Episode 421
This week, we’re chatting with Michelle LaBrosse, a systems and processes expert, about how agency owners, teams, and even clients can work together to be faster and get projects done in as little as two weeks.
Sound too good to be true? It won’t after the hour is up.
Michelle has been perfecting agency systems and processes for decades, and her methodology has become standard practice for many. Her tips and tools for boosting productivity and project efficiency will leave you wondering why you haven’t adopted these systems and processes sooner.
A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- Breaking deliverables and projects into 2-week deadlines
- Getting everyone on the same page about what “done” means
- How having more systems and processes can aid creativity
- How to get the client on board with your process
- Getting away from overcomplicated systems and processes
- The process behind creating simple processes
- Making tools fit the workflow, not the other way around
- How agency owners and leaders can respect new systems and processes
- Owning your distraction issues that stifle productivity
“If you’re a cog in the wheel, you're a clog in the wheel. If you're an owner and inserted yourself in this process, you are part of the problem. You might be the entire problem.” @michellecheetah Click To Tweet
“One of my rules of behavior is we all agree what done means. That is such a key thing about finishing projects.” @michellecheetah Click To Tweet
“If you're saying that the process will stymie your creativity, then you're not a professional because professionals have processes.” @michellecheetah Click To Tweet
“If you're not in love with the process, you must redesign it. And how do you make it simpler? You take out all of the non-value added steps.” @michellecheetah Click To Tweet
“You design the process for the 80% condition. You don't design the process to handle the 20% complexity that gets thrown in.” @michellecheetah Click To Tweet
Ways to contact Michelle:
- Website: https://www.cheetahlearning.com/
- LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/best-pmp-exam-prep-course/
- LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cheetah-learning/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/michellecheetah
Resources:
- Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BABApodcast
- Agency Niche Report Card: https://agencymanagementinstitute.com/nichecriteria/
Hey, before we get to the show, I just wanna remind you that we have created a private Facebook group just for you, our podcast listeners. There are almost 1500 agencies, agency owners, inside that Facebook group every day talking about what’s going on inside their shop, asking for resources, gut checking decisions, talking about everything from pricing to hiring, to biz dev. All kinds of things are happening there. We’re starting conversations. You guys are starting conversations. What I love about it is the community’s coming together and sharing resources, encouraging each other, and just sort of having a safe place to talk about what it’s like to own an agency. So all you have to do is head over to Facebook, search for a Build, a Better, Agency Podcast group, or Build, a Better, Agency Podcast.
And you’ll find the group. You have to answer three questions. If you don’t answer the questions, we can’t let you in. But they’re simple. It’s, do you own an agency or do you work at an agency? And if so, what’s the URL? What are you trying to get out of the group? And will you behave, basically? So come join us. If you haven’t been there for a while, come on back. If you haven’t joined, join into the conversation. I think you’re gonna find it really helpful. All right, let’s get to the show.
It doesn’t matter what kind of agency you run, traditional digital media buying, web dev, PRR brand, whatever your focus, you still need to run a profitable business. The Build, a Better, Agency Podcast, presented by a White Label IQ, will expose you to the best practices that drive growth, client and employee retention and profitability, bringing his 25 plus years of experience as both an agency owner and agency consultant. Please welcome your host, Drew McLellan.
Hey everybody. Drew McLellan here from Agency Management Institute, back with another episode of Build Better Agency. We’re gonna talk about how to get things done faster and more efficiently in today’s episode, which I know is a topic near and dear to all of your hearts. Just wanna remind you, before I tell you a little bit about our guest, that we have a tool on the website that many folks find super helpful. So many of you are trying to decide if you wanna niche down your agency, and if so, what niche makes sense? So a niche could of course, be an industry you specialize in. It could be an audience that you are better at reaching and communicating with than most others. Or it could be a service deliverable.
Even though that niche is gonna be a shorter run because other agencies are gonna jump on, it’s easier for other agencies to jump on board. You know that a few years ago, agencies that specialized in Amazon marketplace were very few and far between, and now there’s a lot of them. So, you know, that kind of niche, maybe you have a three