A new IT system could transform your business. It would be like taking a pill and the problem is gone. You think I'm being sarcastic, right? Well, actually, I'm serious. Maybe a new IT system could transform your business like a pill. Let's explore that analogy a bit further.
It's all in the diagnosis
For a doctor to prescribe medication, they need to make a diagnosis in order to give you the right pill. The more information they have the better. You have to be honest with them about your symptoms, and you may have to submit to tests. This is not too dissimilar to the process of inviting a business consultant into your business for them to 'diagnose' your business and prescribe a system (whether that be a new IT system or simply some new ways of working).
Getting a consultant in may be necessary in terms of the time and commitment it takes to analyse your own business, but it could also be an exercise in passing the buck. If the consultant can't fix your business, then you can blame them. This is where the similarities in the analogy end.
Work to make it work
Unlike taking a pill for an illness, changing the way you and your business works requires work from you. The consultant or the new system can only give you the tools and show you the way. They cannot do it for you.
The first stage of business process change is actually one that you would benefit from doing yourself.
Observation doesn't change a thing - but it makes all the difference
Have you ever started a new exercise regime or gone on a diet? If you engage the services of a personal trainer, the first step - before you do any exercise or change your diet - is to keep a food and exercise diary for a week or two. This is so the personal trainer can get an idea of your lifestyle and tailor a programme around you that will give you a greater chance of success. This process is also highly beneficial to you. It will give you a clearer look at your lifestyle so you can understand yourself better. Maybe you eat less fruit than you realised? Or maybe your eating is triggered by certain triggers that you hadn't identified before. All of that information is extremely valuable, and it didn't cost you a thing to get it.
Document the past - Don't live in it
Whether your existing business process is good or bad, you must document it. Even if it simply serves as a 'How Not To Do It' guide for future reference. If you can see what you're doing clearly you - or another expert - can identify possible solutions. It can be easy to get nostalgic about the good old days and the good old ways when the new ways hit teething problems. Having your systems documented, along with the problems faced and the solutions needed, will keep you focussed on building a new future.
That is the first step, and it really is that simple.
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