In the business world, growth is generally thought of as a good thing. It brings with it many exciting opportunities, but none of those come without change. When your business is experiencing rapid growth, your current way of doing things might not be up to the challenge. This can lead to lost time, missed opportunities, and frustration on all sides.
In order to stay relevant and grow in a sustainable way, you must evaluate your business and make the necessary changes to expand while avoiding roadblocks along the way.
1. Evaluate how each silo of your business operates individually
Whenever a company experiences a period of rapid growth, its current processes are put to the test. Take a look at each of your departments and identify what’s still running smoothly and what’s not. Does your departmental structure allow for flexibility and expansion? Are you equipped with the resources required to effortlessly handle the amount of business coming your way?
Talk to your staff about aspects of their jobs that have gotten more difficult or time-consuming recently. Their input can give you on-the-ground insights to fuel intuitive, lasting solutions that will allow your business to flourish during growth spurts rather than suffer. Remember, the key is to find scalable fixes that can continue to grow with you, not just quick fixes that only work right now.
2. Assess how different departments interact with one another
Is communication between silos seamless? Is data easily accessible to those who need it? Often, when different departments are utilizing independent systems to accomplish their respective tasks, integration can be difficult. This can result in wasted time and resources, frequent miscommunications, and an inability to see the full picture in real-time.
If many of your processes are still manual or it’s difficult to gather and share data between departments, it’s time for a system overhaul. A business management software like NetSuite is highly customizable to each department’s needs, as well as your company’s unique situation. NetSuite is also adaptable, so as your company grows and shifts, your system can too.
3. Gather information from your clients
As the old saying goes, the customer is always right. Look at what they’re saying﹘ if there’s a lot of negative feedback concerning one thing (product quality, customer service, delivery time, etc.), then that’s an area that needs your attention.
When looking at ways to improve your business, think big. Imagine doing twice as much business as you are now. Will the solutions you’re thinking of implementing still be able to give your customers the best possible experience, or will they need to be revised again in the near future?
4. Know what you’re up against
Lastly, even with the most thorough plan or perfectly executed change initiative, shifts in your business are never quick or painless. This will be a difficult road, but with the right attitude, skills, and people it will be well worth it. Lead in a way that inspires positive change but doesn’t force it.