How to Run Your Business When You're Not Around
So, how can you make your business run without you while you nip off for a well-deserved break for a day… a week… or even a few months? Maybe you want more work-life balance. Or perhaps you want to scale it or explore new personal or professional opportunities. Would your beloved business still thrive, would it merely survive, or would it undergo a disastrous failure?
Even when you aren’t around, your business must run well for sustainable success. If you’re a business owner, you’ll want to prepare for delegation strategies, automation, and business contingency planning.
Read on to dig into the six things that we think will keep your business running like a dream, even when you’re away.
1 - Build a Strong Leadership Team
Building a strong leadership team starts with trusting and empowering your team. Delegate decisively, identifying and nurturing potential leaders early – like Claire in marketing or Simon in tech. Give them the reins on this one.
Offer training and encourage a culture where every team member feels responsible and valued. This strengthens your business's backbone and guarantees it runs like clockwork, whether you're in the office or away.
Check out how we support the growth of leadership team development to help you build a resilient business.
2 - Document Systems and Processes
Your business needs clear systems and processes, otherwise known as SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). Get all your processes down in an easy-to-digest format, like videos or checklists.
Business workflow tools like Trello, Notion or Asana can help make this easy, and a quick Loom video can save the day by showing how things are done when words just aren’t enough. That way, anyone can cover for you without missing a thing.
Learn about making your operations easier with our insights on business workflow management efficiency.
3 - Automate and Use Technology
You know how it feels to do the same tasks every day, don’t you? It’s time to throw that routine out the window. Start using some ingenious CRM (Customer Relationship Management), like Salesforce or HubSpot, which practically do the remembering and organising for you.
For project management tools, give Trello or Asana a try. They’ll keep track of customer details and project progress without lifting a finger.
And why stop there? Let tools like Mailchimp automate your marketing emails or set up QuickBooks to take care of invoicing – all while you sip your café latte. Plus, think about deploying chatbots like Chatfuel or Drift to handle customer queries when you’re out.
Take a look at our workshops and seminars – they’ll no doubt boost your team's skills and drive your business forward.
4 - Establish Remote Monitoring and Communication
Now, working from anywhere doesn’t mean you’re out of the loop. Grab some tools like Slack, Zoom, or Trello. You’ll basically have your office online, so you can see what’s happening without needing to be there.
Set up a dashboard, too, to keep track of KPIs in real-time. You’ll feel like you have your business’s pulse on display – all those vital signs, sales, and customer interactions, all in real-time.
And check-ins? Just a quick video call or a message can keep things smooth without feeling like you’re breathing down everyone’s necks. It’s more about staying connected, not tethered.
5 - Create a Contingency Plan
Let’s face it. The unexpected can strike, and that’s just life. Having a contingency plan isn't about expecting the worst. Actually, it’s just about being smart. So, figure out who can handle what if things don't go as planned.
Say your accounts person is off sick during tax season. Do you have a second-in-command trained up? What if a storm knocks out your main server? Maybe cloud backups could save the day.
Plan these roles and backups in advance, and while you're at it, chat with a solicitor to get those legal and financial safeguards in place.
6 - Foster a Culture of Acountability and Ownership
Now, this one’s about trust and it’s gold.
Encourage your team to own their tasks and decisions. Basically, you’re saying to them, “I’m passing the baton to you, I trust you to do what’s best.”
Set clear goals and maybe throw in a bonus or two for hitting those targets. It sparks a bit of healthy ambition. And you know what? It also builds a team that doesn’t just wait around for instructions but looks for solutions proactively. You create leaders at every desk, not just the corner office.
The Takeaway
So, you’re ready to set your business up for success, right? Once you get your team sorted, your systems documented, and your tech on point, you’re basically laying the groundwork to scale up smoothly.
Don’t just sit on this info. Put these strategies into play. In the future, you’ll thank yourself for the freedom it brings. So go on, get cracking.
Want to know more about how to run your business without you? Why not book a chat with us now ?