chance of confusion and give your employees a clear, defined space to operate within. Once your team is on the same page, look at the processes that take place in order to deliver your service or product. Start by looking into the processes that impact your business the most.

Figure Out the “In Between” to Plan Out Your Systems

Just because your team knows what they’re responsible for, it doesn’t mean that they’re ready to operate according to a system. You also need to define what happens in between your processes.
In foodservice (a hamburger restaurant, for example), a high-impact process can be putting together an order for a customer. At the beginning of this process is the customer placing an order, and at the end, the customer receives their product.

Now ask yourself: what needs to happen in between that process? Make note of the solutions that need to happen in order to ensure the perfect product is produced and delivered to the customer.
Once your solutions are lined up, you can begin systemizing your business for growth. This can vary by industry, but your goal should be a strategy that your team can follow without trouble.

Advice for Testing New Systems for Your Business

After you’ve developed a new system for your team to follow, it’s time to begin testing. Remember that this is a trial-and-error deal, and you might need to make improvements to your system if you’re not getting the intended results.

Follow these tips to bullet-proof your systems before you implement them in your business:

• Ask if your system is simple – If the slowest member of your team struggles to repeat your system back to you, you may need to simplify your process. Procedures and solutions need to be clear for your staff to follow.
• Train the trainer – Once you have a simple and clear system established, it’s crucial that you train your manager(s) so they can carry the practices over to their teams. If your managers can’t maintain the system they run, you need to reassess your system for any anomalies or gaps that are causing issues.
• Plan a soft opening or partial roll-out – For new businesses, a soft opening can be a great way to test the waters before a grand opening. This will put your system(s) to the test to see if your planning has paid off.

If you’re already an established business, then consider a partial roll-out by having select staff test the new system out before implementing it with the rest of your team.
Any feedback you get from these methods can help you refine your system before you fully implement it.

The Benefits of Establishing Systems

Apart from helping your team deliver high-quality work, systems can help you grow your business.
If your employee roles are clearly defined and you have processes in place for staff to follow, you can transfer that system to a new location or franchise and expect success.

With tested and established systems, any business owner can increase their revenue by expanding their business to multiple locations. Without systems, you may only have a successful business because of a handful of employees working extra hard to keep things afloat.

What happens if those employees leave? Will your business last? With a system in place, your business will run itself and won’t have to rely on the efforts of one or two employees to ensure results.

Certified Business Coaches Available to Help You Build Systems

An ActionCOACH RGV Business Coach can help identify areas for improvement within your business so that you can establish systems to grow your business and increase cash flow.

By joining ActionCOACH RGV, you gain access not only to a Certified Business Coach, but an entire network of like-minded business owners capable of offering solutions to your problems.

Set up a consultation today to begin building systems that work for you!