Systemizing Growth: Helping Businesses Scale and Thrive with Josh Fonger

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Have you ever heard these myths about implementing systems and processes for greater efficiency? Myth 1: It's too time-consuming and complicated. Myth 2: It stifles creativity and innovation. Myth 3: It's only for large organizations. In this episode, our guest Josh Fonger will debunk these myths and reveal the truth about the importance of implementing systems and processes for greater efficiency.

"Without knowing what the bullseye is, you don't know whether it's working for you or not. You need to set a standard and define what success looks like, so you can determine if your systems are helping you get there or not." - Josh Fonger

Access all show and episode resources HERE

About Our Guest:

Meet Josh Fonger - a dynamic force in the world of business performance architecture. Known for his innovative approach to simplifying and systemising processes, Josh helps business owners unlock remarkable growth. With rich experience across more than 300 industries, he has guided over 1,000 clients to overcome the chaos of daily operations, particularly when time, resources and money have reached a critical point. His Christian faith imbues his approach with integrity and purpose, serving as a reminder that order can indeed be birthed from chaos.

Reasons to Listen:

• Identify tactics to maximizing individual and business productivity through effective time management strategies.
• Discover the crucial role of implementing systems and processes for achieving maximum efficiency.
• Realize the value of delegation in magnifying productivity and leveraging one's strengths.
• Understand the importance of prioritization in accomplishing successful time management.
• Recognize the benefits of creating white space and stillness for overall wellbeing.

Episode Highlights:

00:00:00 - The Visionary Leader,

The conversation starts with discussing the role of a visionary leader in a company. It is suggested that when the visionary is not constantly present in the office, the company can actually grow more because they disrupt things less and the machine runs better with fewer adjustments.

00:08:04 - The Type of Work,

Josh Fonger explains that his work as a consultant and coach is not specific to any particular industry. He helps leaders, business owners, and organizational leaders who have maxed out on their time, resources, and money. His focus is on helping them systemize their business for growth.

00:09:54 - Working with Different Organizations,

While Josh Fonger mainly works with smaller companies, he also assists larger organizations in fine-tuning their structures and managing their systems. The trigger point for seeking his help is often when key employees leave, or there are significant changes such as divorce or death in a family business.

00:12:05 - Preferred Client Size,

While Josh Fonger prefers to work with the leader or head of an organization, he doesn't turn down clients based on size. However, he acknowledges that the implementation process may vary depending on the stage and size of the company.

00:23:45 - The Importance of Systems,

Josh Fonger highlights the significance of systems in business and how they allow organizations to scale and grow. He emphasizes that systems help eliminate chaos, reduce stress, and enable businesses to function smoothly even when

00:14:33 - The Tension Between Visionaries and Systematizers,

This chapter explores the tension between visionaries and systematizers in a business setting. Visionaries thrive on new ideas and lack of structure, while systematizers love checklists and organization. The challenge lies in finding a balance between the two and allowing each person to play their role effectively.

00:15:46 - Empowering Visionaries and Technicians,

The chapter discusses how to empower visionaries and technicians in different types of companies. For smaller companies without a visionary, systematizing and delegating tasks can free up the technician to think more strategically. In larger companies with a visionary, it's best to let them focus on setting clear vision and stay out of day-to-day operations.

00:17:34 - Balancing Innovation and Structure,

This section emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between innovation and structure. While innovation is crucial for growth, having a structure or recipe for how things are done allows for testing and data-driven decision-making. This way, adjustments can be made based on real results rather than relying solely on gut instincts.

00:18:31 - Getting Visionaries and Technicians to Adopt a Systems Mindset,

The chapter discusses whether it's easier to get a visionary to adopt a systems mindset or a technician to think big picture. It's found that once technicians are freed from day-to-day tasks, they often become more visionary than they realize. Visionaries, on the other hand, are encouraged to support and lead the philosophy of systemization without getting involved in day to day operations.

00:29:33 - The Importance of Documenting Systems,

Josh Fonger shares how he realized the importance of documenting systems and structures in order to make lasting changes in businesses. He learned this lesson after experiencing repeated problems that he thought he had already solved. By documenting systems, he was able to ensure that changes stuck and could be built upon.

00:31:11 - The Humbling Experience of Financial Loss,

Josh discusses how losing everything financially and professionally was the most humbling period of his life. He had to redefine success and found his identity in Christ. Through this experience, he learned about God's sovereignty and provision, and the importance of starting each day with prayer.

00:32:32 - Lessons Learned During Difficult Times,

Josh reflects on the lessons he learned about resilience, God's provision, and the need for wisdom beyond oneself during difficult times. He also emphasizes the importance of relying on God's timing and not trying to control the future.

