Six business tasks entrepreneurs ought to systemize (but don’t)
Systematizing some operational aspects or functions can lead to significant competitive advantages for a business. However, it can be quite a challenge for business owners and operators to identify which tasks should be systemized and which ones are fine the way they are.
To help highlight some of the tasks you should focus on, we asked members of Young Entrepreneur Council to discuss some of the tasks or processes leaders should be looking at systemizing, as well as touch on how the changes would help.
1. Projects
Your projects are what brings in revenue and builds client-brand relationships. Without systemizing and automating these projects, it’s easy to get distracted and lose focus. Streamlining your tasks helps them progress at a faster, more efficient pace so you get more accomplished in a shorter time. — Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
2. Business Development and Lead Gen
I’ve met dozens of entrepreneurs who don’t have lead gen and business development activities systemized and automated. They take new leads as they come in without a logical sales funnel. With a little planning, business development and lead gen functions can be streamlined effectively. — Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
3. Operating Procedures
There’s nothing more important than creating an operational system from the very beginning. Everything that makes the business run must be properly documented. Not doing so means you’re always at baseline zero with no training available or a system for future employees to follow. Having standard operating procedures in place, even as limited as they may be, is key to helping you improve and grow. — Maria Thimothy, OneIMS
4. Client Onboarding
It’s important to welcome new clients and customers with a well-thought-out and seamless sequence of steps, whether these include emails, downloads, phone calls or little gifts in the mail. By systemizing and even automating parts of your onboarding process, you can be more present with new clients and make sure they get the best service, so they tell all their friends about you. — Nathalie Lussier, AccessAlly
5. Employee Onboarding
By the time we realize we need a new employee, we realize we needed them yesterday. Through process and systems I can now interview, offer, hire and onboard a new employee in three weeks (including their two weeks’ notice). The team feels the crunch for those few weeks, but they know help is on the way and when help comes they hit the ground running. — Kerry Guard, MKG Marketing
6. Systematization Itself
The most important task that entrepreneurs should be systemizing is systematization itself. Without systems in place, testing cannot take place, there will seem to be no end for projects, and worker frustration will start to eclipse the joy of completion. Without systems, teams can’t find the same page and consumers don’t know what to expect from the brand. — Terry Tateossian, Socialfix Media
