If you’re a business owner, no matter the industry, you know how quickly things can change. Just think about all the ways you had to adapt and evolve during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. We’re all adapting to uncharted territory as the coronavirus wanes. In times of uncertainty, having a business map in place can be a comfort. Keep reading as your small business pros at Bryant Consultants explain the benefits of a business map and how we can help create the ideal one for your business.
Learn the basics of a business map
A business map goes deeper than a standard business plan. It examines your business with regard to roles, responsibilities, and standards. Your map evaluates which facts of your business are working, which ones are missing the mark, and which direction to take for you to reach your maximum success.
What form can a business map take?
Options include:
- Diagrams
- Value stream maps
- Flowcharts
- A unique composition, made with various types of software
The format of your business map is less important than the questions used to compose it and the information those answers provide.
What makes a business map a better choice?
- It can assist with problem solving, compliance, and risk management as those situations emerge.
- It goes deeper than a business plan, exploring what your business does and why you’re in the field you have chosen.
- It helps to clarify long-term goals while also keeping the overall vision of your business central to day-to-day operations.
- It can be used for the entire life of your business, not just periods of growth.
With a business map, you can go with the flow
A business map is much more flexible than a business plan, which usually consists of a more rigid framework listing specific goals and tasks. It provides structure even in times of chaos. Think about all the change you experienced during the pandemic and how it disrupted your usual way of doing business. A good business map can respond to changes when they occur, whether they pertain to your client base, industry, or the economy.
Creating a Business Map
When your business map is being composed, this is not the time to stay to yourself. Solicit the ideas and feedback of your employees. This will invest your team in your business, especially if their ideas are implemented.
A good business map should answer three key questions:
- What business are you in?
- How is your business doing right now?
- Where do you want your business to be in the future?
Answering the first question means thinking about your company, your industry, and what you’re delivering to your clients. Answering the second means you’re making an honest, unflinching assessment of your current situation. Answering the third means you’re connecting a sense of purpose to your business, empowering your team, and creating an improved experience for customers and clients.
Small Business Consulting Services
By creating a business map, you’ll gain true insight into what makes your business tick from the inside. You’ll move forward with a greater sense of certainty as to where your business needs to, what path will lead to ideal growth, and how you need to adapt to unprecedented changes.
It helps to gain the insight of an expert when composing a business map. That’s why Bryant Consultants advises contacting Tyra, our top-ranked small business consultant in Kingsport, Tennessee. Working for a small business herself, Tyra understands what it means to work through everyday challenges that you are facing. Call Tyra at (877) 768-4799 or contact her directly.
