Having bottlenecks in your business can stunt your productivity and your growth, but they can often go unrecognised or even worse, ignored. In my 20+ years’ experience I have seen businesses struggle to reach their potential and not know why. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot the issues very quickly and it’s my job to identify them, remove them and make sure they don’t have a chance to come back. In this article I cover the five most common bottlenecks and how to avoid them in your business so you can thrive and flourish.
- Lack of communication
Lack of Communication is a major problem in many workplaces. When information isn’t flowing freely between employees it can create a bottleneck that slows down progress and makes it difficult to get work done. This can be frustrating for everyone involved and it can lead to tension and conflict. If you’re having trouble communicating with your team, there are a few things you can do to improve the situation. First, make sure that everyone is on the same page and that there are no barriers to communication. Most project management platforms have built-in messaging functions so you can keep project-specific conversations organised and visible to the relevant team members. Second, try to be clear and concise. Make sure your message is easy to understand – cut out the waffle. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re not sure about something. Guaranteed there’s someone with the same question as you! By taking these steps, you can help ensure that communication problems don’t get in the way of your productivity.
2. Poor planning
We’ve all been there. You’re trying to get a project completed, but you keep running into obstacles. The team doesn’t seem to be on the same page, important tasks keep falling through the cracks and progress grinds to a halt. In many cases, the root cause of these problems is poor planning. Without a clear plan or strategy, it’s difficult to set priorities and allocate resources effectively. As a result, bottlenecks form and productivity drops. Of course, mapping out a plan is no easy task, but it’s essential if you want your business to run smoothly. By taking the time to map out your goals and objectives (both bigger and smaller picture), you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that everyone knows what needs to be done. In the end, a little bit of planning can go a long way.
3. Inefficient processes
I’m a sucker for a solid process! Inefficient processes lead to unnecessary bottlenecks, full-stop! When a process is inefficient, it causes unnecessary delays for you and your customer – not good for your bottom line, or your team morale. By streamlining your processes, you can keep production moving smoothly and avoid costly delays. Thankfully there are many ways to do this. One way is to automate as much as possible. By automating repetitive tasks, you can help to improve efficiency and free up employees for other things. Another way to streamline your processes is to simplify them. Make sure that your processes are clear and easy to follow. This will help employees to work more quickly and avoid mistakes. Finally, make sure that your processes are well-organized. Having a clear plan for how each task should be completed will help to improve efficiency and avoid confusion. Check out my blog all about SOPs, policies and procedures to learn more! By taking these steps, you can ensure that your processes are as efficient as possible and help to avoid bottlenecks.
4. Inadequate resources
Running a business is hard enough, but if you don’t have the right resources, it can quickly become overwhelming. After all, there’s only so much you can do with limited tools and manpower, right? If you’re constantly hitting bottlenecks because you don’t have the right team, skills or equipment, it can impact your bottom line, so it’s important to make sure you can access what you need to deliver for your clients before you get started. Set up some discovery calls with specialist freelancers ahead of time and create a ‘little black book’ of go-to people who you know are a good fit and have availability when needed. By ensuring you have the necessary resources, you can avoid bottlenecks and keep your business moving forward.
5. Team Members can be bottlenecks too!
If you have a team or employees, it’s important to make sure that everyone is working efficiently and that everyone is doing the right job. Are you providing training and resources they need to be successful? Have you got the correctly skilled freelancers onboard? Efficiency is also achieved by setting clear goals and expectations. When everyone knows what needs to be done, they can work together more effectively.
If you have team members who are not performing, it’s important to take proper advice before you take action. If someone is not meeting your expectations, have a conversation with them and work on a plan to improve their performance. If necessary, you may need to let them go. You can find loads more advice on building or managing your team here.
And a last note on team members… There’s been several cases in my experience where the bottleneck is actually the business owner themselves. Are you the one stopping your team from doing great things? Is your inability to let go of certain parts of your business holding things back? Sometimes the bottlenecks are closer to home than you think!
In summary
Bottlenecks can be frustrating, demotivating and sometimes uneasy to spot – especially if you work very closely within your business, but they don’t have to be permanent. I can help identify the causes and take the steps to fix things, so you can improve efficiency and move forward. Book in for my 1-2-1 strategy session and let’s get things moving!
Do you have any stories about how you got your business unstuck? As always, I’d love to hear about them, so feel free to share in the comments below!