00:36:52 - Embracing Humility and Dependence on God,

Josh talks about how his experiences, including being a consultant during COVID, have taught him the importance of humility and dependence on God. He realizes that he doesn't have all the answers and needs wisdom beyond himself to guide his clients. Prayer and listening to God have become more important to him than relying solely on knowledge and expertise.

00:40:25 - Getting Started with Systems,

Josh advises starting with the simplest system that happens every day and documenting it.

00:44:03 - The Psychology of Delegation,

Josh discusses the psychology behind why some leaders struggle with delegation. Factors such as comfort, perfectionism, and the tyranny of the urgent can prevent leaders from effectively utilizing their resources and delegating tasks. Straight-A students and valedictorians often have the hardest time with delegation due to their desire for perfection and recognition.

00:46:21 - Perfectionism and Sacrifice in Spiritual Organizations,

In spiritual organizations, there is often a belief that sacrificing oneself for the greater good will earn favor with God. However, this mindset can lead to burnout and ineffective results. Leaders in these organizations should focus on building systems and delegating tasks to prevent overwork and improve outcomes.

00:48:11 - Practical Steps for Implementing Systems,

To start implementing systems, leaders should create a list of all their daily tasks and analyze them for productivity. Eliminate unnecessary tasks and work on documenting systems for tasks that can be delegated. Additionally, leaders should continuously evaluate and improve existing systems for greater efficiency.

00:50:10 - The Importance of Time Tracking,

Time tracking can help leaders identify areas of wasted time and make necessary adjustments. Many people underestimate how much time they spend on unproductive activities such as checking social media or consuming irrelevant information. By tracking time and making intentional changes, leaders can gain more control over their schedules.

00:54:14 - Creating White Space and Hearing from God,

Systems and structure provide leaders with the opportunity to create white space in their business and in their lives. This allows for more creative moments and idea generation.

00:58:04 - Conclusion and Next Steps,

Tim thanks Josh for being on the podcast and announces that new episodes are released every Monday. Encourages listeners to continue being their best selves.

Key Lessons:

1. The importance of defining one's professional title and incorporating faith into it. The speaker shares their struggle and the impact of adding "faith-driven executive coach" to their bio.

2. The significance of humility in work and life. The speaker emphasizes the value of humility in their own experiences as a consultant during challenging times and acknowledges the limitations of their knowledge and expertise.

3. The unpredictability of the future and the need for wisdom beyond oneself. The speaker recognizes that no matter how well-planned a strategy may be, no one can accurately predict the future. They stress the importance of seeking guidance from a higher power and relying on their community with God.

4. The importance of reclaiming mental space. The speaker shares their personal practice of avoiding social media and news for over two years to prioritize mental clarity and effectiveness in their role as a business consultant, father, and husband.

5. The value of implementing the right information rather than accumulating excessive knowledge. The speaker highlights their role in providing specific ideas and questions to help solve business problems, encouraging listeners to focus on what they specifically need in their circumstances.

6. The power of systemizing and delegating tasks for business growth and expansion. The speaker explains how they help small companies by systemizing and delegating tasks, freeing up time for a visionary role. They emphasize the importance of documentation and creating clear standards.

7. The importance of recognizing and addressing the simplest symptoms of inefficiency. The speaker advises starting with the simplest symptom that occurs daily when trying to improve efficiency, providing an example of helping the head of a church's marketing department delegate tasks.

8. Overcoming barriers to delegation. The speaker acknowledges the various reasons individuals struggle with delegation and offers insights into how to overcome these barriers, such as fear of imperfection, comfort with doing tasks themselves, and lack of forward-thinking mindset.

9. The need for patience and humility in understanding God's time frames. The speaker shares personal experiences of living in a relative's condo and house-sitting, emphasizing the potential positive aspects that may be unseen initially and suggesting the importance of redefining success.

10. The value of analyzing and tracking daily activities to identify time-consuming and unproductive tasks. The speaker encourages listeners to eliminate unnecessary tasks and delegate others, sharing examples of improved processes through analysis and documentation.

11. The importance of embracing change and improving processes. The speaker talks about encountering resistance from those accustomed to doing things a certain way but emphasizes the benefits of finding better and faster ways of completing tasks.

Resources & Action Steps:

• Visit the Seek Go Create website to listen to the full podcast episode featuring Josh Fonger.
• Purchase the book, Work the System, to learn more about organizing chaos and implementing systems in your business.
• Contact Josh Fonger for coaching or consulting services to help simplify, systemize, and generate powerful growth in your business.
• Consider implementing structured systems in your own business to maximize efficiency and scalability.
• Connect with Josh Fonger on LinkedIn to stay updated on his latest insights and offerings in business performance architecture.
• Follow Seek Go Create on social media for regular updates and inspiration on living, working, and leading with purpose.

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