If you want to run a successful business, one of the first steps is to learn to implement systems so that you don't need to be at your business all of the time. Your office needs to, ideally, run without you.
In fact, there are very few successful entrepreneurs that are also micro-managers. As a business leader, you need to focus on growing your business, not the day to day operations. For many that is a really hard transition. So, take it step by step. One great place to start is by making sure that your business can function when you are ill or away on business trips. Here are three tips to help you kick that process off.
Ensure the Office is Set Before You Travel – If you need to travel for your job, make sure that you clear up and finish any open items or issues before you leave. Delegate any outstanding items to someone else to handle while you are gone. There is nothing worse than coming back from a grueling business trip to a stack of growing papers on your desk.
Give Your Itinerary to Someone Not Attending the Trip – When you are traveling, make a copy of your itinerary with contact numbers and give it to someone who is not traveling with you. In the event that you lose the information, you will be able to get to it quickly.
Do You Have a “While I'm Away” List? – Make a list to keep on hand for people who look after your office, job or home while you are away. Include in the list things like:
- phone numbers for individuals to call in an emergency,
- what to do in a variety of emergencies – both man made and natural,
- the plant watering schedule,
- instructions for forwarding mail,
- lock up procedures,
- any people expected to drop by looking for information and what to give them,
- instructions to your assistant for processing your mail,
- and so on
Attach a separate page with last minute details and your current itinerary, including phone numbers where you can be reached.
Obviously there are many more things that you need to put into place before your business will run completely without you, but this is a good way to start off the process.
What do you have in place to allow your office to run with out you?
To your success!
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