There are many qualities that set apart the professional and successful entrepreneur from the rest, but one which stands out in particular is keen attention to detail. You need to know exactly what is happening in the micro if you are to control the macro, and that is one of the earliest lessons that anyone has to learn in business of any kind.
If you feel you have a good eye for detail, you probably find that this influences the way you run your business greatly, and to your benefit. If not, you might need a little help. Let’s take a look a the most important details you should be paying attention to if you want your business to succeed. In doing so, you will find that you can run your business more efficiently and intelligently.
Financial
First, we must focus on the financial implications of paying attention to detail. One of the most important areas of business operations has to be your money. When this area is dysfunctional or failing – everything is. You need to ensure you are paying close attention to every income or expense that comes in or goes out. Invest in professional accounting software, or outsource this tasks to a professional accountant. Whether you choose to personally handle your businesses finances, or allow someone else to, you have to stay involved. This means reviewing and analyzing financial reports on a consistent basis. When you have a tight grip on your business’s finances you’ll find that most other areas of your business function better as a result.
Operational
There are so many aspects of the operations within any business that it is practically impossible to be able to keep track of them all, and have time to focus on anything else! Yet, as a business owner and manager you need to find a way to do so – and this often means dividing and conquering tasks. Some of your operations might be as small as checking and replacing the casters on the trolleys in the warehouse or ordering more office supplies, or tasks could be as big as tracking how many products you are manufacturing this month. Big or small, every task requires attention and it’s smart to divide this up among you employees. Leveraging the skills of your team allows you to “do it all” without really having to do it all yourself.
Personal
Your employees will always be a hugely important part of your business and you need to make sure that you are not overlooking them among all the other tasks you’re trying to balance. Keeping track of what your employees are doing means that you know what your business is doing, so this is vital. What’s most important is to find a way to manage your employees that is unobtrusive and still empowers them with responsibility and creative freedom. It takes balance, but the time you invest into striking this balance and effectively managing your people is the best investment you can ever make in your business!
Are you a detail-oriented person or do you struggle in this area? What tips and tools have you used to manage all the details of running a business without it consuming all your time? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!
