Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Do Systems Run Your Business?

Do Systems Run Your Business?

Do these issues look familiar in your business: Staff turnover, can't hire good people, missed due dates, reactive environment, poor cash flow, long and hard hours, poor customer retention, confusion, duplicative effort? If so, what do you think is the common cause? The answer is lack of systems in your business.

Systems are often the most misunderstood area of business today. Yet they are easy to implement and make your life and that of your staff so much easier. Systems will make your business run smoothly, efficiently and profitably!

Another way to understand the importance of systems is to ask yourself this question: Do I work more ON my business than I work IN my business? Remember, the ActionCOACH definition of a successful business is a "commercial, profitable enterprise that can work without you." Systems allow your business to work without you. If you work more IN your bsuiness than ON it, your business will never grow and prosper, and it will not reach its full potential.

Here is wisdom! Your business is your product; it's what you are building, and it's where you are ultimately going to make your profit when you sell it. And, systems are the foundation of your business.

The basic principle is to "systematize the routine and humanize the exception." Anything that can't be systematized needs to be run by people. Always look at putting a system in place rather than employing more people. A systems means that things are done consistently, irrespective of which team member is responsible.

Therefore:
- Systems run your business
- People run your systems
- You lead your people

There are five basic steps to systemization:

1. Document your company structure by creating an organization chart. Then identify the critical areas or functions for your business to be a success.

2. Next, for each critical area or function, flowchart your processes. Describe with detail and accuracy exactly what happens in each area. Chart the path that works through each area.

3. Document how it gets done. Involve your team. Have the team member who is currently doing each job write down every step in performing a task. Then have a new person do the task with the draft written steps. If the team member currently doing the task has to step in and explain anything to the new person, then add steps or clarify. Once completed start again until any person can do the task without intervention.

4. Measure using key performance indicators. Typically, these will be the top measures that show system performance. Get these measures from the person doing the job. For example, for your sales system you can use the number of leads generated, conversion rates, or average dollars per sale.

5. Allow the system to change and grow with use. Ensure that the system is self-correcting and can evolve by itself. Make sure team members keep the system documentation current.

Some final tips:
- Don't overcomplicate systems or people won't follow them.
- Use lots of photos, videos, tapes, etc. This may be as simple as printing a computer screen or video taping someone doing the task at hand. This will make the systems much easier to follow.
- Document your system in a "policies and procedures" or "operations" manual in an easy to access format. And make sure everyone knows where it's kept!

As your business continues to grow, effective systems will be paramount to your long term profitability, good work-life balance, and a great lifestyle for you and your family. Here's to your continued success!





Do Systems Run Your Business - To learn more about this author, visit David Carter's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
David Barr
David Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website

Anne Barr
Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website

Casey Gollan
Casey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website

Kim Castle
With nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website

Jeff Foster
WebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas.  We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing
- Visit Jeff Foster's Website

David Acheson
David Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns.  David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website

Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Are your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website

Cheryl Matthynssens

Cheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur.  Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well.  A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles.  She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide-  to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being.  Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com

- Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


David Carter
(Visit David's Website) David Carter is the owner of Scramjet Strategies, a business consulting and professional coaching company. David draws on more than 33 years of success as an experienced business executive, entrepreneur, strategist, trusted advisor and dedicated community leader. His career has taken him around the world living and working in the US, New Zealand and the UK. He has held senior executive positions within the Thomson Corporation, Wolters Kluwer, and Ziff-Davis publishing companies. David’s leadership positions have been in large and small organizations. In addition, he successfully founded and developed two businesses: American Trade Exchange, an import and export company, and a PC Systems Development and Training company. These have provided excellent environments to "practice what he teaches." David is the coaching partner of Gazelles International for the Greater Philadelphia MSA, and one of only 80 coaches in the world qualified to teach Mastering the Rockefeller Habits and its One-Page Strategic Plan and "best practices." Contact David at (215) 732-2230, or email him at dcarter@scramjetstrategies.com, or visit www.scramjetstrategies.com.

David Carter is a Gold author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


David Carter's

Complete
List Of
Business-Coach
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get David Carter's Complete List of Business-Coach Articles For FREE!

More David Carter
Define Your Uniqueness
Do Systems Run Your Business
The Power of Priorities
What Drives Your Economic Engine
Create Your 10x10 Marketing Program
Your One Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Powerful Ideas to Solidify Repeat Customers
Prime Your Marketing Engines
Profit Per X
How Can I Increase Referrals
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
Joe Dager  
Staging Diva  
Linda Richardson  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Caprino Career Path Assessment Icon Caprino Career Path Assessment
The Leader’s Edge Icon The Leader’s Edge
Accessing Capital Icon Accessing Capital
Customer Retention / Attraction Icon Customer Retention / Attraction
Effective Art Of Networking Icon Effective Art Of Networking
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
More PR Resources
More PR Resources
Press Release Builder
 
The Top 10 ProBlogger Posts - Best Posts for Bloggers
The Top 10 ProBlogger Posts
Best Posts for Bloggers
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Alice Aigbe Ibadan,oyo state, Nigeria,
Alice Aigbe
Ibadan,oyo state, Nigeria
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Jonathan Voigt, $214k to $507k in 2 years
Jonathan Voigt
$214k to $507k in 2 years
Geoff Whitlock, $53k to $507k in 3 years
Geoff Whitlock
$53k to $507k in 3 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Jennifer Lopez, J.Lo
Thomas Watson Sr., IBM
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
John Jantsch, Duct Tape Marketing
John Jantsch
Duct Tape Marketing
Timothy Ferriss, 4 Hour Work Week
Timothy Ferriss
4 Hour Work Week
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     SEO and the Entrepreneur
By Clint Dixon
     An SEO is the next Lawyer in your life.
By Clint Dixon

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information