How does it work?
Business change is like a story. There's always a beginning, middle and end. You have to think on your feet and adapt to your environment but in the end good, old-fashioned milestones are the bedrock of any project's aims.
Although every business is different, with a specific business plan, the aim of any business change is to drive turnover and control costs.
Perhaps your business is continually fighting fires and unable to see the wood for the trees. Your staff may well feel overworked and under appreciated. You will likely be struggling to find good candidates and retain experienced staff. Your sales may well be erratic and your costs increasing. You may be unsure about succession of leadership. You may be unaware of the implications of AI to your business. Most importantly you may be struggling to be profitable.
Business change is done by the business. Your business is your people. I am a facilitator of change who empowers your business to drive sales and reduce costs.
We start off with a conversation preferably over a coffee, alternatively over the phone. We'll discuss your business.
We will be analysing your business model, how you generate income and how your costs are looking.
The standard response from employees to business change is 'more staff'. More people to help with their workload. You seldom hear the words; 'I think we should look at the way we work and whether we can achieve more with less.' This is the foundation of business change.
It may be that we are not a good fit, but it would be great to hear about your business in any event.
This can take a day, a week or a month dependant upon the size of the business.
We need data. Financial reports are easy, so we need to check that they are asking the right questions. Your business is nothing without your people, so we need to engage with them. What tools do you use? Who are your competitors and how do they operate? How are you keeping current customers happy, how are you increasing sales from your current customer base, and how are you increasing new business?
You start with the money. What is the financial position of the business? Most importantly we are looking at profitability but also operating cashflow. Can change be implemented within the current financial outlook? Is financing required? The benefits of cost savings can take time to appear as positive cash flow.
Who is your business? Where are the leaders? Where are your profit centres? What issues is the business facing?
You will know where you earn money. Can you increase that? Have you diversified your offering? Did that work? Who are your competitors? How much do they charge? Are they winning? If something works, you'll be repeating it. Can you get better at it? Do you try new things? How innovative is your business?
You outline what you want to achieve, we define clear lines of reporting and most importantly work with the project owner. Someone, or a senior management team, must be responsible.
The deliverable is a report that outlines a plan. This plan needs agreement and sign off from the business leaders. The plan is then implemented. I will show you how to do this.
The business change project is managed via ClickUp, which will revolutionise your business.
The initial discovery period may require any or all of the following:
- Financial performance (costs and turnover)
- Ownership structure
- Management structure
- Organisational structure
- Key staff
- Standard contracts of employment
- Business plan
- Management Team minutes
- Competitor analysis
- Management controls
- IT infrastructure
- Artificial Intelligence
- Meeting management
- Recruitment
- Training
You may not have some or all of this business information. It may be outdated. It may be controlled by different people. These are all the more reasons to start a conversation.
This is where the heavy lifting takes place.
Better leadership, streamlining operations, driving sales, reducing costs.
Who is going to implement change in your business? Who are the leaders?
What about staff development and training?
What tools can you use to do more with less?
How do you increase sales?
Every business needs to be doing more with less.
Has the business change project met its aims?
What lessons have been learnt?
What are the next steps?
How do we start?
We work as a project. It is not rocket science as we are looking at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Our engagement is by an exchange of letters.
Non disclosure agreements may be requested and should be drawn up by you.
We will be working towards a carefully scripted set of aims, which will be agreed with the key decision makers before being commissioned.
If you think you need a business handbook, I can tell you now we need to look at both management and leadership. I will shine a torch for your business and if need be, walk with you towards any goals.
