Just Focusing on Process Alone Won’t Fix Your Business Scaling Needs.
Learn Why Implementing EOS® (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Foundational Tools Are The True Needle Mover To Help You Break Through That Ceiling.
When I ask entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders what they want to improve in their company, a common response is: “Well, if everyone just had a process to follow, I think things would be better.” This sounds like a solid solution, right? Processes do help streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce confusion. But here’s the catch—process is only part of the equation. And surprisingly, it’s not where you should start.
In my work with clients, I hear this “process problem” diagnosis early and often. While documenting, training, and maintaining core processes are valuable and necessary, they’re secondary to foundational issues that determine whether your business can truly thrive. Before you jump into process improvements, consider these critical questions:
1. Does Your Business Have the Right Structure?
Do you have the right roles and functions in place, and are they clearly defined? Chaos often stems from people not knowing what they’re responsible for. Without clarity, there’s no accountability, and execution suffers. A well-structured business aligns roles and responsibilities so that every “seat” is occupied by someone who knows what’s expected of them. This clarity is essential for accelerating growth in your business and creating a foundation for scaling.
Working with a business coach to implement EOS can be transformational in building this clarity. Coaches guide you through defining the right structure for your business, ensuring roles are aligned with both short-term execution and long-term growth. This structured approach lays the groundwork for gaining traction in your business.
A clear structure not only reduces confusion but also fosters accountability. It’s easier to delegate tasks effectively and ensure the right outcomes when everyone knows their roles. Businesses that prioritize structure early on often find it easier to navigate growth and scale their operations without hitting constant bottlenecks. Structure serves as the backbone that allows processes to thrive.
2. Do You Have the Right People?
Beyond structure, you need the right people in the right seats. This means ensuring that your team members GWC (Get it, Want it, and have the Capacity to do it) for their roles. Equally important, your team must align with your Core Values—those guiding principles that shape your culture and decision-making. Without the right people, even the best processes will falter. Coaching for small and medium-sized businesses often focuses on identifying and aligning the right talent to drive sustainable growth.
A business coach specializing in EOS can help you evaluate your team’s fit for their roles and identify gaps that may be holding your business back. They provide actionable insights to help you realign your team, ensuring everyone contributes effectively to the company’s success.
Having the right people also means addressing gaps in skills or capacity. For small businesses, this might mean hiring strategically to fill critical roles. For medium-sized businesses, it could involve upskilling your existing team or realigning roles to better match strengths. The right team is a prerequisite for scaling sustainably.
3. Is There Clarity on Your Long-Term Vision?
Does everyone on your team understand where your business is headed? Have you communicated your long-term vision, and do people know what’s important? Vision clarity is what gives your team a sense of purpose and direction. Without it, processes can feel like busywork disconnected from larger goals. Defining your vision is a key step in making traction with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
A clear vision does more than inspire your team—it aligns everyone around shared goals. When team members understand the big picture, they’re more likely to make decisions that contribute to long-term success. Vision-setting isn’t a one-time activity; it requires consistent communication and reinforcement to ensure everyone stays aligned as your business grows.
Business coaches help businesses articulate their long-term vision and ensure it’s communicated effectively to the entire team. This clarity allows everyone to align their work with the company’s objectives, creating momentum and accelerating growth.
4. Are You Tracking Leading Indicators?
Many businesses rely on lagging indicators (like revenue or profit) to gauge performance, but those only show you what’s already happened. To see what’s working—and what’s not—you need to track leading indicators on a weekly basis. These are the metrics that give you predictive insights and allow you to make adjustments in real time. Tracking these indicators is a proven method for growing and scaling your small or medium-sized business.
For example, a leading indicator for a sales team might be the number of outreach calls made or new leads generated each week. For an operations team, it could be on-time delivery rates or production efficiency. These metrics provide early warnings of potential issues and help you stay proactive rather than reactive.
A business coach can help you implement tools like scorecards to monitor leading indicators effectively. By tracking the right metrics, you gain valuable insights into what’s working and where to focus your efforts to maintain growth.
5. Is Everyone Aligned on Priorities?
How focused is your team? Are there too many priorities competing for attention, or are your priorities crystal clear? A lack of focus creates confusion, while clear priorities drive alignment and action. The way you make decisions and move things forward—in effective meetings rather than through endless emails—is another critical piece of the puzzle. Focused priorities and effective meetings are foundational in driving growth and gaining traction with EOS.®.
When priorities are clear, your team can concentrate on what truly matters. This reduces wasted effort and ensures that everyone’s work contributes to the business’s most important goals. Tools like scorecards and rocks (90-day priorities) are invaluable for maintaining this focus and tracking progress over time.
Business coaches guide you through setting these priorities and establishing a rhythm for accountability. They help you streamline meetings and decision-making processes, ensuring your team stays aligned and productive.
Why Start with Foundations?
Processes are important, but they’re like the wiring in a house. If the foundation is shaky, no amount of rewiring will make the house stable. When you start by addressing foundational issues like structure, people, vision, metrics, and priorities, processes become exponentially easier to define and implement. And more importantly, they’re far more likely to stick.
Building these foundations requires intentionality and commitment. It’s not always the fastest route, but it’s the most sustainable way to accelerate growth and scale your business. Investing in these core areas sets the stage for long-term success, allowing you to adapt to challenges and seize opportunities with confidence.
Working with a business coach to implement EOS ensures that these foundational elements are addressed effectively. Coaches provide the guidance and tools needed to gain traction in your business, align your team, and create a clear path toward your goals.
If you feel like your business is chaotic, don’t assume that processes alone will fix the problem. Take a step back and evaluate whether you’re building on a strong foundation. When the core is solid, everything else—including process—will fall into place, enabling you to accelerate growth and scale your business with clarity and confidence.
Helping Entrepreneurs to build better businesses and better lives is my passion!
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