Think wingin' it makes you spontaneous and sexy? Yeah, dropping the ball, missing an appointment, or forgetting to pack your underwear is sexy (well, going commando can be, I guess). Success is sexy, and systems can get you there.
When I work with private coaching clients, I see them poo-poo systems because they think they don't need them, creating more work. It only creates work in the set-up, but after that, it's easy-peasy.
When I work with small businesses and teams, they think they are so small they don't need any real systems. This creates an endless cycle of winging it where there isn't consistency for the team or the client. People like consistency. There's a time for spontaneity and a time for consistency. Your business and work are one of those times.
Why use a system?
- You can automate. I don't automate everything, but what I feel comfortable with and makes sense. Automatic bill pay? No-brainer.
- Saves your brain energy. As you know from reading half my posts, I'm very distracted. Why would I use my brain to try to remember each step I take with a client when dropping even one tiny step could impact the entire process? Why try to remember each hotel I'm staying in for the next three trips when I can just auto-sync everything into TripIt?
- People can cover for you. If you work with other people, you've probably been exposed to at least one time an emergency occurred, and you couldn't get that document you needed from Stan because he saves it on his desktop instead of in Dropbox or a shared drive. If you have a system of what you're doing and how to do it, an emergency stays personal and doesn't affect your business.
- You can figure out the bottlenecks. This one is big. By writing down your systems, you may determine you are missing a step or don't need a step or that half your team is completing only 2/3 of the steps…and not the same ones.
Who is the least likely to have systems?
- People who view themselves as ‘free spirits' and don't want to be tied down to a specific system.
- Companies that think they are too small to have something formal.
- Small businesses or teams that have grown and continue to do things the way they have always done and never prioritized the time to put them into place.
Okay, maybe I'm a little harsh, but seriously. Systems help! In later posts, I'll explain some simple systems to incorporate that will save you time, frustration, and anxiety. Your new cool, calm demeanor will definitely be sexy.
Do you need help figuring out how to put systems in your life? Systems are our jam! Reach out via the contact page to schedule a Discovery session or learn how we can train your company to work well together.
