Declutter Your Business in Five Easy Steps
IN A HURRY? HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE
Business “clutter” refers to any inefficiencies and distractions that get in the way of your growth. In order to declutter and pave the way for success, follow these five steps: Conduct a calendar audit, release non-aligned tasks and commitments, automate and streamline operational processes, delegate tasks that don’t generate revenue, and keep reviewing these steps on a regular basis.
GOT A MINUTE? HERE ARE THE DETAILS TO CONSIDER
Whether you’ve been in business for a few years or a few decades, I’m willing to bet that if you were really honest with yourself, you have a decent amount of “clutter” slowing you down.
I’m not talking about your work surface or your desktop screen! I’m talking about “clutter,” such as inefficiencies, distractions, and unnecessary time-wasters that detract from smooth, seamless business operations. For service providers like myself and many of my clients, “clutter” complicates our workflows and hinders our ability to grow. Not addressing your business clutter can hinder you from reaching your strategic goals.
But here’s the good news: You can address that clutter and take steps to reduce or even eliminate it altogether. Let’s walk through the five steps that it takes.
Step 1: Assess Your Time Through a Calendar Audit
How we spend our time directly impacts results. That’s why a calendar audit is a valuable exercise for leaders who want to take their work to the next level.
Reflect on these questions:
Did you achieve your goals over the last 12 months?
Could your business run without you for more than two days?
These questions indicate whether you're working in the business more than you should. If your role necessitates day-to-day operations, there are missed opportunities to fine-tune your time management and backend structure. This is where a calendar audit will help!
To perform a calendar audit, you’ll need a notebook and last year’s calendar. Start with January’s first week and jot down everything you see in one of three categories:
Worth the Time
Not Worth It
Happiness/Self-Care
Reflect honestly! Activities that were once worthwhile may no longer hold the same value.
Step 2: Release What No Longer Aligns
Now it’s time to look at those “Not Worth It” notes and release what no longer aligns with you in your business or organization. What do you need to let go of to set yourself up for success and growth? What are you doing that doesn’t help you reach your long-term goals? This could include revenue streams, products, services, or non-ideal clients and team members.
By the way, it’s normal for our minds to conjure up “logical” reasons to hold onto things, even when it’s time to let go. I recommend conducting a “gut check” to identify your true feelings about people and projects. If you realize that it’s time to release something, you don’t have to cut it out abruptly. Always aim for peaceful transitions by honoring contracts, providing notices, and maintaining professional relationships to avoid burning bridges.
After doing this exercise, one of my clients realized that a particular business area wasn’t as profitable as she’d like. She decided to focus her energy on a more lucrative side of the business while reducing her marketing efforts to the less profitable one.
Step 3: Automate and Streamline Processes
Now it’s time to make the rest of your business easier to run! Automating and streamlining processes is more cost-effective than manual work. Start by focusing on repeatable processes such as sales, client onboarding, billing, and team onboarding. You can create intake forms, automated email drips, and checklists to ensure consistency and efficiency. Simplifying your processes can make a big difference in how smoothly your operations are running.
Another way to streamline your operations is to add (or upgrade) software solutions to save time on manual work. For example, I found that upgrading my QuickBooks account made automated client invoices and payment processing much simpler, saving me hours of time every month.
Next, consider your clunky, mistake-prone processes. Analyze them with your team’s input to figure out better, more efficient ways to complete them.
Step 4: Delegate Tasks That You Can’t Eliminate or Automate
As a business owner, your busy work dilutes the company’s results and consumes your valuable time. Tasks like responding to emails, setting up meetings, creating marketing content, onboarding clients and/or team members, invoicing, and conducting follow-ups can all be taken off your plate, so you can focus on more impactful work.
To decide what needs to be delegated, start by figuring out your “needle movers.” These are the actions that directly contribute to achieving your organization’s goals. Then, delegate those necessary tasks that need to be done but shouldn’t consume your time as the CEO.
By the way, delegation isn’t a one-time project. I recommend that you regularly review your to-do list with team members for insights on what could be offloaded. Plus, delegation doesn’t require tasks to be finalized and perfect before handing them over. Trust in your team’s capability to manage their work!
Step 5: Translate Steps into Action
Reading through these steps is one thing, but it’s not worth anything if you don’t implement them! Block 30 minutes on your calendar, every week, to review these steps. During this weekly dedicated time, you should be:
Reviewing your calendar audit
Identify commitments and tasks that don’t align with your strategic goals
Look for processes that can be improved
Delegate tasks that don’t generate revenue.
Are You Ready to Make Space for MORE?
Did this list motivate you to declutter your business and move forward with more confidence? If you still feel stuck and want help, I invite you to schedule a no-obligation consultation!