One of the core operational challenges in a business is consistency. No matter if it’s an online business or old fashioned brick-and-mortar, do your clients know what to expect, and have confidence that their expectations will be met? Consistency in your business depends on two things: people and process.
Checklists: One of the biggest struggles with any business as it grows is the ability to transform tribal knowledge into repeatable processes. A combination of checklists, simple step-by-step guides and templates. Even airline pilots with thousands of hours of experience use a checklist before takeoff. Why? Because a written form of steps and procedures is far more accurate and reliable than human memory could ever be.
Step by step guides “recipes:” Of course, the key is to ensure consistency with minimal effort. Something as simple as a checklist with specified times and duties can help eliminate guesswork and streamline experiences for both your employees and customers. A step-by-step guide – or recipe – allows tasks to be performed and product to be made that closely conforms to existing standards.
Templates: In business, an inconsistent outcome is often an inefficient one. Anything consistently repeated should have a template, and daily operational reports measure the health of the business by focusing on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Continuous improvement: Continuous improvement is needed in every area of business in order to remain competitive, but be mindful that constant change can defeat the purpose of repeatability. Test your solutions before fully implementing them, and ask “what went wrong, and why?” every time something doesn’t pan out.
Think through: Start with something that is very repetitive and causing a problem with your operation. Think of what category it fits into and get it done. A simple checklist, guide or template can save you money and reduce time spent reworking details and improving consistency. With consistency, it is easier to fix the process instead of blaming the person. If it isn’t in the process and can negatively impact your business, fix it today!
Small Business
About the Author:
Gregory Woloszczuk is an Entrepreneur and experienced tech executive that helps small business owners grow their top and bottom line. Gregory believes in straight talk and helping others see things they need to see but may not want to with a focus on taking responsibly for one’s own business. He and his wife, Maureen, started GMW Carolina in 2006.
Gregory has been fortunate to have been part of building teams for companies that went through hyper-growth as well as his own company. He also has experience in working through economic downturns and taking responsibility to fix what is in his control. The focus has always been working with partners, customers, and building a successful business channel. His range of experience includes marketing, sales, support, training, and operations.
Gregory holds an MBA from Nichols
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