
Running before you can walk is simply a fast-track way to set yourself up for failure. Pushing your business to do more than it is capable of and expanding before you are ready is a recipe for disaster.
However, growth isn’t just expected; it is required to hope you use your business and move with changes in the markets and consumer demands.
Preparation is key when it comes to scaling your business and pushing the boundaries of what you are capable of; knowing when to strike, how to expand, and what you need to do to support your current operations while moving in a new direction will help you to sustain your current momentum and move forward.
These tips can help you determine where you stand now and if you are in an excellent position to expand.
Determine what growth means to you.
It’s not just about the numbers. It’s about what will happen once you open yourself up to do more and increase your capacity. What are your goals for expanding, what is the demand like, and what would it mean if you weren’t to move forward?
Look at the changes you need to put in place; what type of investment will you need to make, and are you ready to do what it takes and make sacrifices to achieve the growth you are looking for?
Assess your current performance.
It is not worth even considering growth opportunities if you aren’t able to handle your current workload. How are you currently performing? Are you hitting your KPIs, and how easily are you doing it now? Don’t overlook the extra pressure it will put on your staff, too. If they are unable to meet current demands, there is a strong chance that they won’t be able to handle increased business.
Use services like https://txidigital.com/services/analyze to help you analyze your current position, your potential for growth, and whether you’re well placed to strike now, or you should hold back until your data indicates otherwise.
Look at your finances.
Very few companies can sustain growth without an added cash injection, so you need to make sure that your accounts are up to date, that you have the funds available to make the changes you need to make, and that you are maintaining good relationships with lenders, suppliers, and clients to help you have a good cash flow and are meeting your financial obligations.
Be sure to make regular cash flow projections to determine how much capital you will need to see through your plans and ensure you have a primary and secondary funding source should anything change between now and then. The better the position you are in financially, the easier it will be to move forward to expand.
Hire the right people.
It’s not enough to have a team who can manage what you do now; you need to hire employees for the company you want to be and the position you want to fill in the market, not where you are now.
Your current team needs to be equipped with the skills to elevate your performance and prepare them for any changes you might be bringing in, and if you need to hire new talent, scout out those suitable for your end goals, as they will be the ones who can get you from where you are to where you want to be with ease.
Get learning
Expanding your business means you also need to get to grips with new developments and changes that will need to be carried out. Before you do anything, you must equip yourself with the knowledge and skills required to support the company during this time.
Plus, a period of growth means your business will be thrust into the spotlight, maybe not publicly, but definitely in your industry. And if you can’t handle the scrutiny or don’t know your stuff, then this won’t reflect well on you at all.
So, delve into new developments in your industry, learn everything about the areas you are expanding in, do your research, brush up on your skills, and position yourself as an authority in your sector to put some weight behind what you want to achieve.
Redistribute staff
To really maximize your chances of success, you need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your current team members. Are they over-performing in some areas or not? Are their talents are better utilized in different departments than where they currently are working?
Look at what people excel in and redistribute them around the company to help you make the most of their natural skills and give your profile the boost you need to grow and expand.
Embrace technology
Technology is part and parcel of driving growth and innovation. What is your current setup, and can it handle the plans you have? You need to ensure you are familiar with and utilising any technology, software, and equipment that can help you streamline operations, improve customer services and efficiency, and give you the results you need when you need them.
Keep your customers onside.
Make sure you are remaining focused on customer service, and you are giving your existing customer base what it needs and, more importantly, what it expects from your company. Customer retention is vital to supporting plans for growth and expansion, so focusing on their needs and ensuring you can still meet these demands while expanding should be paramount.
Keep your customers informed of changes, developments, and your plans for the future so they know what to expect and when. Make it a priority not to drop the ball on your customer service requirements, or you can kiss your plans goodbye; after all, if you can’t keep current customers happy, you won’t be able to satisfy new ones.
Pushing for growth shouldn’t be ignored, but neither should the red flags that alert you to the fact that you’re not ready to move forward with your plans. Do your due diligence, and learn everything you can about your current position, what areas you are looking to expand in, and what it means for your company to take on more business and grow.