Optimizing for Your Next Phase - Crystal Y Davis

​Crystal Y Davis - “LEAD Lean”

Introduction:
Most businesses positioned in the optimum growth phase likely have their operating systems churning on auto-pilot. However, at this stage, consideration must be given to what’s next”? Is it time to sell, reinvest or do nothing. Given the fast paced of change, businesses still reeling from the pandemic, and the ease of industry disruptions with technology, let’s say that those tuning in aren’t considering doing nothing. Therefore, the options are to sell or reinvest. Either way, the business must begin to evaluate their operating system with fresh eyes, as would an interested buyer.

Show Objectives 
By the end of our time together you will have some ideas of four shifts that might be applicable and what to look for when deciding what to tackle. The four areas are:

1. People - Hiring talent with modern skill sets and those with the ability to ideate expansively. 
2. Process - Where do you need to level up automation?
3. System - Seek out opportunities to integrate systems
4. Growth - now that systems are churning, are there new channels or verticals for revenue growth.

What You Need to Know – The What

• People/Talent: you need talent that will support where you are trying to go; where that is launching new and exciting products, introducing new technologies, or new marketing aspects. Now is the time to leverage the high unemployment rates. 
• Processes: one way to drive efficiencies and productivity is to enhance redundant work with automated processes. 
• Systems: another way to drive efficiencies is to consider systems that can talk with one another where information is transferred automatically
• Growth: give consideration to how shifting in one or all of the above-mentioned areas creates opportunities for new revenues streams. Are there aspects of these bumps in efficiency that create capacity to take on more customers/volume?

What You Need to Do – The How

1. Talent: 
   • research studies of larger but similar companies to see what aspects of business they are up-leveling talent or gaps they have uncovered
   • consider digital technology and data to be the key drivers where you should be focused
   • lastly in general you want to consider problem solvers, cultural transformers, change agents, and innovative thinkers with a proven track record
2. Process Automation: the level of automation to consider, of course, depends on the size of your business and the type of processes.  
   • Transactional businesses – consider redundant processes such as reporting or audits of failure points. 
   • Production – operator efficiencies and defects are two leading indicators for additional automation
3. Systems Integration: basically, if you have multiple systems that don’t communicate information seamlessly, you should consider upgrading to systems that integrate. This could be simple to complex systems. Everything from collaboration software to enterprise systems that talk with your financial systems. Integrating systems reduces defects of information transfer and increases efficiencies.  
4. Growth: Not every improvement will yield some leverage that make lead to capitalizing new business or revenue. However, I always encourage business owners to be intentional about thinking the possibilities. This intentionality before making a decision is how I guide clients to blend their improvement strategy with their business strategy. 

Connect with Crystal Davis on Social:
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalydavis/

Contact The Lean Coach, Inc.: 877-437-1537
On the Web:
www.theleancoachinc.com
www.crystalydavis.com


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