How To See The Big Picture In Your Business

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT:

How to See The Big Picture In Your Business

Hello and welcome to the Scale and Skyrocket Your Business Podcast! I'm your host, Lor Bradley, and today we're talking about a crucial aspect of business growth - seeing the big picture.

As business owners, it's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day minutia of running a business, but it's important to take a step back and see your business from a birds-eye view. In this episode, we'll explore why big picture thinking is essential for your business success, share practical tips on how to gain perspective, and discuss common mistakes to avoid.

So, sit back, relax, and let's get started!

What is Big Picture Thinking?

Big picture thinking is the ability to look beyond the day-to-day details of running a business and see the larger strategic perspective. It involves taking a step back, looking at the bigger picture, and identifying the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

As a business owner, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day minutia of running your business, putting out fires, and dealing with the daily demands of your clients. But if you don't take the time to step back and see your business with a bird's eye view, you may miss important opportunities, fail to identify potential challenges, and ultimately limit your business's growth potential.

That's why big picture thinking is so crucial for business success. When you take the time to see the bigger picture, you can identify new market trends, emerging technologies, and potential growth areas for your business. You can also spot potential challenges and develop strategies to overcome them.

I’m going to move on and explain why it's so important to see the big picture in your business, and I’ll share some practical tips for stepping back and getting the perspective you need to take your business to the next level.

Why is it Important to See the Big Picture in Your Business?

It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of running a business, especially when like me, you're juggling a busy pipeline of consulting clients. I know this because I've been there. For a long time, I was so focused on serving my clients that I neglected to take a step back and see the bigger strategic picture of my business.

But as I learned back then, it's essential to see the big picture if you want to achieve long-term success. Once I started dedicating time to think objectively about my business, I realised that there were so many opportunities for further growth that I hadn't even considered before.

So, by taking the time to step back and focus on the bigger picture, I was able to offer my clients an even greater experience when they worked with me. I was able to anticipate their needs and identify new ways to serve them better.

Plus, by setting clear goals and priorities for my business, I was able to achieve greater success in far less time.

So, if you're feeling bogged down in the day-to-day of your business, remember the importance of seeing the big picture because it can make all the difference in achieving your long-term goals.

One of the best practical tips I’ve learned over the years as a solopreneur is to schedule time to work ON your business and to diarise it. So, just like you would schedule time for client meetings or your team catch-ups, make it a priority to schedule time to work ON your business growth. I find one or two days per quarter is usually enough to get that much needed headspace.

And it's important to treat this time as non-negotiable and protect it from any other distractions or commitments. Consider setting aside a regular slot each week or month or quarter, and make sure you communicate that you’ll effectively be kicking your office door shut to distractions to your teams, so they know not to schedule anything with you during that time.

And during this time, try to focus on the big picture aspects of your business, such as reviewing your mission and purpose, analysing your competitive landscape, or brainstorming new revenue growth opportunities.

And the reason you are doing this is because this dedicated time can help you gain valuable perspective and clarity, and ultimately lead to better decision-making and greater business success.

My Tips on How to See the Big Picture in Your Business

Now that we've explored the importance of big picture thinking, let's dive into some practical success tips on how to see the big picture in your business. These tips will help you get clear on your mission, diarise time for growth, and set goals and priorities to track your progress towards success.

Get clear on your business mission and purpose:

When you're clear on your business mission and purpose, it's easier to make decisions that align with your long-term goals. For example, if your mission is to provide high-quality, eco-friendly products, you'll be able to focus on creating products that align with this mission.

Diarise time to work on your business growth:

It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of running a business, but it's important to schedule time to work on your business growth. For example, you could diarise one hour each week to work on your marketing strategy or review your financial goals.

Set a growth journey by mapping out the next 12 months to 3 years:

Mapping out a growth journey can help you stay focused on your long-term goals. For example, you could create a visual roadmap that outlines your business goals for the next three years and the steps you need to take to achieve them.

Identify business goals, a 90-day plan and set priorities:

Setting specific business goals, creating a 90-day plan, and prioritising tasks can help you stay focused and make progress towards your long-term goals. For example, you could identify a specific revenue goal for the next quarter and create a plan for how to achieve it.

By identifying your business goals and priorities, you can focus your energy and resources on the tasks that will have the greatest impact on your business. For example, you could identify your top three business priorities for the next month and create a plan for how to achieve them.

Common Mistakes Business Owners Make When Seeing the Big Picture

Taking time away from running the day-to-day operations of your business can be daunting. However, it's crucial to strike a balance between working IN and ON your business.

Here are some common mistakes business owners make when taking time away from the daily grind and how to avoid them:

Neglecting your customers - Just because you're taking time away to work ON your business doesn't mean your customers should suffer. Ensure that you have someone in place to handle customer inquiries and orders while you focus on the bigger picture.

Neglecting your team - Your team is the backbone of your business, and they need to feel supported. Make sure they know what's going on and what's expected of them during your absence.

Overcomplicating things - Keep things simple and focus on what matters most. It's easy to get bogged down in details and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Trying to do it all yourself - Don't be afraid to delegate tasks and responsibilities to others. You can't do it all, and trying to do so will only lead to burnout.

Forgetting to re-evaluate - Your business is constantly evolving, and it's essential to regularly re-evaluate your goals and priorities. Don't get stuck in a rut and forget to adapt to changes in the market or industry.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can strike a balance between working IN and ON your business, ensuring both your customers and your team are taken care of while you focus on the bigger picture.

In A Nutshell

So, we’re almost at the end of this episode so let’s have a quick recap.

Big picture thinking is a crucial part of running a successful business. Taking the time to step back, evaluate your mission and goals, and plan for growth will ensure that you're on the right path. Remember to diarise time to work on your business, set clear priorities, track your progress, and avoid common mistakes.

Thank you for listening to this episode on how to see the big picture in your business. I hope you found it useful and gained valuable insights on how to take your business to the next level. If you’d like to work with me on your big picture and create a growth strategy to accelerate your business growth, then you can find out more details on my website.

So, don't forget to implement all my tips and keep checking in with your big picture to ensure your success.

I’ll see you next time!

Lor Bradley