3 tools to uncover problem areas

When things aren’t going quite as you want them to in business it can be infuriating. Especially when you can’t figure out why.

Maybe you’re working your butt off, but can’t seem to grow your sales. Maybe you’re raking in the sales but aren’t feeling good about it. Maybe you just generally feel meh and aren’t sure why.

Firstly, I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been there. Although it might feel like it, you fo sho are not alone. Behind the shiny Instagram posts and LinkedIn bragging, every business owner has felt like this from time to time.

What’s important is that you don’t succumb to the creeping feeling of despair. Step away from the tequila, carve out a bit of quiet time and try these 3 tools.

I regularly swing back to these, even if I’m feeling tip top. They all shine a light on any existing blockages or impending demons in my path and keep me operating from a place where I can see things more clearly.

Which is, of course, super helpful when you’re running at breakneck speed down an untrodden path.

TOOL NUMBER 1: The Wheel of Life

I actually recommend using this in 2 ways; firstly, for your business and then also for your life as a whole. We’ll start with the business one.

Very simply, start by drawing a large asterix shape - one that almost fills the page. Your shape should have 8 points as below. Now, at each point, write an area of the business. Choose terms/areas that are most important to you. I use product, marketing, team, finance, etc.

Imagine that each line represents 0-10, with 0 being in the middle and 10 at the outermost tip. For each area, mark along the line the score you would give that area out of 10. Smashing it? 9-10. Struggling with it? Maybe 3-4.

Once you’ve done all 8 join the points you marked up from line to line.

Look at the shape remaining. ‘Deflated’ areas, show where you need to focus your efforts to bring everything back into harmony and start working better. You can now go away and drill into these further to figure out what’s going on and what you can do about it.

Once you’re done, do the same for your life as a whole. I use home, health, money, work, family, friends, etc. The reason I recommend this is that you can unearth why you might not be feeling your best. And if you’re not feeling your best then you can’t operate at your best, which is what your business needs.

Maybe you need to dedicate more time to some of the areas in this second wheel in order to see your work days improve tenfold.

TOOL NUMBER 2: Stream of Consciousness

Unsurprisingly, there was a time when the cynic in me thought journaling was a complete waste of time. How is writing down my feelings going to help grow my business???? Um, so it turns out that the answer is a lot actually.

As incredible as our brains can be, they are also little bastards sometimes. Actually a lot of the time. They carry unhelpful stories, built up over years and years, that constantly block us from achieving our full potential.

Writing down what’s in your mind as an unedited, unapologetically truthful stream of consciousness allows you to uncover some of those dirty little stories.

All you need to do is sit quietly and let it rip. Write and write and write. Everything that’s in your brain. What you’re happy about, what you’re unhappy about, who or what has really pissed you off and why, what you want, what you’re scared of, what keeps you up at night, etc etc etc.

Go until you have nothing left to write.

When you run out or simply can’t write anymore, pick up a highlighter pen and go back over the text highlighting anything that is a story you tell yourself. A belief or false truth you hold in your brain. For me this exercise always unearths some unhelpful stories I’ve got on repeat that need the heave ho.

Once you’ve identified them, take a minute to rewrite them in a positive light. For example, “I can’t seem to get new people to join my email list” becomes “I’m a resourceful person that will find 3 new ways to test adding people to my email list, and if these don’t work I’ll test 3 more”.

Do this until all stories have been given a facelift.

Also, use the list of stories to show you what’s bothering you and ask the question ‘is that thing really bothering me’, i.e. I need to do something about it, or should I just let it go and move on.

I personally find journaling this way helpful the more you do it. I don’t do it every day but at least once or twice a week.

TOOL NUMBER 3: 10 questions to ask yourself for a full business MOT

The final one I want you to try, if you haven’t already, is my worksheet: “10 questions to ask yourself if your business isn’t growing as fast as you know it could”.

It takes you through 10 critical areas of business and helps you identify a targeted action plan.

It’s an exercise I come back to again and again, even when things are going well, to identify anywhere that they could be improved.

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As ever, if you want more hands-on support in launching and growing your business reach out to me about 1:1 coaching. There’s really nothing you can’t do with the right support.