On this episode of the podcast, Ceil DiGuglielmo and Susan Woodcock talk about business flow using a body of water with a dam as an analogy. This is an interesting perspective! Listen and learn using the link below:
Do you have more work than you can handle?
Are you overwhelmed and working 7 days a week?
Let's use a reservoir as an analogy....
A reservoir is a body of water with a dam that holds the water in place and there are chutes sending water out in a managed way, keeping the water at the right level.
When the flow increases to quickly, there are spillways to safely release and manage the water so that it does not overflow and become dangerous.
There are two types of spillways: controlled and uncontrolled.
Controlled spillways have mechanical structures and gates to regulate the flow rate.
Uncontrolled spillways allow water to pass over the top and sides of a chute or funnel, to maintain the level of the reservoir.
That said.... what does that have to do with Workrooms???
Imagine your workroom business is like reservoir of water. The work (orders) come into the reservoir and you, as the workroom owner manages the flow.
You are managing the chutes that are sending finished project out to the customer to keep the work coming in at the right level.
But sometimes, the amount of work backs up and threatens to disrupt that level - it becomes scary and overwhelming.
What are your spillways and are they controlled or uncontrolled?
Identify your spillways: immediate things you can do safely
Stop taking work until you catch up.
Find another workroom to partner with.
Hire help
Contact your customers and discuss options for delivery times and project expectations.
Can you think of anything else?
If you don’t have way to manage water in a reservoir, the pressure will
destroy the dam and everything downstream.
If you don’t have a plan to manage the workflow in your business, what are the results?
We all wish for plenty of work, but when it starts to pile up and working 7 days a week doesn't help, it can become a crisis. This kind of stress hurts your health and takes away from time with family and friends. You are more likely to make mistakes.
You will become burned out and everyone suffers – your family, your customers, your community and your own mental and physical health and well-being.
How can you prevent the reservoir from filling too fast? How do you prevent overflow in the first place?
In nature you can’t control the amount of water. In business you CAN control how much work comes in. If you accept everything that comes along you are setting yourself up for a disaster!
1) Build a larger and improved reservoir. Is it time to plan an expansion, move to a larger space and grow your business?
2) Control incoming work. Is it time to cut back on the number of interior designers or clients you accept?
3) Don’t accept work until you have an opening.
4) Update policies and procedures. Are you consistent with how you receive orders and put them on the schedule?
5) Raise prices / evaluate rates and profit
6) Cut out products and services that are not profitable or that you don’t like to do.
7) Schedule time off – weekly, monthly and annually.
8) Make time to really understand your business and your long-term goals. How much work is enough? Write a new business plan. What is the perfect level of your reservoir?
Comments