How To Keep Your Business Plan Front Of Mind When You Are Too Busy Working In Your Business
So you have written a business plan – now what? Now that Christmas has come and gone and you are getting into the normal grind, all of a sudden it’s almost the end of February and you haven’t even looked at your business plan. How is it then, that you’re supposed to use it and amend it throughout the year when you’re too busy treating your patients? The answer is three-fold.
3 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR PRACTICE GOALS FRONT OF MIND
We all get caught up in the daily activities of running our practice, but often, these day-to-day tasks don’t contribute towards its development and growth. These are the jobs that need to get done in order for your practice to survive and prosper.
To move your practice forward towards the goals you set in your business plan, you need to implement these three things:
1. PICK SOMEONE TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE
Accountability is a very powerful tool when it comes to achieving any type of goal, not only for inspiring motivation to take action (as no one likes a deadline!) but it also enables us to focus and commit. Often, when we have someone holding us accountable for tasks, we tend to reach or even exceed our full potential.
No matter how busy you are, if you identify what you need to be held accountable for, choose someone to hold you accountable, and come with an accountability process that works for the both of you, you will be able to keep your business plan front of mind to ensure that your practice is always moving forward.
More often than not, this question is met with “Where do I find this person” – I have a blog coming on this later in February.
2. DELEGATE SOME OF YOUR WORK
Are you making time to work “on the practice” and not “in the practice?” Who is responsible for implementing all of the great ideas you have? If you are completely consumed by tasks that are necessary to run the business but not develop it, then you need to decide on what tasks can be delegated to someone else.
To grow your practice effectively, you don’t just have to maximise your own productivity and value, you have to do this for your staff too. Decide what tasks of yours can be delegated such as admin tasks or things that aren’t unique to your skills only, pick the appropriate person to complete them or train them, delegate the work, and set deadlines for completion. You’ll soon find that your practice is running even more effectively as you now have time to implement your business plan.
The biggest challenge here is for a doctor or dentists to start thinking like a business owner rather than a doctor or dentist.
3. MAKE A SHORT-TERM BUSINESS PLAN
If you’re still not hitting your business plan goals even with accountability and delegating, you may not have set realistic targets for yourself. It can be difficult to factor in how busy we are but an effective business plan is one that is measurable and achievable within a realistic timeframe.
Review the goals of your business and create a shorter plan instead; take elements of your long term business plan and break it down into small manageable chunks to create a 90-day plan.
WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER
If you’re too busy working in the practice, you need to use your available time more effectively; it’s not about working more, it’s about working smart. Factor in accountability, delegation and reviewing and re-planning into your daily work life, and you’ll have the time to work with your business plan front of mind to move your practice forward.
Read: 5 Tips to Plan a Profitable and Enjoyable Year for Your Practice