I often g
et a blank look when I mentioned systems to my clients and students. But I bet you already use systems, even if you’re not aware you do!
If you have tasks you do regularly that involve the same, or similar, steps, then you probably follow those steps each time if you want to produce the same result.
Let’s say you want to make a meal. You decide to cook your favourite recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese. So that you get the same delicious sauce every time you’ll need to have the same batch of ingredients in the same quantities, and follow the same method. Having the recipe makes things easy. You don’t have to wonder what to put in the sauce or how long to cook it for. You just follow the recipe. That recipe could also be called a system.
In your business, having systems means you can produce a consistent result (important for quality and efficiency). Having systems means you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you do something (saving you time and energy). Taking things one stage further will make a tremendous difference to your business.
Writing down the systems and processes you follow will help you to grow your business when you want to delegate certain tasks or employ outside resources, as your business grows. You’ll be able to pass over the document and know that whoever reads it will be able to follow the system and produce the same result as you. Just like following a recipe.
If you have tasks you do regularly that involve the same, or similar, steps, then you probably follow those steps each time if you want to produce the same result.
Let’s say you want to make a meal. You decide to cook your favourite recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese. So that you get the same delicious sauce every time you’ll need to have the same batch of ingredients in the same quantities, and follow the same method. Having the recipe makes things easy. You don’t have to wonder what to put in the sauce or how long to cook it for. You just follow the recipe. That recipe could also be called a system.
In your business, having systems means you can produce a consistent result (important for quality and efficiency). Having systems means you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you do something (saving you time and energy). Taking things one stage further will make a tremendous difference to your business.
Writing down the systems and processes you follow will help you to grow your business when you want to delegate certain tasks or employ outside resources, as your business grows. You’ll be able to pass over the document and know that whoever reads it will be able to follow the system and produce the same result as you. Just like following a recipe.
Hi Liz, thanks for stopping by to comment - it's good to know you found the post useful. I like your comment "when you know your purpose life gets easier" - well said!
Posted by: LouiseBJ | August 21, 2009 at 07:47 PM
That's great advice! Writing things down makes for improved clarification and a better sense of purpose. When you know your purpose life gets easier! thanks Louise
Posted by: Liz Labrum | August 21, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Hi Jackie and thanks for commenting on this post. Glad to hear you're already using systems in your business and keeping them under review! Especially when you're a small business, having systems & processes can really help with the workload.
Posted by: LouiseBJ | August 18, 2009 at 01:45 PM