How to achieve business progress

It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activity that comes with running a business. When things move so quickly and you as the owner are in demand - from customers, suppliers, staff and family – it is important you stop to assess whether you are making meaningful progress and not simply treading water.

Jonathan Moughton, Partner at Haines Watts Slough explores the action you can take to overcome barriers and drive your  business forward.  

Common hurdles

Over the last two years we have spoken to business owners about the struggles they face getting their business to where they want it. We have lifted the lid on the risk that being busy working IN your business poses to progress and performance.

Many business owners struggle with stepping back from their business. Others simply don’t recognise that focusing solely on the daily routine can prevent effective planning and hinder growth.

Successful business owners apply four practices to help drive progress:  

Show purpose

Inefficiency arises when people are not clear about the business priorities. Communicate your goal and plan clearly. Make sure that the work keeping your people busy has purpose linked to achieving key business goals.  

Prioritise value

It is easy for leaders and teams to tackle urgent but less important work. The speed and certainty of progress can be significantly improved when business owners help teams focus on what delivers the most value. It is about aligning your employees’ efforts behind the business needs.  

Transparency matters

Give people responsibility but hold them accountable. Establish a culture of reporting on plans, progress and problems. Constructively challenge what people are prioritising but also have mechanisms to deal positively with obstacles.  

Let go and lead

Being a leader is about helping people in your business to develop and achieve their potential. Delegate to give people opportunities that develop responsibility and capability. Remember, your people follow your behaviour - do not be a distracted owner who is too busy to provide guidance and input. Being busy doesn’t build a successful business – activity with intent does. Quality, making progress, accomplishing your goals – that is what matters when growing your business. 

Talk to one of our Slough experts for business advice and help with your business plan.