Making changes starts with a frank discussion of your business with a trusted expert. Think of this as an inventory of your business – the pieces and processes that are working well, and those that need some attention.
From this discussion comes a checklist, with items on both sides of the page: Those that are fine just the way they are, and those that are going to change.
The next step is an action plan, because candid discussion by itself won’t get the job done. This might include simple things, like finding a capable internal or external partner to collect your receivables. Or it might address something more involved, like managing a strategic acquisition for improved market position or creating incentives for better executive and hourly performance.
Whatever the challenge, having a plan that identifies the goal and states how it will be achieved is half of the battle.
