Breaking Habits to Help Grow A Small Business.

“Old Habits Die Hard”

I don’t know who said this, but I reckon we all find it hard to break habits, and unfortunately most of us have some bad habits!

This hit me in the face recently when I was driving to the gym.

I take the same route from home every time, a few times every week…a habit.

In the last month, roadworks have interrupted my route so I need to divert.

But guess what….I still continue to take the same route, and then need to divert!

WTF right.

So this got me thinking…..If you don’t do things regularly, is it more difficult to change habits?

So how do you change habits for yourself and your small business?

Fortunately, it's not as hard as you might think!

Let’s have a look at how to identify and change those pesky habits that are holding your small business back.

Get ready to transform your business and watch it flourish!

Before diving into habit change, it's important to understand why it matters.

Habits play a crucial role in the success or failure of a small business.

They affect everything from productivity and customer satisfaction to team morale and revenue.

The impact of habits on business success

Good habits lead to success.

Simple as that.

On the flip side, bad habits can lead to failure.

They can cause your business to lose customers, reduce productivity, and impact on profit.

If you want to break some of those BAD habits, read on, otherwise continue doing the same things and getting the same result!

Identifying habits that need change

The first step to changing habits is to identify which ones need to go.

Analyse your business from top-to-bottom and determine which processes and routines aren't working as well as they should.

Bad habits are typically the cause.

As an example, are you wasting too much time on tasks that should be automated?

Are you missing out on potential revenue because of shit customer service?

Are your employees falling behind on their tasks and goals?

Identify the cause of the problem and move forward.

One bad habit I find in small businesses is the lack of delegation.

As a business owner, it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything yourself - micromanaging.

This can lead to undue stress, burnout and decreased productivity.

It's important to delegate tasks to your team and trust them to get the job done.

This not only frees up your time, but it also empowers your employees and helps them feel valued.

Win Win.

Another habit that can hinder business success is the lack of focus on customer feedback.

It's important to listen to your customers and act on their feedback, which can help you identify areas for improvement and make changes that will lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

A habit that can significantly impact your bottom line is the lack of focus on employee training and development.

Investing in your employees' skills and knowledge can lead to increased productivity and wellbeing, an improved customer experience and increased revenue and profit.

Building good habits is essential to the success of your small business.

Do you find it's not always easy to know where to start?

Once you identify the habits that need to change, it's time to assess your business' current situation.

This includes evaluating your daily routines and processes, analysing employee habits and behaviours.

Evaluating daily routines and processes

Take a careful look at your current daily routines and processes.

Are they efficient and effective, or could they use some improvement?

Consider the impact of your daily routines on your business's productivity.

Are there any bottlenecks or areas where work is getting held up?

Is there a way to streamline your operations or reduce wasted time?

One bad habit I often find is ineffective meetings.

Be strict on the agenda items and associated timelines.

By having a deep dive, you may find new ways of doing things that can take your business to the next level.

For example, if you run a small restaurant, you may find that your kitchen staff spends a lot of time searching for ingredients or tools.

By reorganising your kitchen and creating a clear system for storing ingredients and equipment, you could save valuable time and increase the speed of your service.

Analysing employee habits and behaviours

Your employees' habits and behaviours play a significant role in your business' success.

Take a closer look at their work habits and routines.

Do they need more training or resources to become more efficient?

Are they disengaged and unproductive?

Recognising the habits of successful competitors

Successful businesses tend to have good habits.

Examine the habits of your most successful competitors and see what you can learn.

Are there things they're doing that you're not?

Are there ways you can improve your service or product offerings?

You may gain some valuable insights and ideas that you can apply to your own business.

For example, if you run a small retail store, you may notice that your most successful competitor offers a wider range of products than you do.

By expanding your product offerings, you may be able to attract new customers and increase sales.

Now that you've assessed your situation, it's time to set some goals.

You need to define clear and achievable objectives, prioritising habit changes based on impact, and establishing a timeline for change.

Defining clear and achievable objectives.

Write down the objectives you want to achieve through habit change.

Be specific and make sure they are attainable.

For example, reducing wasted time by a specified amount, increasing revenue by a certain percentage or improving your Net Promoter Score by a specific number.

Don't be afraid to think big!

It’s all about the journey with your team.

It's important to make sure that your objectives are clear and concise.

This will help you stay focused and motivated as you work towards achieving them.

One way to do this is by using the SMART framework.

This stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

By using this framework, you can ensure that your objectives are well-defined and achievable.

Prioritising habit changes based on impact

Not all habits are created equal!

Prioritise the habits you need to change based on their impact on your business.

Start with the habits that have the most significant impact on your goals.

By focusing on them first, you're more likely to see results sooner.

It's essential to understand the impact that each habit has on your business, which will help you prioritise them.

You can do this by conducting a SWOT analysis, which are your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

By analysing each habit in this way, you can identify which ones are most critical to your success.

Establishing a timeline for change

Set a reasonable timeline for habit change.

Establish deadlines for each objective and create a schedule that outlines the steps you need to take to achieve them.

Breaking it down into small achievable tasks makes it seem less overwhelming and makes the process much more manageable.

You'll be on your way to success in no time!

It's important to remember that habit change takes time.

We don’t like change!

You can't expect to see results overnight…it’s all about baby steps.

It's essential to be patient and consistent in your efforts.

One way to stay motivated is by tracking your progress.

This will help you see how far you've come and keep you focused on your goals.

By setting clear objectives, prioritising habits based on impact, and establishing a timeline for change, you can achieve success in habit change.

Remember to stay focused, be patient, and celebrate your successes along the way!

Now for the fun part - putting your plan into action!

This section covers how to introduce new processes and routines, encourage team buy-in and participation, and provide training and resources for habit change.

Introducing new processes and routines

Introducing new processes and routines can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be.

Start by implementing small changes that you think will have an immediate impact.

For example, if you're looking to improve customer satisfaction, start with training your staff on customer service techniques.

By building incrementally, you'll make habit changes seem less overwhelming and more feasible.

Another strategy for introducing new processes and routines is to involve your employees in the process.

Ask for their input on what changes they think would be most beneficial and how they would like to implement them.

Encouraging employee buy-in and participation

As mentioned earlier, your team plays a crucial role in the success of your small business.

Encourage them to participate in habit changes and make it fun!

Gamify to see who can complete the most tasks in a specified amount of time, or reward your team members when they hit their goals.

By getting everyone on board, you'll make it easier for the habit changes to stick.

Another way to encourage employee buy-in is to communicate the benefits of the habit changes for them.

Let your team know how the changes will positively impact the business, their job satisfaction and the customer experience.

When employees understand the "why" behind the changes, they are more likely to make them, especially if it makes their job easier.

Providing training and resources for habit change

Don't leave your team or customers in the dark!

Provide the necessary training and resources to help everyone adjust to the new habits.

Whether it's a training manual, online tutorials, or one-on-one coaching, make sure everyone has the support they need to succeed.

With the proper resources, your team will perform confidently and the customer experience will improve.

Creating a culture of continuous improvement is important for sustainable behaviour change.

Encourage your team to assess the effectiveness of the new habits and offer suggestions for improvement.

By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, you'll ensure that your business is always evolving and growing.

Changing habits can be challenging, but it's essential for small business success.

By understanding the importance of habit change, assessing your current situation, setting achievable goals, and implementing new habits, the journey will be more motivating and successful.

Don't be afraid to shake things up - the effort will be worthwhile.

Embrace the change and watch your business soar to new heights.

Sign up to our Transform Your Performance Short Course to help you with some habit changes.