What if the biggest obstacle to your business growth is hiding in plain sight?

Every action in your business, from responding to a customer inquiry to delivering your product or service, is a process. These processes could be the key to unlocking greater efficiency and profitability. By understanding and assessing each step, you can identify areas for improvement, streamline your operations, and free up more time to focus on growing your business. It's time to optimize your workflow and uncover the hidden leaks draining your time and resources.

Understanding Business Process Waste

In today's post, I am writing about something that could be the secret sauce to supercharging your business: identifying waste in your processes.

What's the Deal with Waste?

Here's the scoop: any step in your business that doesn't add value is waste. Now, don't panic. Every business has some waste, but knowing where it lurks is the first step to becoming more efficient. Let's break it down into seven types of waste that might be hiding in your day-to-day operations.

The 7 Types of Waste in Business Processes

1. The Waiting Game

Ever feel like you're always waiting for something? Maybe it's client feedback or that website to load. That's waste, my friend. It could be due to:

• Inefficient workflows creating bottlenecks
• Delayed client feedback stalling project progress
• Administrative steps that need frequent updates mid-process

Pro tip: Try aligning your processes so one task flows smoothly into the next. Use waiting periods productively by batching similar tasks or working on parallel projects.

2. The Unnecessary Shuffle

This is most commonly associated with physical products; however, it also applies to service-based businesses. It includes moving things (or yourself) around unnecessarily. In our digital world, it could be:

• Endlessly forwarding emails instead of using a centralized communication system
• Searching for files
• Constantly switching between multiple software platforms to complete a single task.

Moving stuff around doesn't add value to your product or service. It's just eating up your precious time.

3. Too Much of a Good Thing

Overproduction isn't just for factories. For us creative types, it might mean:

• Writing a 10-page report when the client asked for two.
• Creating more content than needed for a marketing campaign
• Developing features for your product that aren't in demand

While it feels productive, it's actually waste.

Try this: Schedule and produce only what you can deliver within a set time, with a small buffer for unexpected hiccups.

4. Using a Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut

Are you using complex tools for simple tasks? That's inappropriate processing. It's like using a gourmet kitchen to make toast.

You may use expensive, high-precision equipment when simpler options are sufficient. This overproduction can increase costs and production time.

One way to reduce this waste is to invest in smaller, more flexible equipment whenever possible.

For service businesses, this could mean going way beyond what the client needs or what you've been paid to do. This type of waste requires careful consideration. While wanting to over-deliver is admirable, inappropriate processing can sometimes harm your business and client relationships. Here's why:

• Resource Drain: Going far beyond what the client needs or has paid for can deplete your time and energy, leaving you less capable of serving other clients or growing your business.
• Setting Unsustainable Expectations: Consistently over-delivering can set unrealistic expectations, making it difficult to maintain that level of service long-term.
• Undervaluing Your Work: By providing more than what was agreed upon, you may inadvertently signal that your original pricing doesn't reflect your true value.
• Client Confusion: Sometimes, providing more than what the client asked for can lead to confusion or overwhelm on their part.

Instead of over-delivering in volume or complexity, focus on providing high-quality work that precisely meets the agreed-upon specifications. Exceptional service comes from reliability, clear communication, and consistently meeting expectations.

5. Drowning in Stuff

This is similar to overproduction and involves keeping more items in stock than are immediately required. Unnecessary inventory might also look like:

• Keeping outdated digital files that clutter your system. Those gigabytes of old files might be costing you more than you think.
• Maintaining subscriptions to unused software or services
• Hoarding supplies "just in case."

This clutter can slow you down and tie up your resources.

Regularly audit your physical and digital resources to ensure you're not tying up funds in unnecessary inventory.

6. The Office Marathon

Do you or your people have the resources to complete your tasks at their station? If you're constantly running around your workspace looking for things, that's unnecessary motion.

Action step: Create designated spaces for your tools and stick to them. For digital warriors, this means organizing your computer desktop and bookmarks for easy access.

7. Oops, I Did It Again

Mistakes happen, but repeated errors are a form of waste. Whether it's product defects, typos in your emails, or miscalculations in your quotes, these little slip-ups can cost big in terms of credibility and rework.

Solution: Implement a quick double-check system. It's like proofreading but for every aspect of your business.

Taking Action: Your Waste Reduction Strategy

Now that you're a waste-spotting pro, here's what to do:

1. Look at your business processes with fresh eyes.

2. Identify where these types of waste might be hiding.

3. Start small – pick one area to improve this week.

4. Keep at it. Continuous improvement is the name of the game.

Of course, you don't have to eliminate all waste overnight. Small, consistent changes can lead to big improvements over time.

By evaluating your processes and reducing waste, you'll be amazed at how much more efficient and productive you become. It's like finding extra hours in your day.