FCB #004: Transform Your Business Using a Proven System

Transformation Starts at the Top

It starts with leadership that is open minded. They want to help their organization reach its full potential. They recognize that they have hit the ceiling. They know they need to upgrade their business operating system (BOS) and are looking for an advanced, defined system that is simple and easy to implement.

The Tools

• Vision - This component helps you crystalize and communicate your vision. It helps you get 100% of your people on the same page with where you are going and how you will get there.
• People - You need great employees to achieve your vision. You can't achieve a great vision without great people. This component helps you get the right people on the bus in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus.
• Data - This component helps show you how to use your data to pulse and predict better as a business. Good data helps you cut through egos, agendas, opinions, personalities, and feelings. It's a matter of objective measurables versus subjective opinions.
• Transparency - These first three components help you establish transparency -- with a clear vision, great people, and the right data -- and, as a result, you will receive all the associated benefits.
• Issues - Every business has issues. Your ultimate success will be in direct proportion to your ability to solve your issues. This component shows you how to set them up right so you can knock them down. You will learn how to solve your problems as they surface, quickly and permanently, so they don't drag your whole organization down.
• Process - This component will show you the power of consistency and scalability. A business is easier to manage, more fun, and more profitable with documented, replicable processes. This is the secret ingredient in successful businesses, but also the most often neglected.
• Traction - This component helps you develop an environment of accountability and discipline -- solid execution. This is typically the weakest link in struggling companies.

The aim is for 100%, but that is utopia and unattainable. The actual goal is for 80%, which is attainable. These six components will help you run your business better and get more out of it. Most organizations are operating at 20-40%. When all six components are strong, everything falls into place.

Now, a more in-depth look at the tools...

Vision

In the Vision component, you crystalize and communicate your vision with 8 questions about the following items:

1. Core Values
2. Core Focus
3. 10-Year Plan
4. Marketing Strategy
5. 3-Year Plan
6. 1-Year Plan
7. Quarterly Plan
8. Issues List

Once you've worked through these 8 questions, you now have a compelling and simple two-page Strategic Plan that everyone in the company can easily grasp, understand, and get behind.

People

You must have the Right People in the Right Seats. The Right People share your Core Values. The Right Seats turn expectations into Agreements. The Right People in the Right Seats can enjoy being great at the things that need to be done.

You will learn how to Hire, Fire, Review, Recognize, and Reward based on cultural fit and competency.

You will develop a Responsibilities Chart for the core roles in your business: Visionary, Integrator, Marketing & Sales, Operations, and Finance & Administration.

Most organizations have People Problems because they have the Wrong People in the Wrong Seats. Healthy accountability benefits everyone.

Data

This component will help you to develop Measurables and Scorecards. These will give you a reliable pulse on your organization. They will help you to predict and forecast better, minimizing subjective noise. They give everyone an objective way of measuring their success. You will develop 5-15 numbers that objectively track your progress on a weekly basis -- your Leadership Scorecard.

Issues

Your success as an organization is directly tied to your ability to solve issues. This component will show you how to solve your problems as they surface with a unique issues solving tool that is designed to help you solve any particular issue quickly, once and for all.

Soon, you won't be putting out constant forest fires or even brush fires. Instead, your business will start running smoothly with minimal friction and upsets.

Process

In this component, you will develop pilot checklists for 5-15 core processes. These are not full-blow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), but the beginnings of those which will be more fully developed later in the Operation phase.

These simple checklists will map out core processes that need to be done the right, best way every time. Each process will have an owner (tied to a seat), and each step in a process will have an owner.

Process development will follow the Pareto Principle or 80/20 rule which states that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of the benefits come from 20% of the systems. This is also known as the Law of the Vital Few.

Traction

This component helps you develop an environment of accountability and discipline in your business. It results in solid execution. It focuses on:

• Rocks - These are steps towards your larger goals and are beyond standard work. They are strategic in nature and have a quarterly focus.
• Meetings - The key is to develop a consistent meeting pulse, which help reduce ad hoc meetings. The focus is to make sustained progress on the key Rocks which will help you meet your important goals. Beside the annual and quarterly strategic planning sessions, the Weekly Leadership Team Meeting is key for developing consistent execution and traction. You will learn how to master this key meeting pulse.

The Process - 4 Phases

• 90-Minute Meeting - The initial 90-minute meeting focuses on learning more about you and your organization and introduces you to the tools and process for this business transformation program, including the Ninety.io online business operating software to help you manage this entire process.
• Implementation - The implementation phase is typically 60-90 days and involves 2-8 sessions where your Leadership Team will be mentored on all the foundational tools of the program.
• Operation - The Operation phase is typical 12-24 months and involves quarterly and annual strategic planning sessions focused on team health, learning additional tools, and rolling out this new, improved operating system to your entire company.
• Graduation - The Graduation phase continues forever and sessions are run internally by your Leadership and Department Teams. Additional help is provided on an ad hoc basis at this stage as needed.