Feeling "stuck" is the worst.

When it comes to your business, you know where you want to be, have goals, and are committed to executing.

But if you're "stuck," how do you shift gears and regain momentum?

The answer lies in first understanding where you are.

Systems and processes are a surefire way to help you and your business shift gears.

Let's explore the 4 Stages of Business Systemisation and find out where you are.

1. Survival: The Reactive Phase

In the Survival stage, business owners often find themselves reactive, dealing with day-to-day crises and making decisions on the fly.?

• This stage is characterised by a lack of formal processes, with the team "making things up as they go."
• The psychology here revolves around a fear of failure and an intense focus on immediate challenges.?
• Recognising yourself (the business owner) as the bottleneck in this phase is crucial for moving forward.?
• The key is acknowledging the need for structure, even if it initially feels uncomfortable.

2. Stationary: The Comfort Zone

Once a business stabilises, it may enter the Stationary phase, where things feel comfortable but no significant growth occurs.?

• Business owners in this stage are aware of the need for change but may fear the unknown and the potential risks involved.?
• This phase is marked by dependency on key individuals, with systems and processes still mainly in their heads.?
• The motivation here is to grow without losing the stability achieved.?
• Transitioning out of this phase involves extracting knowledge from team members and starting to document processes.

3. Scalable: Preparing for Growth

The Scalable stage is where you set the foundation for growth.?

• Systems may be partially documented, but the business still operates in a clunky manner, and constant reminders are needed for team members to follow processes.?
• The psychology shifts to a proactive mindset, though there may be fears of inadequacy.?
• The key motivation is to build a business that can grow beyond the limitations of its owner.?
• Organising and refining systems become critical tasks, setting the stage for the next leap.

4. Saleable: The Ultimate Goal

Reaching the Saleable stage means achieving a level of systemisation where the business operates with precision and can thrive independently of the owner.?

• Preparing a business for sale doesn't necessarily mean selling it but ensuring it is in a condition where it could be sold, representing the highest level of business maturity.?
• The psychological journey here involves overcoming the fear of losing personal control and embracing the freedom and options that come with a fully systemised business.?
• Characteristics of this stage include fully documented processes, a business that runs like a Swiss watch, and a culture where "this is how we do things here" is the norm.

Identifying Your Stage and Moving Forward

It's important to understand these stages not just as an academic exercise but as a practical tool for diagnosing your current position and planning your next steps.

Whether you find yourself firefighting in the?Survival?stage, comfortably static in the?Stationary?phase, gearing up in the?Scalable?stage, or optimising in the?Saleable?phase, recognising your position is the first step towards regaining momentum.

Reach out now if you're ready to shift gears and learn how to successfully implement systems and processes into your business. As a SYSTEMologist, I'd love to help you scale up.