Jenga anyone?

Have you ever played Jenga? It's a game where you start with one block and build a tower by carefully stacking each block on top of the other. The aim is to build the highest tower possible without it falling over. It's a fun game, and I often use it as an analogy about organizing our businesses.

Think about it… when we first start our businesses, we have a bunch of blocks that we have to deal with. They don’t come organized or even with instructions. Just like dumping out the Jenga container and seeing all those blocks in disarray, it can seem daunting to get them into a tower… the same feeling can happen when it comes to organizing a business, it can be overwhelming to think about all the different processes and procedures that need to be put in place. It can feel like we need to do everything at once, and we can easily get bogged down in the details. That's where the Jenga analogy comes in.

Just like building a Jenga tower, organizing your business can start with one block - one process or procedure. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, focus on one thing. Look at one process and start writing it down as you do it. Have a notepad or document on your computer and free-write as you are doing it. Write down each step as you go along and be as detailed as possible.

As you do this, think about a kid in your life - how would you explain to them what you are doing and how you are doing it? By simplifying the language and breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps, you'll be able to see the process more clearly. This can help you identify areas where you can streamline the process, eliminate unnecessary steps, or delegate tasks to others.

But it's not just about how you do it - it's also important to think about the Why. What is the goal of this process or procedure? What are you trying to achieve? By understanding the goal, you can better assess whether the process is working as intended or if changes need to be made. Also, by identifying the goal, you can determine whether the process is achieving the desired outcome and make any necessary adjustments.

For example, suppose you are documenting the process of responding to customer inquiries. You may start by writing down the steps you take to respond to an email or phone call, such as checking your inbox, drafting a response, and sending it to the customer. Next, you may think about how you would explain this process to a child and simplify it by removing any unnecessary steps.

Finally, you would think about the why - what is the goal of this process? Perhaps the goal is to respond to inquiries within 24 hours to improve customer satisfaction. By having a clear goal, you can track your progress and make any necessary adjustments to improve the process.

By focusing on one process at a time, you can gradually build a solid foundation for your business. As you document each process, you can begin to delegate tasks to employees or outsource them to freelancers. This frees up your time to focus on other aspects of your business, such as product development or marketing.

Another benefit of focusing on one process at a time is that it allows you to identify areas for improvement. By breaking down the process into individual steps, you can identify any bottlenecks or areas where tasks are taking longer than they should. This enables you to make changes to the process to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

For example, suppose you are documenting the process of ordering supplies for your business. As you write down each step, you may realize that you are ordering supplies from multiple vendors and paying different prices for the same items. By consolidating your orders with one vendor, you can reduce costs and streamline the ordering process.

In addition to improving efficiency and reducing costs, focusing on one process at a time can also improve customer satisfaction. By simplifying processes and responding to inquiries in a timely manner, you can build a reputation for excellent customer service.

For example, suppose you run an online store, and your customers frequently have questions about shipping and returns. By documenting the process for responding to these inquiries and simplifying the process, you can respond to customers quickly and accurately. This can improve customer satisfaction and lead to repeat business.

As you can see, there are many benefits to just starting with one block, one thing, and the outcomes can help you and your business more than you know. But, something to remember is… just like with Jenga, building your business can be a bit of a balancing act. As you add more processes and procedures, you need to make sure that everything is working together and not causing the tower to topple over. But by starting with one block at a time, you can build a solid foundation and create a business that is efficient, effective, and sustainable.

So, if you're feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of organizing your business, remember the Jenga analogy. Focus on one process or procedure at a time, break it down into smaller steps, and think about the why. With this approach, you'll be able to build a strong foundation for your business, one block at a time.

And if it STILL overwhelms you, set up a FREE Discovery call with me and we can talk about how I can help you build your Jenga tower.