Main Idea
Do you constantly find yourself handling the same problems over and over? Are your mornings spent putting out the same fires you took care of last week? Are you always shuffling through the same stack of papers to find what you need?
Expansion of Idea
Many business owners have a hard time taking the time out to review their systems. What they may not realize is evaluating and improving their current flawed processes will end up saving them many hours. More importantly, it may save a customer. Personal commitment to improvement is crucial. You must commit to taking the time to brainstorm areas where you may have gaps in your processes.
This is the area that problems arise. Work on one system at a time. Small improvements over time create better systems, which in turn, will improve productivity. Each week brainstorm a way to make that specific system just a little bit better and implement immediately. If you choose your system for marketing to begin with, involve your marketing team. Ask them where their recurring issues lie. There may be a very simple tweak to your process that will close the gaps.
William Edwards Deming, the late author, statistician, and consultant best known for improving production in the US during WWII, said "97% percent of all business failure is due to the system – not the person."
Suggested Areas to Start
Evaluate where you have recurring problems
Commit to spending time each week to devote to improvement.
Brainstorm and collaborate with employees involved.
Document all process changes and update all staff with new systems and policies.