De-stress Your Business

E123: Do I Need an Ops Manager to Manage Business Processes?

In this mini-episode of De-stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury addresses the often-asked question of whether businesses need to hire an operations manager. 
Alexis discusses the value of having a Chief Operations Officer (COO) vs. heads of functions owning their processes. He emphasizes the importance of empowering department heads to manage their processes rather than delegating all responsibility to one person. 
Alexis also shares insights into the role of a 'process champion' in larger organizations. 
Please subscribe for upcoming interviews with top CEOs and experts, and don't forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

E122: Does Structure Take The Fun Out Of Your Business?

In this episode of De-stress Your Business, Alexis Kingsbury explores the impact of business structure and processes on creativity, magic, and fun. 
 
Through personal anecdotes and examples from his consulting experiences at Sony PlayStation, Alexis argues that a lack of structure can lead to chaos, burnout, and reduced creativity. 
 
He offers insights on how implementing clear roles, responsibilities, and meeting rhythms can enhance collaboration and efficiency, ultimately fostering a more enjoyable and innovative work environment. 

E121: When Is The Right Time To Document A Process?

In this episode of De-stress Your Business, host Alexis Kingsbury discusses the ideal timing for documenting business processes.
 Sharing insights from his personal experiences and research, Alexis highlights how documentation should be done iteratively and in real-time, rather than as a homework task.   He explains the importance of capturing processes while solving existing problems to ensure they are effective and useful.   Alexis provides practical advice on avoiding common pitfalls and emphasizes building a business that operates smoothly without dependency on any single individual.
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Want to learn how to get your processes documented super fast? Check out https://youtu.be/PLJffQh8eyQ

E120: Should You Video Processes or Capture Them as Text?

In this special episode of 'Destress Your Business,' Alexis Kingsbury, founder of AirManual, announces a hiatus of the podcast and shares insights on whether to use video or text for documenting business processes. 
He reflects on previous episodes with Marianne Page, Adi Clevitt, Adrienne Dorison, Mike Michalowicz, and Erin Mathie, and discusses the pros and cons of video versus text documentation. 
Alexis emphasizes the importance of, if starting with video, transitioning to detailed text for accuracy and continuous improvement. Using his extensive experience, he guides listeners on the best practices for efficient process documentation.
---- Want to see how we use AI to quickly document processes (instead of using video then turning this into a checklist)? Check out this video: https://youtu.be/nmH9tixe_PU

E119: Affordable Talent, Without Hunting Unicorns

Are you tired of chasing unicorns in your hiring process? It’s time to shift your strategy and discover a more effective way to build your team!
 
In episode 119 of the De-Stress Your Business podcast, we dive deep into the realities of finding affordable talent and why the hunt for the perfect "mini-me" is setting you up for failure. Join Alexis Kingsbury as he shares practical advice on attracting and retaining amazing team members without breaking the bank.
 
In this episode, we’ll cover:
 
Why hunting unicorns is a costly mistake
Breaking down roles and skills for better hiring decisions
Hiring for culture fit and skill match
Providing processes, guidance, and training to ensure success
 
Tune in to hear real-life examples of what works and what doesn't, and get actionable steps to transform your hiring process. Whether you’re a small business owner or a leader in a growing company, this episode is packed with insights to help you build a dynamic team without the mythical quest.
 
Listen now to episode 119 of the De-Stress Your Business podcast and start building a team of exceptional talent!
 
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Helpful resources:
Episode 117: Embedding Your Values and Brand into Your Business
AirManual: www.airmanual.co
#DeStressYourBusiness #HiringTips #BusinessGrowth #AffordableTalent #TeamBuilding #Podcast

E118: Why Your Work Ethic Is Killing Your Business, with Erin Mathie

Do you feel like your relentless work ethic is holding your business back? You're not alone. 
 
Many business owners find themselves trapped in a cycle of hard work that ultimately stunts their business growth. They become the bottleneck, trying to handle every task, from minor details to major decisions, which leaves them overwhelmed and their business stagnant. 
 
This constant hustle can lead to burnout, frustration, and the painful realization that their efforts are actually hindering their success.
 
