How I Help You to Grow Your Business

If you’re a sole trader or entrepreneur, you will know first-hand the drain that stems from the never-ending ‘Things to Do’ list.  You can work for 15 hours a day and it still seems like nothing has been achieved; no time or thought has been given to building your company. So, between managing clients, chasing deadlines, handling admin and still trying to shape the big picture, it’s understandable how you feel overwhelmed. I get it. I’ve been there myself and see it time and time again with my clients; individuals who are brilliant entrepreneurs but can get ‘bogged down’ in the detail and just can’t find the time to stop and breathe, let alone plan a strategy or think ‘big’ for their business.

That’s normally the point at which I step in. Clients reach out for me when they hit the bottom and can’t see the way through. My role in it all is simple, but effective: I help you to take time to pause, plan and prepare for what really matters and where you can best serve your business. I take things off your plate and gift you with time to better serve your clients and customers. I’m not a glorified VA, I’m a manager of your business, your critical friend, a sounding board and a trusted, independent partner for when things get really tough. Ultimately, I’m the ‘first pick’ for your team because my sole focus is in helping you to feel more positively engaged and content with the direction of your company.

Let me walk you through exactly how I do this and how it can transform your business and your peace of mind.

What I Offer:

When I say I ‘take things off your plate’, I mean I can take away the physical and mental burdens that are slowing you down and restore some freedom to your soul. Here are some examples of what I can do for you:

1. Strategy & Vision:

Buried by overwhelm, many small business owners fail to carve out crucial time for strategic thinking. If you don’t know the direction in which you’re headed and what you want it to look like when you get there, you run the big risk of being thoroughly disappointed in the destination.

Having spent a decade in headship, where the 5-year strategy sat solely on my shoulders and the operational running of the school threatened to derail my intentions almost daily, I understand the value in having a partner who helps to not only shape this process but also assists in its execution.

I work alongside my clients helping to outline their vision, craft it into a strategic plan with practical and achievable steps and goals and support them to ensure it happens. Could you benefit from a focused strategy session to redirect you or maybe even spend time developing your first plan – then I’m here with my compass!

2. Policies and Procedures:

Be honest, you hate policy writing don’t you? I don’t think I’ve met a single person who views it as a ‘fun’ task and it’s one that gets pushed to the bottom of the list every time.  If there’s a choice between buying some new stationery for the office or writing a compliance document, Papermate purchases win each and every time in my book! However, keeping those policies, procedures and compliance documents up-to-date is crucial. Your team need the clarity of expectations and you will definitely need to know you can fall back on your documentation when it’s needed; be it for an internal investigation or an external complaint.

I can write, develop, review and manage these documents for you to ensure your policies are compliant and your business suite looks smooth and professional to your clients. They will also bring clarity and efficiency to the day-to-day running of the business; giving your team security in their roles and an overarching sense of professionalism.

3. Branding and Content Support:

Perhaps you are one of the many business owners who has told themselves they have no ‘creative bones in their body’. If that’s the case, then this is where my Business Manager skills can step in; from creating branded document templates to organising marketing materials. I can help keep your brand looking and feeling consistent and professional. Delegate the drafting of your company newsletter, your online, social media content or the management of your website so that it all remains current and on-par with your brand.

4. Administrative Functions:

All too often, the burden of administrative tasks is too much for an individual to handle, especially a busy business owner. You can see each small task as a mountain and the in-tray quickly overflows with more demands on your time. It may be that you’re best off employing a full-time administrator to manage the load but an alternative option is to delegate this to your OBM to quickly clear the pile; after all, they have a clear understanding of your brand and its direction. As soon as today, you could be handing over that report, ticking the presentation off your list and sitting back, in confidence, knowing someone else is scheduling your travel arrangements. You just need to speak up and we can talk about how I can reduce your burdens.

How Freeing Up Your Time Helps You Grow:

By delegating, you’ve not just saved time but you’ve also freed yourself to focus on those activities which will have a higher impact on your business and will potentially result in a higher turnover. With an OBM on board you can:

• Spend time thinking about your strategy and where your business is headed.

• Invest more energy and time in client relationships, including those ones you haven’t yet secured.

• Take time and space to engage in training, attend a conference or network with other professionals.

• Avoid burnout!

Without doubt, the workload builds quickly when you’re a small business owner but, here’s one of the lessons I’ve learned as a sole trader – we don’t just need someone who will do the tasks. We also need someone to listen and share the journey. To know that when you’re juggling everything alone and become paralysed by decision-making, someone else is there to help you through.

My favourite part of my job is partnering with people like you; people who have a great idea and a great passion but have become overwhelmed or had their confidence knocked along the way.  I can step in to provide a fresh perspective or sounding board; somewhere you can turn to and let it all go.  We’ve all been there and it’s part of the on-going journey.

My darkest times in leadership were those involving personnel matters; an employee who is making life difficult for everyone, a challenging message that needs to be conveyed to the team or a performance review that you know isn’t going to result in the expected pay rise. Those times were isolating and exhausting, especially when there was no-one to reassure me and talk through my actions, while I was trying to balance running a school and impartially executing aspects of the organisation’s disciplinary policy.

You’re not going to get away without having to face the tough, emotionally-charged conversations, sorry – it’s part of being in charge. However, bringing in a new face, with zero baggage, means I can make this so much easier for you. I bring a level of fairness and impartiality that gives everyone confidence in the process plus space for you to separate personal and professional emotions. Having some independent oversight can help maintain trust and morale within the team but can also provide you, as the business owner, with protection.

What It Feels Like to Work with Me:

Bringing me on as your OBM means you’ll quickly start to feel more free and will notice the difference in your day-to-day approach to business. I’m not just here to tick a few boxes – I’m here to make a difference to your overall business success.

In me, you’ll find a partner who respects your vision but isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions and challenge your thinking. You’ll find a trusted colleague with whom you can talk confidentially. You’ll have an independent resource to draw upon when difficult situations and decisions arise. Most importantly though, my aim is for you to feel less stressed, to regain time and space with family and hobbies and ultimately, to be able to position your business for the next stages of its development.

If this sounds like the support you need, then let’s have a conversation. Come and talk to me about your business, the challenges you’re currently facing and how you think I can help you make the shift you need. Remember, you don’t have to do it all alone.