As your business grows, so does the need for workflows to keep everything moving forward. (You should actually have them from day one, but if you don’t yet it’s not too late!)
Workflows are the engine in your business. Without them, you have to push work along manually--which is both time-consuming and exhausting. And there’s often pieces that get missed and left behind.
This is no way to grow a business. Sure, when you’re getting started you’re just figuring how how you’ll work with clients and what it will look like. But as you work with a few, you’ll want to really solidify that workflow so each client gets a better and better experience. Here’s how!
Choose one thing to start with. This could be onboarding or offboarding, the meat of a specific package or something else entirely. Think about how you can relate that process to making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
We’ve all had that assignment in school, right? Your fourth grade teacher makes you write a how-to on making a sandwich.
You start with gathering all the needed supplies: the bread, a knife, peanut butter and jelly. The next step is opening the package of bread and taking out two slices and putting them on the...oh, wait! You forgot to get out the plate. Now you’re stuck with two slices of bread in your hand and nowhere to put them.
Do you see how skipping steps can cause a back-up and prevent you from getting the work done?
After you know which workflow you’re going to build, take a moment and list out all the things you’re going to need to complete the workflow--the programs, the documents, the content.
Then list all the steps you’ll have to take to finish the workflow.
Test the workflow by actually doing each step. Better yet: Give your workflow to someone else (preferably a biz bestie who doesn’t work in your business) and ask her if she feels confident that she could complete the task with the information provided.
Finally, turn your written workflow into a Loom video. This becomes a training for someone you might hire down the road.
Why are workflows so important?
Workflows are the tool that can help you feel less stressed and more productive in your business. Think about it. We use workflows every day outside our businesses without even thinking about them. We follow recipes. We have a certain way we clean our houses. We have a routine in the mornings and at night. All of these are workflows that we’ve developed over time to get the best possible result from our efforts. Workflows also:
Allow you to produce a consistent product or service, time after time. So everyone has the same amazing experience working with you.
Helps you to create a training manual for your future team members and establishes a smooth transition for team members to take over the work. (Just remember that when you update your process, you also need to update that workflow.)
Sets the expectations for anyone you bring into your business. That training manual shows them the ideal and allows them to work from the best (you), without you having to repeat yourself.
Allows you to get right back to work if you’ve been interrupted (by your children, roommate, clients, etc.). I mean, when do you NOT get interrupted?
