Coach Colin and The Alternative Board

You have a systems and process problem. And 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵.

Those two words get used interchangeably, but they're not the same thing.

Think about taking a flight to a Tropical Island ... (well why not?)

A 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 is everything that makes a safe flight possible. It includes the aircraft, the pilots, the ground crew, maintenance schedules, the flight plan etc.

A 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 is the step-by-step procedure the pilot follows before take-off. To assist the pilot there is a checklist that must be followed. One of many in the whole system.

The process is a cog in the machine.

Business works exactly the same way.

A system is the complete setup that helps your business produce a consistent result. It includes your people, technology, tools, policies and processes.

A process is simply the sequence of steps for completing one task.

If your team skips a step, you have a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

If your team never had the right tools, training or accountability to follow the process in the first place, you have a 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.

They struggle because they're asking good people to work inside weak systems with no documented processes.

The visual below breaks down the key differences between systems and processes.

Have coffee with me Coach Colin and The Alternative Board We'll build the SOPs that help your business run while you sip 𝗠𝗮𝗶 𝗧𝗮𝗶'𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘂𝘀.

There are really only four things every business must do well.

It surprises me how many business owners avoid the first two... and often neglect the last one.

𝟭. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

If people don't know you exist, they can't buy from you. Business doesn't fall from the sky on the wings of hope.

𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹.

Conversations are great. Quotes are better. But a signed purchase order keeps the lights on.

𝟯. 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿.

Make the thing. Do the things. Solve customers problems - This is where most business owners are at their best and most comfortable.

𝟰. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆.

Know your numbers. Manage your cash flow. Understand your margins. Keep your eyes on it or your eyes will be filled with tears (not the happy kind).

Each of these should be supported by a system.

A marketing system that consistently creates opportunities.

A sales system that converts opportunities into customers.

A delivery system that produces quality, every time and becomes scalable.

A financial system that gives you confidence in your decisions.

Once those foundations are in place, you can build the next layer of systems: People Management, Customer Management, and Leadership & Planning.

But it all starts with four fundamentals:

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹. 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆.

I also have a system - 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲™ It's a practical framework that helps business owners build the systems that create consistency, reduce dependence on the owner, and make the business easier to lead.

If you'd like more control over how your business runs, let's have coffee.

Messages like this mean a great deal.

Lyn Hobson founder of KAROO Kersbos won the Most Unique Product category at this year’s annual Heritage Ram Sale, with FNB sponsoring her business coaching as part of the prize.

It has been a privilege to support her as she builds the business with greater clarity and direction.

Go and see what makes Karoo Kersbos so unique:
KAROO Kersbos

𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬.

You becomes the bottleneck.
The team waits for answers.
Communication gets messy.
Standards slip.

And what once felt like progress starts feeling like pressure.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻:
𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁

This is a practical conversation for business owners and leadership teams who want growth, but not chaos.

If your business is growing, or trying to grow, this is worth being in the room for.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/dzSiq-jY

Last week I heard a business partner stand up and speak about his fellow partner and friend.

It was a milestone moment.

But what stood out to me was not just the celebration.

It was the reflection on what good business partnership really means and I love how he phrased it. It resonated.

In business, we often talk about strategy, sales, margins, growth and targets.

And yes, those things matter.

But behind every good business are people carrying pressure together.

People who have sat through tough conversations.

People who have made difficult decisions.

People who have disagreed, challenged each other, and still chosen to stay committed to the bigger picture.

𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀.

They bring different strengths.

They respect each other’s view.

They say the hard thing when it needs to be said.

They carry the load when the other person is tired.

They keep coming back to what is best for the business.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Where ego gets in the way.

Where trust breaks down.

Where silence replaces honesty.

Where different opinions become personal battles instead of better decisions.

The difference is massive.

A real partnership is not two people thinking the same way.

It is two people committed to the same goal.

It is trust, patience, honesty, resilience and shared responsibility.

That speech reminded me that businesses are not built by strategy alone.

They are built through sacrifice, consistency, difficult conversations, late nights, early mornings, mistakes, lessons, and the courage to keep going together.

So perhaps the reflection for business owners is this:

Who is really carrying the load with you?

Do you share the same Vision, Values and Goals?

