How Do You Handle "Problem Areas" in Your Business?

I take one of four approaches to something I cannot do, do not like, or don't understand (any of these three reasons make it a "problem area" in my mind).

1) Learn it. I don't deal well with failure so I just do whatever I have to do to improve. Whether it's research online, practice/rehearsing, or calling in someone else to teach me to do it, there's a way to make it happen if I really need to learn something.

2) Get backup. If there's something that you absolutely can't avoid, find a way to have a "backup" available when you need it. I fill this role for my design partners for a cart I work with. If they get stuck on a design or coding issue, they know they can email me and I'll reply ASAP with a solution or help in the right direction. The end client does not ever need to know they were stuck. And when I get stuck with certain programming, I have a php expert who I can call in. Knowing that you've got a relationship with someone, a colleague or even a paid by the incident support team, can be a huge relief when you need that help.

3) Outsource it. If it can be outsourced, then I'll outsource it either to my VA or a hired temp for the specific project. Some familiarity though is needed on my part to outsource something, or else a very well established relationship of trust with the outsourcer, so I know whether they're completing the task properly.

4) Don't do it. It took me a while but I've accepted that option 1 (learn it) cannot be the answer for every problem area. There are a few specific services that I do not offer. If the problem area is created by a product or service that isn't essential, consider what would happen if you just didn't offer it. It might not be the end of the world.

Sometimes these are combined for a problem area. For example, my monthly accounting statements. I outsourced them until I found a system and learned to do it myself. Now I can do it in less than an hour instead of wasting half a day every month so I moved from option 3 to option 1.

These are my four strategies for handling "problem areas" in my business. Consider these next time you run into something that feels like a "problem area" in your business.

Michelle Shaeffer is online at The Small Business Muse where she shares free weekly tips and strategies for small businesses in The Muses Brainstorm. Find inspirational guides and workshops to help your small business grow at The Muses Guide.

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