In
the midst of your busy life with all your responsibilities, to-dos and challenges,
slow down just enough to take stock of the wonderful people and circumstances
in your life right now. Reflect on a time when those relationships and the things
you value and hold dear - but may take for granted or not pay attention to in
your business - did not exist and remember how desperately you wanted them. They
are in your life now, and now, is the time to be grateful for them, to enjoy
them and to nurture those relationships and circumstances. Your life is
happening right now, and the gifts you have are here now too. Slow down - just
enough - to acknowledge, savor and receive your gifts.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Business Times Column #80
Does Your Business Run Smoothly Without You?
Article date: Jul 9 2014
Marcus Straub
Most business owners start their companies with the
intention of creating greater wealth, freedom and happiness. They dream
of achieving financial independence and using this to travel, relax,
give back and enjoy their lives as much as possible. But many owners
never realize this dream, even if their businesses are successful in
generating financial abundance, simply because they lack the mindset,
managers and team to make it possible.
A number of key factors contribute to a business not being
able to run effectively without the owner’s constant, hands-on
presence. Understanding these factors and making the necessary
adjustments will position you to achieve your dreams.
The owner is the only one on staff who can handle all
aspects of the business. If you’ve created a situation in which you’re
the only one who can effectively run your business, you’re tied to daily
operations by necessity. Your success here lies in hiring individuals
with positive attitudes who care and are competent and then providing
them with high-quality training so they can excel. Integrity,
motivation, passion, a caring perspective and a true willingness to
learn are invaluable attributes to look for when adding leaders to your
team.
The owner is a micro manager who fears letting go of the
reins. If you believe no one else will run your business the way you do,
you’re right. After all, there’s only one you and your overall
perspective of your business is unique. Even so, there are individuals
who could do an excellent, if not an even better, job than you.
Countless businesses thrive under the day-to-day
leadership of their managers, with the owner providing general
oversight, direction and new ideas. This can be your reality, too, as
you release your fears and build a powerful team that can handle daily
operations.
The owner hasn’t mastered effective delegation and team
empowerment. Learning to delegate tasks to your team members is
liberating for you and empowering for them. There are crucial components
to effective delegation that one must become proficient at to do well.
Without exception, every business owner I train is amazed at the freedom
they gain, the ownership their team members take on and how much better
their business runs once strategic delegation is implemented. Most
likely, there are tasks you can release to another qualified individual
or group at this time.
Current managers aren’t qualified to actually run the
business. Another powerful component of delegation is that it allows the
business owner to discover who’s capable of taking on the job and who
isn’t. If you already have a manager or managers in place and —through
planned and effective delegation and careful observation on your part —
you discover they’re not capable of running the day-to-day operations
effectively, you have two choices: train them or replace them.
The business lacks structure and a system of practical
procedures. To achieve your goals and create the freedom you desire,
it’s imperative you have a system of simple and effective operational
procedures in place to effectively deal with situations that will
inevitably arise. The greater success of your company depends on it. My
clients are often surprised and always delighted to discover how easy
these procedures are to create as well as how appreciated and liberating
they are to everyone involved.
The owner has not built a powerful team that can run the
business in his or absence. All fear associated with releasing
day-to-day operations can be easily overcome by building a team that can
actually run the business — and run it well — without the owner’s
constant presence. When the success of your business depends solely upon
you, you trap yourself into a job. Conversely, when you build a
powerful team and the success of the business is spread out through a
team approach, everyone wins.
There’s much to consider in developing successful
hands-off leadership. But with qualified business coaching and training,
the thriving business of your dreams is within your reach. As you adopt
a more powerful mindset, hire potential leaders, offer quality coaching
and training to team members who are willing to excel — and let go of
those who aren’t — and offer them assistance in developing their
potential, your dreams of greater freedom, happiness and success will
come true.
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