Avoid the Number One Mistake that Keeps Businesses Down

Growing a business takes focus, hard work and lots of staying power. The to-do list grows every day. But have you ever stopped to think about how all those things get done and if there is a better way to do them so you can handle more business?

No matter how small, each of the tasks that you and your staff work on has a process associated with it. The process is made up of all of the various steps that are needed to complete the task including who does what, when, and how the steps get done. Just imagine all of the steps involved when a person books your dream vacation to the Caribbean.

The Dilemma

All too often, many of these processes go undocumented. Worse still, there is only one person on the whole team that knows how to do that job. Since the day-to-day work is getting done, business owners don’t often see the benefit in taking the time to document how it gets done. It may just seem like a waste of time.

The opposite is actually true. Taking the time to document your business’ work processes is a sound investment that will pay you back many times over.

Choose a Different Path

Documenting your business processes will help you:

1. Create consistency in your offering. By standardizing and documenting the way tasks are completed, you end up with consistent results that customers can rely on. Each time an employee answers the phone, completes an order, or delivers a product the customer receives the same service and gains confidence in your company.

2. Protect your business from unforeseen events. If one of your employees is the only person who knows how to use a piece of equipment and that person suddenly wins the lotto, you will be faced with a big gap in your business. Documenting your processes ensures that others can help get the work done when the unexpected happens.

3. Create the foundation needed for expansion. As you start to grow, you will need to hire new staff to cover the extra work. Documented processes help in training new employees on the right way to get things done. Getting them on track means they can start taking some of the work off of your plate so you can concentrate on growing the business.

4. Find better ways to get the things done. Documenting processes is the first step in understanding how tasks can be made easier. Once processes are documented, you can start assessing how work is being done and looking for ways to save time and money. Improving the processes then comes naturally.

Start documenting your business processes – you’ll be glad you did.

Katie Tingley is a Toronto business owner who helps small and medium-sized businesses work more effectively. Contact Katie directly by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 416.662.4774 to start Improving the Way You Do Business. For more information, visit The Tingley Advantage website www.thetingleyadvantage.com.