If you have started creating systems in your business and then hit a brick wall, it could be because you actually don’t really have any more systems to document, it may just be that you have many ad hoc and random ways of working that seem to change with every client or customer.

1. Entrepreneur Systems Tips, Strategies and Advice by Kim Morris, Systems
Expert and Chief Efficiency Optimiser
Stuck Systemising? Three signs you may be missing
systems in your business
If you have started creating systems in your business and
then hit a brick wall, it could be because you actually don’t
really have any more systems to document, it may just be
that you have many ad hoc and random ways of working
that seem to change with every client or customer.
In these situations, documenting can be near impossible
because you just can’t put your finger on exactly it is that
you do each time for XYZ process. There are a few
reasons you may be stuck, and below are 3 of the key signs
that you may be missing important systems in your
business.
Sign number one: If you don’t know the details of how you
do something, then you don’t have a system for it. If its
something that you do regularly, this should be a number
one priority to get systemised straight away. You absolutely
must know the details of how you do your core business
activities. These are your bread and butter after all.
Remedy: If you are struggling to get a system committed to paper, step it out and write it
down, trial it a few times and make adjustments as necessary
Sign number two: If it is taking much longer than you would like to do something in your
business, there is a good chance its because you don’t have a system or process for doing
it. Time will always be against you when you are lacking in systems because you are trying
to figure it out as you go.
Remedy: Start with a timeframe of how long you want to spend doing a particular activity
and design your process around that. Put pen to paper, write out the steps in order one at a
time, trial it through and make any necessary tweaks.
Sign number three: If the same problem is arising time and time again and each time you
or someone else on your team fixes it, this is definitely a sign that you have missing
systems. Recurring problems are the direct result of not having sufficient systems in place
that cater to that scenario.
Remedy: Work out where the problem areas are, and come up with a system solution to
address it. What is a system solution? It is a standard for how a problem should address
each and every time.
The wrap up: You might think of yourself as a results-based person, that you don’t care
about the process, or how things get done, you just want things done. And that works in
some areas of your business, but, not in others. For example:
 Do you want the phone answered a certain way?
1 An Entrepreneur Systems Resource | 2012 | www.entrepreneursystems.com

2. Entrepreneur Systems Tips, Strategies and Advice by Kim Morris, Systems
Expert and Chief Efficiency Optimiser
 Do you have a process for incoming clients? Do you care if your clients get the
services they purchased from you in 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months?
 Do you have a refund process? Does it need to be followed, or doesn’t it matter?
 Do you have a brand? Do you want it represented in a particular manner?
 Do you make back end offers or upsell offers?
 Do you want the credit cards run on the same day every month, or can it be done any
time in the month? Or do you already have an automated system that takes care of
this for you?
Some food for thought. Addressing missing systems is not difficult, you just need to get
started and put pen to paper and commit to making it a standard for your business!
Kim Morris helps women service providers who are, big picture thinkers to build
momentum in their business by implementing systems and structure so that they can
focus on moving their creative ideas forward without getting overwhelmed and burnout.
For you FREE Systems Development Blueprint with bonus templates and action plan
visit http://entrepreneursystems.com
2 An Entrepreneur Systems Resource | 2012 | www.entrepreneursystems.com