Let us show you…
how looking back can help you move forward
While running your business effectively is an everyday aim, the New Year allows you to go one step further. Alongside a new wall planner and stationery, the beginning of a year is a good time to start something new or to improve on the previous years’ experience.
At Business Owl, we won’t help you write the same old New Year resolutions. We all know unless they are SMART they are unlikely to be achieved anyway. What we can do is help you to look back to proactively plan for the future, while keeping the plates spinning.
As expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire, we have many new months, new quarters and new years behind us. We help our clients stay on track throughout the year but offer extra support periodically to help you review, reset, plan and grow your business.
Assessing business performance
Assessing your business processes should be done regularly. We often help our clients with this and as a result, save them time and money by suggesting changes and streamlining working methods.
It is not uncommon for our Virtual Assistants to complete an audit of businesses processes at the end of the year, looking back on anything from past performance to waste over a period of time. It is only when you have a clear picture of how things are or aren’t working in your business, that you can make improvements to encourage growth.
What is included in a business review?
When looking back over the annual performance of a business, there are many aspects you can and should review. These include but are not limited to:
- Assessing the systems and processes you have in place, for example financial systems, communication channels etc
- Looking at your business tools, their costs and their effectiveness
- Looking at employee training and support systems to see how these may be improved
- Considering waste within the business. This is in terms of time, money, resources and materials
Honest communication with employees
Our Virtual Assistants are often asked to be an external voice for many business matters, from making changes to suppliers, tools and more. As someone who is not an employed staff member, a VA is often more approachable, so employees are more likely to talk to them. This is a valuable way to get to the crux of any issues that have come up. Honest feedback about what works and what doesn’t is the best way to effectively plan positive changes moving forward.
Looking back to move forward
Planning is a huge part of running a business, and our Virtual Assistants are often tasked with being the outside “eyes” that can do this effectively. Having looked back, collated data and spoken to staff about their experiences, a VA is perfectly placed to put together findings and make recommendations. More often than not, these recommendations result in saved money, reduced wastage and increased employee well-being.
Jen Workman, Business Owl founder and Virtual Assistant
In summary
Often a company will take on a VA or ask their existing Virtual Assistant to take over or help with an annual review and planning project. Sometimes a VA is used as cover, freeing up vital administrative employees and even managers for periods to enable them to review and plan. We are happy to work with each business to identify and provide support tailored to their needs.
Are you ready to save and grow?
This article was written by Jen Workman, VA and Founder of Business Owl. We are expert Virtual Assistants based in North Yorkshire. We support the legal sector, small businesses and entrepreneurs nationally. To discuss how we can provide bespoke support via retainer contracts or ad hoc work, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a complimentary chat at 07970 955535 or jen@businessowl.co.uk.
