The 4 Things a Service Provider Must Get Right: Part Three Design Your Systems for Structure
Episode 663: Show Notes
Welcome back to part three of our series on the four things every service provider must get right. In today’s installment, we’ll be delving into one of our favorite topics here at Boss Project: designing your systems for structure.
Most of our clients deliver a service that requires their clients' contribution. This means they usually need input from clients before they can take the next step in their process. Unfortunately, they often aren’t able to systematize a process because they’re spending most of their time and energy chasing people down all the time! In today’s episode we delve into how to create systems that support you, the impact it will have on your operations, and why it’s all about spending more time with your clients, not less!
We want to help you align the goals and values of your business with the systems you put in place. Our approach is all about how to create structure while taking into account the messiness of life, clients, and running a service-based business. Tune in today as we break down how to design your systems for structure and serve your clients to the best of your ability!
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Structure is Sexy
If structure isn't one of the sexiest words you've ever heard of in your life, then frankly, we don't know what is! Just like us, we bet a lot of you have found yourselves missing the structure that grade school and high school provided when you were younger, like having places to be, and knowing what you needed to work on. Especially if you are running your own business!
There are so many decisions that need to be made that it’s easy to get overwhelmed and even wind up with debilitating decision fatigue. While many businesses have been able to grow and get relatively far without a system or structure, they often continue to push it to a point that is detrimental to the success of their business. This often boils down to the fact that just the idea of implementing new systems seems too difficult or overwhelming! We’re here to show some of the simple ways that you can begin to implement structure and the radical impact this can have on your business!
Optimizing Systems for Clients and Input
One of the most glaring omissions we’ve seen in our research is that all of the resources dedicated to supporting businesses and creating structure are for much larger companies like Walmart, and don’t necessarily serve smaller businesses, like those of our clients. As a result, we have spent a lot of our time thinking about how we can tweak these for businesses that are on a smaller scale, but still need structure to thrive. We truly believe that this is one of the biggest areas of opportunity for our listeners and clients, especially when your business requires your clients’ contribution.
If you don’t have systems or structures in place, everything will be stalled and slowed down, and your processes won’t be replicable for every client. As a result, the elements that enable you to deliver a productized service will get stuck at this point if you aren’t able to figure out your structure!
Remove Barriers And Include Your Clients
One of the things we want you to consider when you’re structuring your package is how you’re going to get feedback and input from your client, and how you can remove the barriers that are causing them to delay getting back to you. Take this scenario, for instance. What if you need them to fill out an extensive form so you can produce copy for something but they never seem to complete it on time? Think about what you can do to remove barriers so that they don’t procrastinate on giving you input and you can get the information you need when you need it.
One solution would be scheduling a recorded call or interview where you cover all the relevant topics. That way they can spend 20 to 30 minutes with you on the phone instead of spending over an hour filling out forms, and you can get your information on time! Not only does it make it easier for them to be involved, but it also feels like a more high-touch experience for them.
How To Become Economy Resistant
There’s been a lot of talk about inflation and a potential recession. And it’s usually in everyone’s interest to become better insulated from the ups and downs of the larger economic trends. One of the ways you can become more economy resistant, especially if you’re in the B2B space, is by identifying a service that piques the interest of the CEO or owner. If you can make their involvement a critical piece of the puzzle, then you are far less likely to experience a dip during an economic downturn.
There are often simple and effective ways for you to take an existing service and level it up to make it a priority for the people at the top, regardless of how big that business is. Their involvement will not only give them buy-in to what they're doing but will also create a sense of ownership over the end product. It even makes it far more likely that they’ll refer you!
Spending More Time With You Clients, Not Less
Many service providers assume that creating too many systems, or anything automated when it comes to their client experience will weaken the client experience, when in fact, the opposite is true. Not only does it enhance the client experience, but it also creates more predictable deliverables and higher customer satisfaction, because everything is over-communicated and punctual, and they're getting what is expected.
These innovations don’t mean you’re spending less time with your clients. Instead, good structures allow you to spend more time with your clients. That’s the solution we want you to consider. There is so much potential for you to create a business that’s in alignment with what you want. You can spend more time building amazing relationships with your clients and less time distracted because you can have full faith in the structure you have in place!
Quote This
The structure should free up your time so that you can focus more on the client, and potentially spend more time with that client throughout the client process.
Highlights
Structure is Sexy. [0:11:58]
Optimizing Systems for Clients and Input [0:17:33]
Remove Barriers And Include Your Clients [0:18:52]
How To Become Economy Resistant [0:27:03]
Spending More Time With You Clients, Not Less [0:24:09]
ON TODAY’S SHOW
Abagail & Emylee
The Strategy Hour Podcast
We help overwhelmed and creative entrepreneurs break down their Oprah-sized dreams to create a functioning command center to tame the chaos of their business. Basically, we think you’re totally bomb diggity, we’re about to uplevel the shiz out of your business.
KEY TOPICS
Structure, Systems, Clients, Client Input, Communication, Deliverables
