Every company has the potential for growth, but there's also a limit to that growth. Although the potential might seem endless, along the company's path there are artificial or natural barriers. Let's put market limitations aside and focus on internal obstacles. Based on my experience, the primary inhibiting factor often turns out to be the company owner themselves. Regardless of whether a company has 2 or 20 employees, if the leader fails to overcome specific issues, they will hinder growth at any stage.
Issue #1:
Unclear Objectives
Many leaders operate under the motto "I want everything now." Due to a lack of clarity in defining goals, they poorly understand what they specifically want, and even less how to achieve it. By clear objectives, we mean a strategy that serves as a foundation for growth. This strategy should provide direction even during the most unpredictable times. So, how do you properly formulate this strategy? First and foremost, envision what your company will look like in 5 or 10 years. Describe it in detail: the number and location of offices, design, range of services or products, team composition, and so on. Based on this vision, identify key aspects and formulate specific steps for its realization.
Sub-tasks:
After crafting your future vision, pinpoint the main points and strategic steps necessary to turn your plan into reality.
For example, your dream is to establish a cozy 20-room hotel in Miami, but currently, you own a coffee shop. How can you use the resources from your current venture to move closer to your dream?
- Define the concept of your future hotel. It could be a budget hostel, a luxury class hotel, or a family-friendly resort. What would you like to offer your guests?
- Conduct market research. The goal is to determine how much revenue your chosen business model can generate. Explore booking platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb to assess average prices and demand for similar offers.
- Research the real estate market. Find out the costs of buying or renting a building suitable for a hotel. Evaluate expenses for renovation and furnishing, consider intermediary commissions, taxes, and operational costs. Review potential revenues across different seasons and possible pricing strategies.
- Analyze and adjust your plan. After thorough research, your initial plan might need adjustments based on actual opportunities. Determine the realistic budget needed for the launch and the time required to execute each phase.
- Evaluate your current business. How can your coffee shop assist in realizing your dream? How much profit is required to launch the hotel in, say, three years? Perhaps you should expand your menu or offer new services to attract more customers.
- Clear and measurable goals. Remember, your business will only start growing actively when you have clearly defined goals. An effective strategy stems from a clear goal.
Issue #2:
Time Management: The "Workaholic" Syndrome
For many leaders and managers, a significant issue is constantly getting bogged down in operational tasks. This is indeed related to delegation, but from a different angle. Instead of fearing to delegate or seeking a "magician" to solve all their problems, "Workaholics" take pride in their ability to oversee every detail of their business. Their issue isn't a lack of knowledge, but rather an absence of effective time management.
"Workaholics" feel as though they are always swamped with day-to-day tasks, and they simply don't have time to delegate or think about the strategic development of the company. They live in anticipation of a moment when "everything will settle," and they can focus on the critical tasks.
However, that moment never arrives. Instead, new "emergencies" arise, and the cycle repeats.
The solution is simple, yet requires effort: mastering the art of time management. It's essential to consistently allocate time for strategic planning, even if it's just one hour a day. This hour, dedicated to long-term goals, may prove to be much more valuable in the long run than tens of hours spent on routine tasks.
Issue #3:
Delegation: The Art of Leadership
Many leaders are fervently searching for a "silver bullet" for their business, hoping to find an individual or team that will magically solve all their challenges. I call them "Grail Hunters". They prefer to delegate without really understanding the core of the matter. Another category is the "Guardians", who, like dragons, sit on their "gold", reluctant to share their powers, fearing a loss in quality.
But delegation is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's essential to prevent leaders from drowning in day-to-day tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic development. On the other, delegating can result in a dip in quality or even potential abuses.
Certain aspects of a business are undebatable. For instance, leadership. If you, as a leader, think, "I can't promote my company, let someone else do it," then you're mistaken. A true leader would have started their own business in such a scenario.
Delegation is an art, and to succeed in it, you must:
- Understand the processes. Before handing over any task, you need to be familiar with it. Only then can you monitor the process and assess the effectiveness of the performer.
- Set clear criteria. Many leaders fall into the trap of hiring specialists in areas they're unfamiliar with. For example, while knowing their product but not understanding marketing, they expect wonders from a new hire. Often, they end up disappointed because, without clear criteria, they cannot gauge how effectively the employee is spending the budget or fulfilling their tasks.
- Educate and transfer knowledge. To ensure your subordinate is on the same page as you, pass on your experience and understanding of how the process works.
Delegation is not just about assigning tasks; it's a responsibility for the development of your team and your business.
Join me in the webinar where we will delve deeper into this topic, and I will answer all your questions!