“Whoever asks the questions does the leading, because they set the context.”
John C. Maxwell

Business owners are often very good at solving problems. But in leadership, it can also become a blind spot.

Read about asking better questions in my latest newsletter. I write about the lessons, mindset, skillset, and activity needed in Leadership.

Are you helping people think, or are you doing the thinking? | Colin Carmody “Whoever asks the questions does the leading, because they set the context.” John C. Maxwell Business owners are often very good at solving problems. But in leadership, it can also become a blind spot. Read about asking better questions in my latest newsletter. I write about the lessons, mindset...

That phrase stood out to me:

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 - Thank you Don.

Business coaching should not be vague.

It should help a business owner get clearer on:

👉What matters most.

👉Where the business is going.

👉What needs to change.

👉What action comes next.

Purpose and direction are not just nice words.

They are practical tools.

They help owners make better decisions, lead their teams with more confidence, and stop feeling like everything depends on them alone.

THAT IS THE WORK I ENJOY MOST.

Helping business owners move from noise and overwhelm to clarity and action.

Want more purpose and direction in your business?

Have coffee with me Colin Carmody

Happy Father's Day!

To the dads who have kids, but also have a business that's their baby.

To the dads working long hours, but also building a legacy.

To the dads carrying the pressure quietly, making the tough calls, and still trying to be present at home.

Today is a good reminder:

Your business matters.
Your work matters.
But the people you are building it for matter most.

Happy Father's Day to the business-owner dads doing their best to lead well, provide well, and come home well.

~Coach

I had one of those coaching moments today where the business owner could feel the frustration clearly, but was also starting to see the source of it differently.

Things were not happening the way they should, people were not doing what had been asked of them, and the follow-through was weaker than expected.

The usual business owner stuff.

But as we unpacked the conversation, the insight started to shift from “my team is not listening” to “maybe I have not been clear enough in how I am asking.”

The reflection identified the issue, because there is a big difference between giving someone a task and creating clear expectations.

One sounds like, “Please sort this out.”

The other sounds more like, “This is what needs to be done, this is what good looks like, this is when I need it by, and this is what I expect you to come back with.”

Same person.
Same task.
Completely different level of clarity.

This is where many business owners get caught, because they believe they have delegated properly, while the team member has only heard a rough instruction and is left to interpret the rest.

The owner expects ownership, the team member is still trying to understand the brief, and the gap between those two positions becomes the place where frustration starts to build.

One feels ignored.

The other feels set up to fail.

Leadership often breaks down in that gap, not because people are useless or because no one cares, but because the expectation was never properly transferred.

So, when people are not doing what you asked, the first question is not always, “Why are they not listening?”

Sometimes the better question is, “Did I make this clear enough for them to succeed?”

That question changes the conversation, because it moves you away from blame and brings you back to leadership.

Where in your business are you assuming clarity, instead of creating it?

If you want an accountable team, have coffee with me Colin Carmody

I guide Overwhelmed and Frustrated Business Owners and their Management Team from Chaos to Clarity & Control using the Business Builders Blueprint™

Improve Your Business - Change Your Life.

Running a business is not for sissies.

It can feel like a stack of Jenga blocks waiting for the wrong move.

This past week reminded me of that.

One week, multiple conversations, with different business owners in different industries, and topics that ranged widely.

Purpose.

Sales process.

Marketing strategy.

Staff development.

Role fit and responsibility.

Executive exit and succession planning.

New business development.

CEO leadership ability.

Launching a new service.

KPIs and performance management.

On paper, those look like unrelated conversations.

But they are not.

They are all Business Owner conversations.

Because when you lead a business, you are rarely dealing with one neat issue at a time.

You are constantly moving between people, money, strategy, sales, structure, leadership, and ex*****on.

And underneath each of those conversations sits the same three questions:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻?

That is the work of leading a business. It's not just reacting to the loudest problem or ticking off tasks. And it's not just hoping the team will “get it”.

It's about stepping back, thinking clearly, and making better decisions.

Again and again (and again).

Want more clarity and control in your business?

Have coffee with me Colin Carmody

I guide overwhelmed and frustrated business owners and their management teams from chaos to clarity and control using the Business Builders Blueprint™ to improve their business and change their lives.