If you want to run a successful business, one of the first steps is to learn to implement systems so that you don't need to be at your business all of the time. Your office should be able to run without you. In fact, there are very few successful entrepreneurs that are also micro-managers. As a business leader, your focus should be on growing your business, not the day to day operations. For many that is a really hard transition. So, take it step by step. One great place to start is by making sure that your business can function when you are ill or away on business trips. Here are three tips to help you kick that process off.
Ensure the Office is Set Before You Travel
If you need to travel for your job, make sure that you clear up and finish any open items or issues before you leave. Any items that are outstanding should be delegated to someone else to handle while you are gone. There is nothing worse than coming back from a grueling business trip to a stack of growing papers on your desk.
Give Your Itinerary to Someone Not Attending the Trip
When you are traveling, make a copy of your itinerary with contact numbers and give it to someone who is not traveling with you. In the event that you lose the information, you will be able to get to it quickly.
Do You Have a "While I'm Away" List?
Make a list to keep on hand for people who look after your office, job or home while you are away. The list should include things like:
* phone numbers for individuals to call in an emergency,
* what to do in a variety of emergencies - both man made and natural,
* the plant watering schedule,
* instructions for forwarding mail,
* lock up procedures,
* any people expected to drop by looking for information and what they should be given,
* how your assistant should process your mail,
* and so on
Attach a separate page with last minute details and your current itinerary, including phone numbers where you can be reached.
Obviously there are many more things that you need to put into place before your business will run completely without you, but this is a good way to start off the process.
The Best Leaders Don't Have to be in the Office - To learn more about this author, visit Stephanie Calahan's Website.
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Dianne Crampton
Dianne Crampton is an Executive Leadership Coach and Team Building Consultant and creator of the TIGERS team development model. For the past twenty years she has helped leaders and teams achieve goals with high levels of collaboration and teamwork.
Crampton is a published author. Her contribution to Working Together: Diversity As Opportunity was endorsed by Stephen Covey. She has written for trade magazines. Merrill Lynch nominated her business for Inc. Magazine’s regional small business and entrepreneurial awards. Her work with Native Americans was recognized at a United Nations sponsored conference in 1994.
The TIGERS model passed two rigorous validation studies in 1992 and 1994. The TIGERS Survey is able to measure and track team development over time.
Dianne is also the creator and distributor of the TIGERS Team Wheel game. This game helps groups identify behaviors that build collaborative groups and behaviors that cause conflict, morale problems, production failures, and misunderstandings.
For more information, or to subscribe to TigerTracks, a free monthly leadership and team newsletter go to http://www.corevalues.com - Visit Dianne Crampton's Website |
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Stephanie Calahan
(Visit Stephanie's Website)
Stephanie L.H. Calahan (www.Step
hanieCalahan.com) of Calahan
Solutions, Inc. is a dynamic entrepreneur,
nationally known exper and speaker, media
personality, author, publisher,
productivity/ organization consultant, &
business start-up coach. She focuses on
conducting presentations, personal
coaching, productivity assessments &
organizing services. She believes that
diversity of thought, communication
styles, backgrounds, & experiences lead to
more innovative, longer-lasting solutions.
Steph has worked with hundreds of clients,
and understands that every person is
unique & requires systems that work for
them. As such, she has been featured on/in
numerous venues (w
ww.calahansolutions.net)
She is an active member in many
professional organizations & is an active
community leader. As such, she has
received many awards recognizing her for
her contributions. Her corporate and small
business expertise as well as her Computer
Science & HR backgrounds give her a unique
perspective of what works at work. As a
wife & mother, she knows family & leisure
time is more important than ever.
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