Winging it won't work - tighten up your business strategy to achieve better results
I see you! Having worked with hundreds of small service-based businesses, I know the majority of you are winging it. You might not think so, but do you have a clear direction, a proper plan, and actionable goals? If the answer is no, that’s causing you problems.
Winging might feel like the easiest path; it’s quick, reactive and gets you through the day. But it won’t take you where you want to go. A lack of strategy leads to wasted time, stalled growth, and often building a business in the wrong direction that you don’t even like. Let’s fix that...
1. Set Your Direction
So, let's start with a simple question that most people haven't mapped out... what do you actually want to achieve in your business? Without clarity on your vision, purpose, and goals, how do you know where to effectively focus your time, energy and resources? I’ve seen clients who don’t define this end up overwhelmed, burnt out, or chasing clients and opportunities that don’t align. They’ve lost control.
What to do:
Define your vision (what you want to build) and your purpose (why you do what you do).
Identify your mission (how you deliver that purpose).
Clarify your values (what’s non-negotiable).
Know your target market (who you serve best).
Set short- and long-term goals that align with all the above.
2. Get a Grip on Your Financials
If you don’t understand your numbers, you’re making blind decisions. And saying you aren't good with numbers isn't good enough if you are running a business (sorry, I know that's harsh!). You need at least a basic understanding of your revenue, profit and cash flow. Are you:
Clear on what’s most profitable?
Tracking your expenses to keep them under control?
Building a stable business with recurring income?
Regularly checking your cash flow?
Paying yourself?
Avoiding risky dependence on one or two big clients?
What to do: Start reviewing your financials monthly. Understand what brings in profit, what’s draining it, and whether you’re spreading risk across a diverse client base.
3. Align Your Services and Pricing
Are your products or services designed to help you achieve your goals? Do your clients actually want them and need them? Misaligned services or the wrong pricing can hold you back from growth and grind you into the ground.
What to do:
Review your current offerings - what's working and not working?
Are they aligned with your direction?
Test your pricing. Too high and you’ll miss opportunities; too low and you’ll undervalue your work and not be profitable.
4. Optimise Your Business Operations
Is your business working for you, or against you? If your systems are clunky, your processes unclear, or your client experience inconsistent, it’s holding you and your team back, and wasting time and money.
What to do:
Streamline your systems to make everything run smoothly.
Automate repetitive tasks and cut out the unnecessary.
Make sure your team has clear processes, easy access to what they need to perform at their best, and clear communication channels.
Ensure your client journey is easy and seamless for them.
5. Evaluate Your Team (Including You)
Do you have the right people, in the right roles, doing the right things? And what about you, are you stuck doing everything, burning yourself out, and making it harder for everyone else? The right team (combined with the right systems) can make or break a business...
What to do:
Be honest about whether your team structure works for the business (shape the team to the business, not the individual)
Delegate effectively and stop holding on to tasks your team could and should be doing - give them responsibility and ownership
Get clear on your role as the business leader - where should your focus and time be spent - you can't do everything so where do you actually add the most value?
6. Step into Leadership
The reality is this: your business reflects your leadership. If you’re overworked, stressed, or running on empty, it impacts everyone (including your family, friends, health, and happiness). High-performing leaders build high-performing businesses, so to stay high-performing...
What to do:
Prioritise taking care of yourself - your health, happiness and time matter. Stop trying to be a martyr.
Lead by example, balancing hard work with enjoying life.
Invest in your development as a leader.
Build a support network around yourself - carrying all the weight alone is very heavy...
The Bottom Line
Stop winging it. Building a better business starts with a solid strategy - knowing your direction, managing your financials, aligning your offerings, streamlining operations, having the right team, and stepping into leadership.
A strategy is not just for marketing... you need it to be aligned across the entire business so everything works like clockwork.
It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing the right things. The businesses that thrive aren’t necessarily working harder, they’re working more effectively, and they’re super intentional about where they focus.
Are you ready to take control?
The Pocket Strategist is a Strategy + Operations Consultancy helping ambitious business owners regain control of their business - strategy, team, operations, and sales - to achieve intentional growth AND enjoy a good life.
We deliver in-person 1:1 strategy days (in inspiring locations), ongoing strategic support and advice and implement operational delivery.
Are you ready for less stress and more growth? Message us - we can make it happen.
If you want more great tips about running your service-based business, sign up for my The One Thing email, which delivers a business tip every Wednesday straight to your inbox.
