A successful business is one that has effective systems and staff in place that keeps the business operating like a well-tuned machine. It does not depend on the daily presence of the owner day-in and day-out to run smoothly.
Can you, without feeling guilty, take a month long vacation? A two-week vacation? A one-week vacation? How about just a long weekend? If not, you do not have a successful business. Instead, you have a glorified job.
Most business owners started or bought their business because they wanted more out of life. More freedom to determine their own future, more freedom to work when they want to and play when they want to, more opportunity to increase their income, etc.
Instead of more, they usually end up with less. Less freedom to enjoy owning a business and do the fun things they want to in life because, in reality, they end up becoming a slave to their business. They quickly fall into the trap of becoming tactical in their business. They start feeling that in order to be a contributor to the success of the business, they develop the attitude that they need to work as hard “in” their business, like everyone else. They feel they gain greater respect from their employees if they just roll up their sleeves and pitch in on every task.
However, most employees want to work for a company led by a visionary that can be a leader and not a doer. An effective leader that can grow a business that provides greater job security, higher pay and better benefits ultimately earns the greatest respect from its employees.
Yes, it’s easier to be tactical and work in your business than to be strategic and work on your business. But did you start your business to become a slave to it? Or are you an improvement-oriented person that desires to break the bondage of slavery to your business? Your business should not depend upon your daily presence, personality, problem solving and perspiration for its survival.
If you’re improvement-oriented and want to resolve this problem, then you need to get busy working strategically on your business. Once your employees see you taking action to improve and grow the business, they’ll develop a much greater respect for you as their employer. The excitement that you as a business owner develops as you start seeing greater results from your efforts rubs off on your employees, and as a result, they become more productive.
First, it’s time to get busy working “on” your business. Take the time to develop the systems that allow your business to operate the same whether you’re there or not. Your systems should be so fine-tuned that your business runs smoothly day after day, week after week, year after year whether or not you’re there. However, the business owners that are truly improvement-oriented don’t stop there. They’re always looking for more effective and efficient ways to improve their businesses.
While you’re putting the right systems in place, you need to start evaluating the performance of your employees. Not all employees are created equal, and some will probably never become true “team” members. Erk Russell, former football coach and three-time National Championship winner at Georgia Southern University, is often credited with coming up with the phrase “There is no ‘I’ in team.” Your employees should all buy into being a part of your “team.” There should be no place for employees that feel their personal desires are more important than the team that performs the day-to-day activities needed to grow your business. All of your employees need to become true team members, while you act as the conductor, “orchestrating” the overall big picture needed to grow your business.
Once the right systems and employees are in place, you, as a successful business owner, need to learn to let go of the tactical things you have been doing. Get out of the way and let your employees do their respective jobs using the systematic methods you’ve designed. Then you can truly say you own a successful business instead of having a glorified job. You will be in a position to enjoy the “more” you thought you were getting by starting or buying a business. Take that guilt free vacation you’ve been longing for.
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” Anatole France; French poet, journalist and novelist; 1844 – 1924.
Rick Brines is owner of The Growth Coach of Chattanooga. He can be reached at 423-886-6095 or R.Brines@TheGrowthCoach.com.