Can Your Business Run Itself?

​Some people take pride in the fact that their business cannot run without constant, hands-on assistance. Don’t fall victim to this false sense of accomplishment! The sign of a strong business is one that has the power to run on its own for weeks at a time, without the captain at the helm. The purpose of empowering a business with the ability to run on its own is a sign of responsibility. It’s irresponsible to put a business at risk simply because the only one who can operate it might get laid up in the hospital, stuck on a business trip out of town or away on a family emergency. There is no excuse for not having proper processes in place to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

Here are five quick tips to enable your business to run on its own, whether an employee is out or the captain is away from the helm:

1. Assign each employee with the task of creating a step-by-step, how-to documentation for each responsibility.
2. Ensure that two people on staff are trained and capable of doing a job, at all times.
3. Create a company-wide accessible contact list for each department, including all contact information for company contacts and preferred vendors.
4. Set up a written chain of command, so that employees have the power to make decisions while the boss is away.
5. Plot out a detailed calendar with deliverables to ensure that all deadlines are known and will be met.

​Letting go of the reins can be a frightening thing but once a business can run itself; the strength of the company will only increase. If you haven’t put these processes in place, maybe this question will convince you: Exactly how long would your business survive if you weren’t able to run it?