Workflow plays a pivotal role in the growth and success of any agency.
Paul Muggeridge-Breene, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in various industries, emphasises the importance of a well-designed workflow.
As a former journalist, co-founder of Formative Content, member of the British Psychological Society, and current CEO and Founder of Thrive, Muggeridge-Breene understands the significance of an optimised workflow structure. In this blog, we delve into his insights and highlight the crucial role of workflow in relation to overcoming hurdles on the way to £5 million in income.
Addressing Overwhelmed Workflows
A significant hurdle faced by agencies when they approach the £5 million income mark is workflows that are no longer fit for purpose.
At this stage, existing workflows become overwhelmed, resulting in excessive workloads and information overload. Your agency needs to implement proper documentation and capturing of processes and systems, as relying solely on individuals’ knowledge can lead to inefficiencies and missed deadlines. Neglecting to address overwhelmed workflows can result in dissatisfied clients and employees, ultimately hindering agency growth.
Unconscious Resistance to New Business
One intriguing outcome of an overwhelmed workflow, is unconscious resistance to new business opportunities. Due to the confusion and overwhelming workload, team members may shy away from pursuing potential leads or fail to follow up on buying signals. This resistance arises from a desire to avoid further complicating an already confusing system. However,this directly impacts an agency’s ability to surpass the £5 million mark and hinders overall growth.
Implementing Optimum Structures and Workflows
Implementing an optimum structure and well-defined workflows is absolutely crucial to ensure your agency continues to grow. Each agency’s requirements are unique, making the determination of these elements a significant undertaking. Rather than waiting for problems to arise, you need to plan ahead, gradually undertaking this work on the journey from £1 million to £5 million in revenue. This approach allows agencies to think long-term, encouraging proactive problem-solving and strategic planning.
Accepting Trade-offs
When it comes to developing a structure, there is no such thing as a perfect one. One thing that we must accept as agency leaders is that all structures involve trade-offs. Searching for perfection is a fool’s errand, in fact. Instead, we should focus on identifying the structure that best aligns with our goals and addresses our specific challenges.
Documenting Processes and Workflows
Clear documentation of processes and workflows is a fundamental aspect of optimising your agency’s workflow. Capture the broad steps involved in workflows, even if minute details are not necessary. This documentation serves as a point of reference for decision-making regarding structure and workflows, ensuring transparency and consistency across the organisation.
Thorough Briefing and Communication
Most importantly, you must, must, MUST thoroughly brief the entire team! Whether implementing incremental changes or a significant transformation, ensuring that everyone within the agency is well-informed and has absorbed the information is essential. To quote Jeff Wiener, the founder of LinkedIn, “When you are tired of saying it, people are starting to hear it.” Until you are absolutely certain that everyone is on the same page, keep communicating to. and briefing the whole team!
Workflow is Crucial
We hope this blog has gone some way to show the crucial role of workflow in an agency’s journey towards achieving £5 million in income. By addressing overwhelmed workflows, overcoming unconscious resistance to new business, implementing optimum structures and workflows, accepting trade-offs, documenting processes, and ensuring effective communication, agencies can enhance their efficiency, productivity, and overall growth. It is through thoughtful planning and continuous adaptation that agencies can overcome hurdles and reach new heights of success.
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Paul is CEO of Thrive, a former agency MD, former international journalist and a member of the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS).
He co-founded and grew an agency to 70 team members and £5m turnover in eight years, before selling to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Previously, he launched a 24-hour television news channel for Australia’s national broadcaster in the space of seven months and led the restructure of its newsroom production centre.
This experience, combined with specialist training in psychology, organisational design, change management and accountancy, means he brings a unique skillset – including an intuitive understanding of what drives and what blocks employees, an innate ability to optimise team structures and workflows, a mastery of how to inspire and lead lasting change, and deep commercial and financial knowledge.
