Own a growth oriented business? Read On!
I’ve been talking with a number of business owners lately and they are all talking about the same issue: they are not seeing the growth they anticipated based on their planning and investing, and it is killing their bottom line!
During our discussions I’ve noticed a common theme: The owners all feel like the results just aren’t here. The consensus is that while they believe that everyone is in the rowboat rowing, their team isn’t making the progress they anticipated, and it doesn’t feel like everyone is rowing together in the same direction.
Why? They have the right people. They have a great culture, but they aren’t moving forward…at least not moving forward as quickly as they know they can.
When I ask about their plan to achieve their vision or goals, many of these business owners have it and are able to summarize it quickly. So what’s getting in the way of success? Here’s what I’ve experienced: No one on the team understands their role in achieving these goals. Not to mention knowing what their progress is in achieving those goals.
A goal without a plan is a wish, and a plan without metrics to measure the score leaves the team in the dark and not sure which way to row. No one knows exactly where they are in the plan because they either don’t have the right metrics, or they aren’t sure what they need to measure. Lastly, and just as important, they have no way of getting to the data.
After asking a few more questions, I found that these organizations are using “off the shelf” software solutions to carve out a business solution. The hard part about using a “one size fits all” solution is that they don’t take into account the real metrics and data business owners need for their specific environment, and these generic solutions usually leave out key requirements.
What’s the solution? It’s one that works for your business!
One of our clients recently invested in a brand new solution for their organization. They rolled out a new management database to their team of 30. They received tons of feedback the first week reporting ease of use and increased efficiency, saving them time. They had key metrics at their fingertips and became excited about their ability to forecast trends and take corrective course action if needed. Finally, the business owners were able to see the increase in teamwork, capacity and accountability.
What did they do differently? Here are the steps they followed:
- Identify their needs.
- Select “must haves” from their needs list.
- Evaluate existing product offerings.
- Create a list of enhancements for key requirements.
- Perform an account assessment.
- Build out an implantation plan.
We call the above process (with about 22 other steps) the 27 Point Dynamic Edge Accountability Assessment. With this process we were able to identify key requirements not available in their current processes or systems. We evaluated their existing business software against key requirements. By focusing on the metrics they needed and putting together the tools to collect the data, we were able to create a business solution that fit them perfectly. Another benefit of this solution is the training is minimal and the system updates happen as your company develops the need. Here are some of the examples we’ve incorporated into custom business solutions for our clients:
- What is the daily cost of this project? Will it be profitable?
- How many times does the phone ring before it’s answered?
- Where are all the fireman hats at any given time? How many are available?
- What is our weekly and daily profit margin?
- How much longer until this custom part will be built and delivered to the customer?
We were in the same boat as everyone else…how do we find the right software to meet our growing business needs? We built one. Call us and we’ll analyze your business needs and software solutions and help you determine what tools would best enable you to accomplish your business goals. Call Debra to schedule an accountability evaluation/consultation as part of your Fixed IT plan.
Not a fixed it client? Give us a call and we’ll be happy to talk about the next steps with you.
~ Bruce
