New Year Reality Check: Are You Actually Doing What You Think You're Doing in Your Business?

At the start of a new year, it’s natural - and almost expected - that we jump straight into goal-setting and resolutions. And while that’s an awesome new year practice, what might support you even more in your business is taking a moment for some honest reflection. 

While everyone else is rushing to plan the future, we're going to do something different – we're going to look at where you really are right now.

As small business owners, we're passionate about transformation and have big visions for how we serve our clients. But sometimes, there can be a gap between what we think we're doing and what's actually happening in our businesses.

Today, let's explore that space between intention and reality.

Three Key Areas of Business Alignment

To understand where you truly stand in your business, let's take a look at three critical areas where misalignment can often occur.

1. Client Experience vs. Promised Experience

Are your clients getting what you promise them? Are the services you promote, the experience you create and the outcomes you promise true?

As you think about this overarching piece of your business, look at these areas:

• The transformation you promote

• The support you offer

• The results you promise

• The actual client journey

2. Marketing Claims vs. Reality

Your marketing and messaging should be eye catching, curiosity inducing and create a sense of urgency around what you do. When your ideal audience finds you, it should be so easy for them to know that what you do is what they need.

So as you’re doing this alignment audit, look closely at your marketing and the messages you’re using. 

• What are you saying about your services; is it accurate?

• How are you describing your client experience; is that how it truly is?

• What results are you highlighting; are they something all clients can expect?

• Does your delivery of your products and/or services match your claims?

3. Business Vision vs. Daily Actions

We know that there are a lot of moving pieces to any successful small business. Your day-to-day tasks should be focused on the overall goals and vision you have. 

The beginning of the year is a great time to review how your daily operations have been aligning with your overall business vision and goals.

• Where are you spending most of your time in your business?

• What activities fill your calendar? Are they forward motion tasks?

• How do your current systems support your business promises and goals?

• Are your priorities reflecting your mission, vision and values?

Starting with these areas of potential misalignment is a great first step toward creating a more authentic and effective business. 

Moving Forward & Closing the Gaps

Once you've spent some time identifying where misalignments exist in your business, the next step is taking strategic action to close the gaps and make sure you’re delivering exactly what you promise. 

Start here…

1. Prioritize the Gaps

Start with those misalignments that most impact your overall client experience. Address and adjust any oversold promises in your marketing and double check for continuity across all your marketing channels. 

Also, identify the systems and processes that need your immediate attention. These, again, are the pieces that have the most impact on your business and clients. 

2. Create Your Alignment Plan

Once you know where your gaps are, lay out the steps of your re-alignment plan. 

• Update marketing materials to reflect reality

• Adjust service delivery to match promises

• Implement or improve systems to support your commitments

• Document processes for consistency

3. Establish Regular Check-ins

An important part of aligned planning in business is to also have an established strategy for keeping tabs on all pieces of your business and client experience. 

Consider creating a plan for the following:

• Monthly goal and value alignment reviews

• Requesting client feedback consistently

• Monitoring delivery against promises

The goal of this new year business assessment isn’t to point out everything you’re doing “wrong”, it’s to make sure you’re delivering the most high quality, consistent and authentic service you can to your clients, both current and potential. 

Maybe you recognize where you can improve your already excellent services or adjust messaging so the transformations you offer are even clearer. Or perhaps you see areas where you can change messaging, delivery or systems that aren’t meeting the expectations and goals you have.

As you move forward, have your plan to maintain this practice of regular reality check-ins. Your business will grow stronger when your actions, marketing, and promises are fully aligned.

Want to ensure your systems support your promises? Let's talk about how Automation on a Mission can help you deliver a consistent, aligned client experience.

Book your free demo now!