A. Marc Boyan writes:
Success ultimately comes from finding and empowering the right people to make the right business decisions in your absence. First, take a long hard look at your senior management staff. Day-to-day interaction can make it difficult to see exactly who is and isn’t performing to their potential.
You have to be certain that the people supporting you can step up to the plate. You can do this using a variety of performance-based measurements. However, for me, it comes down to two questions: is the person performing at a high level, and has this person got the behavioural characteristics to lead? If the answers are ‘yes’, then you must empower the individual in your absence. If not, then it is your responsibility to react quickly, and either motivate them or invest in their development.
Once the analysis of senior management staff has been carried out, it’s important for them to fully understand their roles within the new business model. They will thrive and, ultimately, succeed through understanding their exact business parameters. You must empower staff to make important decisions should you be out of contact. Ignoring this can leave you with frustrated staff and a substantial workload on your return.
In terms of monitoring performance, it’s important to implement automated reporting processes early, so that when you are out of the country for longer spells, you can rely on scheduled data being available.
This will not only keep you ‘in the loop’ as to the progress of the business, but will also remind staff that you are monitoring their performance, and that they are accountable for daily/weekly reports.
Advances in technology mean that it’s possible to manage your business from overseas both effectively and cheaply. Internet-based services, such as video conferencing and web phone calls, are low hassle and cost little.
Finally, remember that while your new venture is important, your original office is the hub of your business and the reference point for new and existing clients.
Marc Boyan is chief executive of fast-growing media and leisure firm Miroma Group, and was Top Gun in this year’s Young Guns scheme.
www.miroma.com