Business problems can be overwhelming, especially when they seem to pile up and become more and more complicated. As entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves adding solution upon solution, creating a tangled web of steps that only make things more challenging. So here’s some good news, more often than not, business problems require simple solutions.
How Overly Complex Solutions Hurt Your Business
With advancements in technology and the opportunities they bring, we have access to incredible tools and resources. I would not be talking to hundreds, if not thousands, of people every month if not for these technologies.
However, these advancements also have the potential for more complications, often by accident or at least without intention. We see a problem in our business and figure out a solution. Then we see another problem, so we add another solution. Eventually, we unintentionally piled on multiple solutions to multiple problems, making our processes longer and more convoluted.
These complications manifest in every department of our businesses. Our client acquisition strategies become more complicated than needed, our product and service offerings become convoluted, and our client fulfillment processes become tangled. The problem with all these complications is that they create barriers and friction between our businesses and the people we want to serve. Everything we do becomes more challenging and less believable.
To illustrate the impact of complications, let me share a non-business example. I recently had a prescription I needed to fill, and the monthly costs seemed to increase. I followed the instructions from my insurance company, but the pricing still didn’t make sense.
After spending an hour on the phone with representatives, we discovered additional hoops to jump through that were not previously communicated. It wouldn’t have made a difference if I followed these extra steps, because the prices still weren’t adding up correctly. Two very competent, well spoken customer service reps couldn’t even figure out why this was happening or what I could do about it. Like you can’t make this stuff up!!!!
The whole experience left me frustrated and absolutely questioning the overall credibility of the insurance company. Complications create a lack of transparency because it becomes too hard to explain things.
When things become too hard to explain, potential customers lose trust and may seek solutions elsewhere. In a world of fierce competition, and in which people do business with people they know, like, and trust, not being believed can be detrimental to your business. When you hear “less is more,” this is a perfect example of how that’s beneficial.
How Simplifying Your Business Can Boost Sales and Trust
The solution for most business problems is that less is more. It’s important to evaluate your business and identify areas where you’re trying to solve problems by adding more steps. Sometimes, it’s necessary to strip down processes and simplify them to their core.
At Conquer Your Business, we did that at last year’s end. We removed everything complicated and simplified our operations. The results were astounding and quickly noticeable.
I invite you to do the same in your business. Take a closer look at where complications may be hindering your progress. Are there things that you are doing that seem like they are solving problems but are preventing you from everything that you want to have happen in your business? By simplifying processes, you’ll not only make things easier for yourself but also gain the trust and belief of your customers.
In conclusion, business problems require simple solutions. Don’t confuse the amount of activity with how complicated that activity is. You can accomplish a great deal with straightforward actions. Strip away the unnecessary complications in your business and watch as your success accelerates.
