Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of performance through strong human relations, team building, and goalajieving. This is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Fellovalido.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast. It's episode two forty seven, and today I want to teach you something that separates good leaders from great leaders, and that's the ability to build and implement systems in your business. Too many leaders spend their time focusing only on strategy, big picture thinking, vision and goals. And while that's important, it's useless without the processes and systems in
place to execute it. Think about this. If your business can't run without you constantly putting out fires, then you don't own a business. You own a full time job, and worse, it probably owns you. So today I'm going to break down why systems matter, how to create them, and how to ensure that they work. So, if you've ever read about companies that thrive for decades, you'll notice a common theme. They don't just have a vision, they
have structured systems that ensure their success. Take McDonald's for example, they don't just sell hamburgers. They sold a system, one that ensured every hamburger was made the same way every time, no matter which location you visited, and the kitchen is mapped out with laser precision for optimization and efficiency. That's why McDonald's has over forty two thousand locations worldwide today. So here's the key takeaway. A business without a system
is like a car without an engine. It doesn't matter where you want to go, you're not going to get there. So how do you build a system that works every system, no matter the industry? Three core elements A clear and repeatable process, Accountability, an automation or delegation. A clear and repeatable process. This means writing down, step by step how things are done. Accountability someone has to own it, maintain it,
and improve it. An automation or delegation. If you're the only one who can execute it, you don't have a system. You have a bottleneck. So let's break that down further. Define the process. Pick one area in your business that causes the most stress or inefficiency. It could be onboarding new employees, responding to customer complaints, or handling payroll. Now document the process step by step. For example, if you run an ambulance service and you want to improve how
new employees are trained. Your process might look like this. Day one orientation with HR, day two ride along with a senior medic. Days three through five shattoing shifts, week two, skills evaluation in week four, full review, and sign off. When you document a process like this, it comes repeatable and scalable. Next is a sign ownership, because a process without accountability is a wish, not a system. Every process needs an owner, someone responsible for making sure it's followed
and improved. This is where many businesses fail. They create a system but don't assign responsibility, so it falls apart when things get busy. Make sure every process has a point person who's responsible for it running smoothly. Next is automate or delegate. A great system removes you from the day to day. If everything still requires your approval, then your system is broken. Look for ways to automate, use software to handle repetitive tasks, and delegate. Train others to
take over key response onsibilities. For example, if you find yourself constantly dealing with scheduling conflicts, use an automated scheduling system where employees can swap shifts without needing your approval. The less time you spend on small tasks, the more time you have to lead and make sure your systems stick. So how do you make sure these systems actually work long term? Here's a three step formula. Number one, test it, run a small trial before rolling it out company wide.
Number two train your team. If they don't understand it, they won't use it. And number three refine it. No system is perfect on day one, keep improving it. And one trick that works well is what I call the vacation test. Take a week off. If everything runs smoothly without you, your systems are strong. If you come back to a disaster, then you need better systems. So, at the end of the day, leadership isn't just about setting goals. It's about creating systems that make those goals a reality.
If you want a business that runs efficiently, scales effortlessly, and doesn't require you to constantly put out fires, you need to focus on systems, not just strategy. So here's my challenge for you. Pick one area of your business this week, document the process, assign ownership an automat or delegate at least one step. If you do that, you're already on your way to leading a more efficient, scalable
and stress free business. This has been the seven minute leadership podcast, and I thank you for listening.
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