Is your printer stocked with paper? What happens when the WiFi goes down? When do you order coffee? The bathroom is out of toilet paper again… now what?
These are important day-to-day questions that need answering in when you’re running a business. But they aren’t related to business growth, so why are you the one answering them?
You have to wear many hats as a business leader, but “official printer and toilet paper stocker” shouldn’t be one of them. You need to be laser-focused on activities related to growth, such as sales, marketing, networking, and product or service development. If you’re using precious brain capacity thinking about office maintenance, you’re taking away from capacity that could be focusing on perfecting your sales pitch or coming up with a new marketing campaign. Raise up others on your team to take ownership of the small stuff, so you can step back and look at the big picture.
Let Go Of Control; Build Better Habits
You can’t control everything. This is a hard lesson to learn for most of us, but that lesson learned frees us to focus our attention and effort where it matters. As business leaders, our office space is something we can control. So we often take charge and run the place, literally. Unfortunately, that’s a bad choice for leaders who want to lead effectively according to Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
The best way for you to run your office is to find a person that you trust, is well-suited for the job, and let them run. Take that big task off your mind so you can focus on developing both personal and professional habits that will impact your business growth and bottom line.
You aren’t just born an effective business leader, it takes practice, discipline, and turning the right actions into habits to really move the needle and be successful. Here is a summary of Covey’s 7 Habits, and how you can start working towards building them into your daily routine:
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Stop reacting. Take charge and go after what you need to accomplish. Empower others to get things done so that you can focus on business development.
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind
Have a clear vision for your long-term business strategy, and make every decision with that in mind.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Identify the key roles you play in life and make time for them. Are you a parent and a CEO? Great, both roles need attention. Steven Covey once said, “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” It’s time to stop getting distracted by the urgent things that pop up during the day. Stay focused on the important tasks that help move the business forward.
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
“The Law of Win/Win says, ‘Let’s not do it your way or my way; let’s do it the best way.'” – Greg Anderson
When negotiating, aim to find a solution that is mutually beneficial for all parties. You’ll still get what your business needs, and you’ll create respect and rapport with others along the way.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
We often jump to providing solutions when a problem arises. Covey insists we first understand the “why” behind other’s actions. We should put ourselves in their shoes before we offer a solution. Empathy goes a long way in both personal and professional relationships. Winning friends in business is always a good idea.
Habit 6: Synergize
Leverage your team’s strengths and differences to find new processes that push you towards your goal. Who is that person on your team who would love to handle some of those office tasks? What ideas do others have to help you let go of the menial tasks and focus on business development? Rearrange some things to give them a chance to try it out. You’ll reach new peaks of effectiveness you couldn’t achieve on your own.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Instead of working late nights and on weekends because you are spread thin, raise up others to tackle the small tasks so you can focus on the macro tasks during normal hours. Then take time off to focus on personal renewal. No one wants a burnt our business leader.
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, unapologetically, to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the “good.” – Stephen Covey
Time is our most valuable asset. This is especially true when you’re leading a business. Cut out the tasks in your life that aren’t crucial to business building. Laser focus on the tasks that move the mark for your business and create a healthy bottom line. Doing so puts you in the right position to move your business forward without sweating the small stuff.
Lighten Your Load With A CoWorking Space
We’re more effective when we aren’t worried about details that force us into the weeds. By focusing on the most important things that help your business grow, you’ll be more effective as a business leader.
If you’re done loading the printer with ink and paper and doing other mundane office management tasks, we invite you to tour MAC6. MAC6 is a Tempe, Arizona co-working and co-manufacturing space. We cover the office tasks to keep you and your team members effective and happy. Our amenities include a 24/7 gym, quiet conference rooms, high-speed secure WiFi, coffee, tea, and all of the modern conveniences a workplace should have. We’d love to take the office-related tasks off your plate and have you join our community. You’ll be with other like-minded businesses who love to learn and mentor one another.
Just think of what you could be losing — the responsibility of office management — and gaining — a killer office space with a built-in community — by making the decision to join us.