How To Improve Your Workflow
As an owner, you are the flagship of your business.
In an ideal world, all the operating systems that run your business's daily operations should be suitable for your individual personality.
When your workflow starts conflicting with your personality, that's when you will start hating your business.
This becomes even more significant if you identify as a solopreneur, micro-business owner, dancepreneur, freelancer, artist-entrepreneur, mompreneur, or any other type of single member LLC.
In a nutshell, the daily workflow(S) of your business should gel with your personality.
Discovering this “workflow style” in your business is paramount for the overall health and well-being of both you and your business.
So what is a workflow?
"A workflow is a system for managing repetitive processes and tasks which occur in a particular order. They are the mechanism by which people and enterprises accomplish their work, whether manufacturing a product, providing a service, processing information, or any other value-generating activity." (Cited from IBM)
Business owners often compromise their workflow style because they feel pressure to do EVERYTHING. However, no one person can do everything a business requires.
If you find yourself stressed by "doing all the things," try my MUD method.
Identify areas in your workflow style that are hang-ups and leave your business stuck in the MUD.
What is MUD?
Think of mundane tasks, underproduced tasks (things that aren't getting done), or disliked tasks. I call MUD anything that keeps your business from productivity and efficiency.
M - Mundane
U - Underproduced
D - Disliked
Don't worry. There is no need to waste your precious time and energy.
At VG Talent & Services, we’re here to help you ALLEVIATE, AUTOMATE, and ACCELERATE™ your business design.
To get better acquainted with your workflow style and current business operations, we have developed a simple questionnaire to help rescue clients from the MUD in their business.
Our free call is the perfect first step towards receiving customized solutions for your business.
Here’s a general DIY strategy to eliminate MUD and improve simplicity in your workflow:
Automate or semi-automate IT.
If you hate IT, hire somebody else to do IT.
If you can’t handle IT, don’t offer IT.
This is easy to say but much harder to do. Remember, it’s always easier to jump in the MUD then trying to crawl out of the gooey, sticky, muddy mess of compromised workflows.
Pro Tip for Hiring
There is no need for you as a business owner to waste your precious time and energy trying to do something somebody else could do better and faster.
At VG Talent & Services, we offer automation strategy, task elimination services, and a talent pool of professionals to meet your needs. Unveil the efficiency of our services here.
If you are looking for a budget alternative I always suggest starting with hiring a Fiverr freelancer. I’ve included more information about how to get started with Fiverr at the end of this article.
Pro Tip for Automation
Successful automation is SAVVY automation. Finding the best automations for your business is not always intuitive, and you will need a solid strategy in place to help you find the best automation and AI tools for your business.
Explore our Savvy Automation blog to learn more or let us help you develop a customized automation strategy for your business. Book a free call here.
Pro Tip for Setting Boundaries
Have the confidence to operate your business by your own rules.
Boundaries are essential for healthy growth. Again, if you can’t handle IT, don’t offer IT.
Your business can't and won't please everybody so stay true to your business's boundaries for services, e-commerce operations, and client relationships.
It's always better to "under-promise and over-deliver."
Remember, your goal should be to aim for quality and reliability, not quantity, for the sake of your business’s credibility and brand.
Clients will generally respect your boundaries if you build the boundaries of your business into your overall brand.
