Are you the visionary in your business? What you need is an Integrator
Have you ever made it to Wednesday and wondered how is this week going so slowly? Felt overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? Questioned the freedom you’d hoped to achieve as a business owner?
Or simply, you may feel your business growth is starting to be limited by how much you can do on your own, yet struggle to outsource key tasks and project oversight.
I bet you’re nodding away right now. And I have news for you:
This may be the time to bring an Online Business Manager into your business. But first,
What is an Online Business Manager?
An Online Business Manager, often called Integrator, is a high-level professional who, instead of being a full-time employee in your payroll, comes in (virtually) to help you run your business smoothly from an operational point of view.
He or she is not your VA
Your Integrator will not be cleaning your inbox or scheduling calls for you. Your OBM is here to help steer the ship whether you need help managing your team, your client processes, or your goals and metrics. Your Integrator acts as an accountability partner and helps you remove the daily stress of execution while allowing you to step into your creativity and design the business of your dreams.
What Can Your Integrator Do For Your Business?
You started your business because you had a fire inside and dreamed of designing your life on your own terms. You knew that you could do better than what’s already available, so you made it happen.
As you built your business, you stepped into roles as they showed up and likely haven’t questioned whether you should stay in charge of everything because it’s become second nature to you.
However, as your business grows, having every process and decision rely on you will hinder how far you and your business can go. Your day only has 24 hours, after all.
Do you feel overwhelmed? Find some inspiration from Marie Forleo’s: How To Grow Your Business Without Working More
This is where your OBM comes in
Your Integrator is the one who will take your vision into practice and generate a tangible result as you step into the visionary role in your company and set new goals, find new clients, and design new offers.
Project Management
Your Integrator can take over the daily management of your projects to open time for your clients and expansion, freeing up your plate to dive into new ventures, hone in on your craft, or simply take more time off.
Some things your OBM can manage for you:
Create a project plan that includes a timeline, required processes, team members and other resources
Set up and maintain online project management tools, which smooths out task assignment, progress reporting, and milestone achievement
Delegate key elements of the project to various team members
Keep stakeholders informed about project status and ongoing details
Follow up with players as necessary to ensure that “stuff gets done” on time
The budget for the project
Handle challenges for the project as they arise, with a focus on finding a solution quickly
Team Management
Your OBM can also take over your HR - helping you both find and manage your team to ensure a smooth sails.
Identify your current and future needs by looking at your business goals and projects
Determine what a successful role will entail and what type of specialist your team needs
Craft the role description and reach out to different channels to reach a vast pool of potential candidates
Shortlist candidates for an initial round of interviews
Present RFPs to shortlisted candidates and, if necessary, move to second interviews
Check references from other clients
Review the proposals and extend an offer to the ideal candidate, including a signed contract
Implement the onboarding process, including team communication, expectations, and KPIs for the role
Regular reporting on measures of success for their role
90 Day Review (for long term team members) or End of Project Review (for project-based contractors)
Keep the team motivated and help them overcome challenges as they arise
Manage the team budget and expenses
Operations
Online Business Managers are qualified to oversee the implementation and proper day to day processes of business ops. Your OBM can help:
Review the key systems needed to run your business, including customer service, billing, communication, back-ups, marketing, follow-up and delivery
Create the processes, tools and players for key systems within your business
Implement automated business tools and software to manage various systems
Create and maintain your Standard Operating Procedures, or SOPs -- Don’t have them? Here’s how to start your SOPs for small business
Manage all client payments and collections process
Manage access to systems and login information
Ensure there is an effective backup system in place for all information (including your computer!)
Establish decision-making guidelines for team members
Track metrics or KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for the business on a weekly & monthly basis -- By the way, have you started tracking your KPIs?
Set up a reporting system, including what to track
Analyze metrics and discuss trends/patterns with you
No more juggling all the things in your business
When was the last time you saw all the things you do for your business listed out like this? No wonder you’re constantly winded! When you spend the bulk of your time handling the internal side of your business, you’re taking time away from the real money-making activities that make your business possible in the first place.
While it was ok, and even necessary, to wear all the hats when you started, once your business starts itching to grow, it’s simply not sustainable to keep taking on all the responsibility.
Your Online Business Manager Is A Trusted Partner in Your Business Growth
As you see, your Online Business Manager can work closely with you and your business to ensure smooth sailing and help you achieve the independence and freedom you craved when you first started your business.