Beverlee Rasmussen

The key to establishing work/life balance at any time in your business is "systems, systems, systems!" As a small business owner, you anticipate busy periods, so it's crucial to prepare early by implementing robust systems for buying, hiring, marketing and managing. These systems help streamline operations and ensure your business can run efficiently without your constant oversight. By setting up these processes early on, you not only free up your own time but also create a more sustainable business structure that allows you to maintain a healthier work-life balance during those hectic seasons.

The Eisenhower Matrix is hugely valuable in setting priorities. The challenge for most business owners is that they are way too busy to even stop and think about what needs to be done next and why. Far too many entrepreneurs are trapped, underpaid employees working way too hard for little or no return. What was supposed to bring freedom and financial wealth ends up taking over their life and draining their resources. Every day they get a little more behind on something that costs them money or more of their precious time. Time with a business coach to stop long enough to assess priorities, make decisions and change "time-wasting" habits naturally leads to greater profitability and personal freedom.

Systems are not just for franchises like McDonald’s or Starbucks. They’re for every small business, even the creatives. Even one person, solopreneur, businesses need systems for autopay, client acquisition, and social media posting so they don’t have to google the information every time they want to post a blog on social media, for instance. They just check the operations manual, and the information is right there. System documentation saves you so much time!

Pre-pandemic, in person networking was the most affective way to engage with prospective client. With all the noise on social media, having a quiet, confidential face-to-face/heart-to-heart meeting with another human being, who is struggling with their business, is still the best way to earn their trust to earn their business. After food and water human beings need to feel seen, heard and understood, that is the power of Coaching, and that Coaching presence can be used to start strong business relationships.

Being a business coach means more than having just coaching skills. This is one area of coaching that requires subject knowledge, including basic financial literacy, foundations of marketing and sales, operational efficiency, along with a solid understanding of human resources best practises. This knowledge allows you to ask appropriate and relevant questions to support your clients. It will also give you the confidence to attract and retain business owner clients.

When a project is lagging, employing the "team performance model" effectively can realign your team. Begin with Orientation to define the project's purpose and success vision, ensuring each member understands their role. In Trust Building, establish a collaborative environment by recognizing skills and setting clear expectations. During Goal Clarification, articulate objectives, constraints, and roles to eliminate ambiguities. Commitment involves aligning on timelines, budgets, and resources. Implementation sees plans actioned, while High Performance is the stage where the team operates cohesively with minimal oversight. Lastly, Renewal requires continual reassessment to adapt to changes and sustain success.