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7 episodes
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Making Your Business Less Dependent On You A4G Chartered Accountants
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- Business
By discussing the challenges owner managers face spending all their time working in your business, Making Your Business Less Dependent On You is a podcast for owner managers craving a better work/life balance and time to actually work on your business, not in it. Tune in every other Wednesday for a blend of expertise and stories from those who 'get it'...
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Learn How to Grow Your Business Like a Franchise (Without the Franchise!)
In this episode, Danny Hanlon, COO of Granite and Trend Transformations UK, reveals the inner workings of franchising and the invaluable lessons it holds for small businesses.
Gain insights into:
How small businesses can leverage franchise strategies to optimise your operations
How franchising offers a proven model for growth, mitigating risks and providing comprehensive support
The essential traits of successful franchisees, from leadership skills to industry passion
The critical role of operations manuals and ongoing support in ensuring consistent quality across franchises and in business
The art of delegation, managing toxic employees, and making informed decisions
Key takeaway: Small businesses can glean invaluable insights from the franchise world, particularly in process documentation and standardisation
Why this episode is for you:
If you're a service-based business owner seeking growth without the burdens of a large workforce
If you're feeling overwhelmed as a solopreneur or small team, franchising principles can revolutionise your approach
Keywords
franchising, home improvement, franchise model, franchisee characteristics, staff recruitment, operations manual, franchise support, decision-making, toxic employees, delegation, franchise world, management differences, documenting processes, small businesses -
Balancing people and performance
In order to make your business less dependent on you, you need to have a team around you that you can trust to delegate to and who will ensure the business continues to flourish. Do you have that? If you don't, this podcast episode is for you.
In this podcast episode, Malcolm speaks to Paul Mallinson, Partner at Backley Black, about finding the balance between performance and people in business.
Backley Black is run with Paul alongside Steve Backley and Roger Black (ex-Team GB Olympians who Malcolm wrote his book with!) and blends aspects of performance with sport and the aspects of performance with business. Prior to that Paul worked in a well-known pharmaceutical company running a sales team and training departments to perform best of their level.
If you want to make your business less dependent on you but aren't confident you can step away and the business not fall to pieces without you, you need to listen to this episode.In this episode, you'll learn:
Why stress is good as a business owner, if managed correctly
How to find joy in being a business owner again
How to successfully recruit and train employees that you trust to delegate to
How to delegate, not abdicate
How to onboard your new team members
What to do if you have a ‘nightmare employee’
Succession planning advice as an ‘Elton’
Continue the conversation…
A4G | Website | Email | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
Durban Offshoring | Website | Email -
Are you a Ronald or an Elton?
Are you a Ronald or an Elton? This week you’ll learn exactly what we mean by Ronald and Elton and how a balance of the two will make your business less
dependent on you.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Assess where you sit on the ‘Ronald and Elton
Scale’ to determine your level of involvement in your business
Focus on working on your business, not just in
it, to create systems and reduce dependency on yourself
Consider whether you are more suited to the
Ronald or Elton business model, and how to delegate tasks accordingly
Build a business that is independent of you by
hiring the right team and investing in internal systems
Find the balance between being a Ronald and an
Elton, and be aware of the risk of burnout and the need for retirement planning
Continue the conversation…
A4G | Website | Email | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
Durban Offshoring | Website | Email -
Connecting is not enough, with Andy Lopata
In this podcast episode, Malcolm Palmer interviews Andy Lopata. Andy is a true luminary in professional
relationships and networking. With over 25 years of expertise under his belt, Andy is hailed as one of Europe's leading business networking strategists by the Financial Times and Forbes.com.
In this conversation, Andy shares invaluable insights on stress management, time optimisation, and the delicate balance
between vulnerability and positivity in professional relationships. He doesn't just offer theories; he provides actionable advice gleaned from years of experience and success.
Key takeaways from their discussion:
Learn to handle stress and overwhelm by developing
coping mechanisms and a positive mindset.
Balance vulnerability and positivity in
professional relationships, knowing when to open up and when to maintain a positive
image.
Manage your time effectively and delegate tasks to
maximize productivity
Identify the limitations on your business growth
and find ways to overcome them.
Practice strategic thinking and avoid
catastrophizing by focusing on solutions and taking proactive steps.
Build positive relationships and let go of negative
ones to create a supportive network.
Consider the challenges and lessons of franchising
before pursuing it as a business model.
Develop an exit strategy and succession plan by productizing
your business and creating value beyond your personal involvement.
Authenticity, trust, and reciprocity are key in building strong relationships.
Effective networking requires active listening,
asking open-ended questions, and following up.
Social media platforms can be powerful tools for
expanding one's network and showcasing expertise.
Referrals are a valuable source of opportunities
and should be nurtured through relationship-building.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
03:00 - Managing Stress and Overwhelm
07:02 - Balancing Vulnerability and Positivity
09:35 - Time Management and Delegation
16:18 - Limitations on Business Growth
20:42 - Productivity and Deep Work
25:19 - Catastrophizing and Strategic
Thinking
29:01 - Building Positive Relationships
and Letting Go of Negative Ones
35:20 - Franchising and Lessons Learned
43:16 - Exit Strategy and Succession Planning
LINKS
A4G | Website | Email | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
Durban Offshoring | Website | Email
Andy Lopata | Website -
Are you the only person who can do this job?
In this podcast episode, Malcolm Palmer discusses
the importance of making your business less dependent on you.
He introduces the five stages of the strategic planning process and emphasises the need to envision where you want your business to be in the future. He also highlights the challenge of finding employees who can perform tasks as effectively as you
can. Malcolm encourages business owners to trust and delegate to others, and he provides tips on building a valuable team member.
Takeaways
Envision where you want your
business to be in the future and set clear goals
Assess the current state of
your business and identify areas for improvement
Challenge yourself to delegate
tasks and trust others to perform them effectively
Focus on building a valuable
team member who can contribute to the growth and success of your business.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:47 Chapter 4: The Five Stages of Strategic Planning Process
03:12 Step 1: Where Do You Want to Be?
04:06 Step
2: Where Are You Now?
05:02Are You the Only Person Who Can Do This Task?
06:24 The Challenge of Finding Mini Versions of Ourselves
07:19 Reaching the Natural Ceiling of Your Management Style
11:56 Learning to Trust and Delegate
14:34 Finding the Right People to Help
15:18 Building a Valuable Team Member
LINKS
A4G | Website | Email | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
Durban Offshoring | Website | Email -
Begin with the end in mind
For this week's episode, we decided to begin with the end in mind (a reference to the book The Seven habits of highly effective people).
Malcolm interviewed someone who has done the whole journey - from start up to growing their business to being the best in their industry in the UK to selling it on.
That person is Richard Marshall.
In the episode, Richard shares his experiences and insights on how delegating and trusting others with responsibilities played a pivotal role in his journey from business growth to making the business less dependent on him.
Richard emphasises that as business owners, we cannot do everything. We have our limitations, and there are people who can fill those gaps.
Takeaways from this episode:
Focus on what's best for the company rather than individual egos
Recognise when you're becoming stale and in need of change
Create a work-life balance to avoid burnout
Recruit a successor to ensure the company's growth and success
Let's continue the conversation
Email us to book a free 1-2-1 - enquiries@a4g-llp.co.uk
Find out more about how we can help make your business less dependent on you
Read more about our sponsor, Durban Offshoring and how they can help you make your business less dependent on you