There are only so many things that a business owner can do in a day.
It seems like weekly I talk to another business owner who is working 50, 60, 70, or more hours in a week. These people often tell me that if they don't do something, it won't get done.
There is a mentality that nobody can do it just like they can or that they feel that they need to lead by example and show their staff that they work harder than anyone in the company.
The problem with this picture is that when this happens owners become burned out. The growing mountain of jobs that need to be done and the never-ending work pile overwhelms them. They feel aggravated when staff ask for time off for holidays or family life because they don't give themselves that time.
Once burnout sets in, entrepreneurs start making decisions that aren't wise, they fail to hire staff that can bring the proper skills, or their micromanagement overrides decisions that could improve the business. This lack of leadership paralyzes the business and leading to business failure over time.
If you struggle with micromanaging, to truly become successful you need to develop habits and put systems in place that are going to lead to your long-term success and viability.
A system is the order or steps of process to run your operation so that it is consistent and smooth. By running your business with systems you will ensure that each and every time something gets done it will be done to your level of technical specifications.
To do this, you need to determine what specific areas and tasks that need to be done which will relieve you of your need to micromanage. List the tasks that will enable you to stop micromanaging your business.
Set a training program for your staff that has a measure of accountability. You will find that all of a sudden your 60-hour work week has dropped to 40 or less.
The ultimate goal of a business owner should be to create a business that can run sufficiently without them being in the business on a day-to-day basis. Once this is accomplished, you have created value in your business. This will help to make your business sellable. If your dream is to own a business that makes money for you while you have coffee with your friends and go on holidays with your family, you need to set systems in place.
To ensure your valuable time is used efficiently, you need to put an end to micromanagement. Here are some ways you as a business owner can reduce your stress levels:
Document your systems to ensure that the things you need done get done.
Train your staff and have regular reviews to keep them accountable to their job descriptions and operational systems.
Hire better people than yourself. Sometimes business owners are intimidated by people who are better then them. Great leaders draw people around them that have skills that are better than theirs so that they can focus on leadership. Small business owners are leaders. Start acting like one!
Take a holiday. Yes, get away from your business and take a break. On your return, make a note of what was done and what fires needed to be put out. What is on your desk? These are the thing that you need more systems in place to take care of. This will reduce your need to micromanage in the future.
Make a list of six-10 things that you need to take care of the next day and do this before the end of the workday or the night before. It has been proven that business owners that make lists are more effective and have less stress.
Prioritize your list and check off your list each day and avoid getting side-tracked by phone calls, email, social media, and things that are not important. Focus on building and growing your business and the profits will come.
Busy doesn't make money in fact it can hold you back from growing. By setting systems in place and hiring the right staff to do the jobs that take up your time can help you set aside the time you need to focus on growing your business and making it profitable. What better time is there than start today by making a list of things you need to do to move your business forward.
Dave Fuller, MBA is a certified professional business coach who can be reached to help you with your business at 250-617-7467 or [email protected]
