Your Documents Done!
When I left the corporate world to start up my company, I had no idea that I’d still be learning new things 10 years down the line.
However, that is the reality and joy of being the boss! I’d like to take this opportunity to share some of my key learnings, with 10 essentials for small business success.
As January kicks off, are you making resolutions and setting goals to enhance your personal life or business achievements? We often start the year with great aspirations and the best intentions, yet sticking to the plan is a challenge. Life gets in the way.
Last year, I had two dreams which I committed to and I am so proud to say I achieved them both. It’s an amazing feeling, that I want everyone to experience, so let me share my positive approach to goal setting.
Business decisions and long-term strategies are most effective when they are informed by relevant data and research. To keep improving the key is to measure and analyse performance. That’s where business reports come into play.
Well-prepared, business reports provide a comprehensive collation of data and research. They can evidence that outcomes were achieved or give insight into the appropriate allocation of resources.
Traditionally, business plans are created at the start of the year and reviewed at the end. They guide the direction of the company and inform decision-making. However, in times of uncertainty and change, they can quickly become irrelevant.
So, I’m exploring the advantages of short-term business planning.
We all enjoy a holiday, we work hard and deserve a break. However, as a business owner, managing annual leave requests can be a headache, especially through the Summer. How can you keep the business running smoothly while team members are off? What can you put in place to streamline the process, prevent disruption to the business and enable your team to have a well-deserved break?
We’re already halfway through the year – can you believe it? Whilst BBQs, drinks in the pub garden and summer escapes are at the forefront of your mind, I invite you to think ahead. Planning a Christmas do is time-consuming, but start early and use event planning documents to nail it!
If growth is on your agenda for the 2022/23 financial year, you may be hoping to attract investment or apply for a grant. An injection of money and business acumen can help business owners to realise their ambitions to scale, but what will ignite an investor’s interest?
Are you project managing the process of investments into your business?
Picture your dream holiday. Are you relaxing and enjoying indulgent pleasures? Is that the reality of your time off, or are your constantly distracted by phone calls, work emails and remote meetings?
After the year we’ve all experienced, everyone deserves to get away, relax and recharge. That includes small business owners!
Social Media offers an accessible, affordable means of marketing. It provides SMEs with an opportunity to compete alongside established brand leaders. On the flip side, it can consume a considerable amount of time, so how can you make it work for your business?
What are your business development goals for this financial year and how are you planning to achieve them?
Undertake a business development audit of where you are right now.
As a small business owner, do you pursue every opportunity or are you selective about only taking on work from ideal customers? With ideal clients, there is a synergy.
Everyone has limited capacity (yes, even you). Do you regularly feel that there is not enough time to get everything done?
Are you ready to face the capacity challenge?
As a sole trader or small business owner, what happens if the worst happens?
Your clients rely on you to provide them with a service. With all the best intentions, there may be a time when you aren’t able to turn up for work. What needs to happen to protect your business and your customers?
Improve efficiency and consistency with branded documents.
Darwin identified that survival was most likely when species were able to adapt and adjust to a changing environment. The same is true of businesses and this theory has been certainly been put to the test through the pandemic.
The prospect of shutting up shop was not an option for every
business. To ride the storm, many sprang into action. Reading the market and adapting their processes or offer, they spotted fresh opportunities and attracted new customers. Was your business one of them?
As the lockdown restrictions continue to be lifted, what is
the plan now? Will your company return to the old way of working or has diversification opened up new doors that could support business growth?
When Covid-19 hit and the country, indeed most of the world went into lockdown, businesses were stunned. Who could have predicted such a situation?
With a comprehensive risk plan we’re in the best position to respond because knowing the options will mean you can react faster to turn things around.
Whether you set goals as new years resolutions, planned your
objectives with the new school year last September or have a more relaxed view
of things, now might be a good time to review your goals.
Covid-19 will have an effect on all of us and will inevitably
mean we have to change our plans in life as well as in our businesses.
A video conference call, while not the same as a face-to-face meeting, has the same purpose: to bring people together with an agenda in common and with a view to sharing information, be that a formal client meeting or a casual chat with your friends. As Bob Hoskins said in the BT adverts of the 1990’s “It’s good to talk”
It’s that time of year when everyone starts making new year’s resolutions. But there is a big difference between having a dream and setting a goal. “Goals are pure fantasy unless you have a specific plan to achieve them.”
Sometimes it feels like I have a never-ending to do list. I could easily sit and beat myself up that I haven’t finished this or started that or cleaned out the toaster! But life is all about the balance.
Sitting by the pool enjoying my holiday…. OK, I admit it. I wasn’t able to completely forget about my business. There is always the worry when you run your own company that people won’t be able to contact you.
There are things we would all like to defer and sometimes the strict regime of do it, delegate it, or ditch it just doesn’t cut it! But procrastination can mean always having something from that to-do list hanging over us.
Thinking about going on a summer holiday but worried about missing out on a client? You’re not alone many small business owners forgo holidays or spend hours each day while away, checking and responding to e-mails and calls to keep their business running smoothly.