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BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS IS LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE

Build Solid Foundations
Many people would never attempt to build a house without laying the foundations first. Yet few actually follow this principle when building a business.

Let's compare the two concepts. There is a set system that people use when building a house. This ensures that the structure when completed, will be one that stands upright and is designed to last hundreds of years.

If the foundations of the house are not strong, the walls will start to crack and move, then the roof may start leaking and collapse.

The same principle, applies to building a business. You need to build solid foundations that give your business a structure from which to grow.

Foundations to Grow Your Business
You must build a business that is able to operate independently. A house doesn't depend on you to hold the walls up. The structure holds it up.

If you business depends on you to hold the 'walls' up for it to survive, then it is 'people dependent'. If it doesn't have the structure in place for growth, it will slowly crack, leaks will start to appear and eventually it will collapse.

Business development and proper planning are crucial. A business needs to be developed so that it works as an independent, integrated system with a process and a purpose.

1. Draw up a plan with a clear picture of what you expect from the business
If you don't know what it looks like, how will you know when you get there? Identify your vision and purpose, and develop both short and long terms goals. How many staff will you need? What staff training is required? What technology will you implement? Will your business need to relocate? Do you have enough capital?

2. Design and document business systems and operating procedures
Realise the importance of operating procedures and processes within all facets of business. Everyone knows how time consuming it is to re-invent the wheel. Ensure that you plan for growth from the start. Build systems that do more than cope by documenting what they are and do. Remember, if it is not written down, it doesn't exist!

Design, develop and implement systems and procedures that can be replicated many times over by everyone. This frees up resources and make operations run more smoothly, which ultimately enhances the professional image of your business.

3. Measure your results frequently!
You must be able to regularly monitor how your business is performing. With the technology available today, there is no excuse for not having an efficient way of analysing your business performance, and receive reports that outline the financial position. This will also help you measure the progress made towards achieving your.

4. Ensure you and your staff have clarity about what they do, and why they do it.
By having Job Descriptions, and a company Policy and Procedures Manual, staff can clearly understand the business operations and the reasons behind each policy. The existence of these documents enables consistent delivery of products and services to customers.

5. Identify areas in which you need help, and seek outside assistance.
If you don't have the internal skills, identify and contract experts to do the job because they can do it faster and more cost effectively. An expert can help you uncover what is not immediately obvious, motivate you to focus on the key issues and more importantly, provide support and understanding in this change process.

Remember, just like our houses, we all want our businesses to stand the test of time. The development of foundation systems is the key to creating a business that thrives.

For those of you who have started building, but feel the need to re-lay those foundations, the new year is the time to start afresh and think about getting those foundations right!

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