That’s why in today's podcast, I'm speaking with Erin Mathie, a rockstar in business transformation. Erin is a fractional COO and Process Triage Certified Facilitator on a mission to end the small business time trap. With her expertise, she has transformed hundreds of businesses, teaching owners how to delegate effectively and focus on what truly drives growth. 
 
Erin's journey is inspirational: she turned her own tutoring company into a successful venture, working only a few hours a week, and now she's dedicated to helping others achieve the same freedom and success.
 
Our conversation covers:
Erin's journey from overworked business owner to strategic shareholder
How misdirected work ethic can be a business's biggest barrier
Practical steps to identify and delegate tasks to free up your time
The importance of documenting processes for better delegation
Inspiring success stories of business transformations
 
Drop your questions in the chat!
 
#DeStressYourBusiness #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Delegation #ProcessImprovement #ErinMathie
 
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Helpful resources:
 
Facebook- https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-mathie-36b2699/
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-mathie-36b2699/
Business Made Simple- https://make-business-simple.com/

E117: Keep the Magic as You Grow

Are you struggling to align your team with your business values and brand?
 
Hanging a poster of your values on the wall isn’t enough to transform your business culture.
 
Leaders often recognize the need to define core values and establish a strong brand identity. Yet, as teams grow, maintaining these standards can become a significant challenge. Without consistent reinforcement, your business may lose its unique edge, becoming less special, less profitable, and less appealing to both employees and customers.
 
So, what’s the solution?
 
In this episode, I’ll guide you through the essential steps to embed your values and brand into every part of your business. We’ll explore what this looks like in practice and highlight common mistakes to avoid.
 
Learn what values and brand really mean for your business
Hear inspiring success stories of businesses that effectively integrated their values
Get actionable tips to ensure your values and brand are reflected in all aspects of your operations
 
Let’s transform your business into something truly special!
 
Listen now to episode 117 of the De-Stress Your Business podcast and start making a lasting impact!
 
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Learn more about AirManual: www.airmanual.co

Episode 116: Embrace Your Inner Control Freak

Are you a bit of a control freak? (Like me!) 😬
Sometimes perfection and can be the enemy of greatness, particularly when it comes to delegation — holding us back from making progress because we need everything to be “just so”. 👌
However, sometimes leaders attempt to delegate, and find that the person they delegated to doesn’t do a good job.
🤦‍♂️ They make mistakes. 🤦‍♂️ They ask repeated questions. 🤦‍♂️ They completely miss the whole point! 
The leader ends up with the work back on their plate, and resolves that they are just too much of a control freak to hand the work over… they end up trapped!
So in this episode I go deep into this issue — how you can embrace just the right amount of your inner control freak to get amazing results when delegating… and the real life examples of it going well, and spectacularly wrong! 
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Helpful resources:
- Lear more about AirManual: https://www.airmanual.co

E115: How to Create a Positive Culture, With Sophie Theen

Many business leaders wrestle with getting their employees to work collaboratively.
Especially when it comes to finding the right balance between hitting day-to-day targets driving significant organizational changes.
Navigating the shift from individualism to collaboration in your team can feel like trying to solve an ever-changing puzzle. And understanding how one’s day-to-day tasks impact the organization’s mission adds another layer of complexity, yet is crucial for the company’s long-term success.
Today, we’re joined by someone truly exceptional – Sophie Theen. Not only is she a seasoned HR and operations executive, but she's also an award-winning author. Sophie's career spans from leading HR divisions and large teams to successfully running her own consultancy and mentoring women in technology.
She’s also the author of "The Soul of Startups: The Untold Stories of How Founders Affect Culture," exploring how founder personalities shape company culture—a pivotal read for founders, managers, and HR professionals. 
Today we cover :
🎯 Shifting from 'me' to 'we' in team culture🔄 Balancing company-wide goals and day-to-day tasks for success🌈 The impact of diversity and inclusion on effective team direction🚀 Nurturing the next generation of leaders.
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Helpful resources:
- Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophietheen/- Sophie Theen’s website: https://www.sophietheen.com/- Sophie’s book, The Soul of Startups: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Startups-Stories-Founders-Culture/dp/1119885590

E114: How to Master Product Design From the Inventor of Trunki

Feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of product design?
 
Every business owner knows the stakes are high when bringing a new product to market, but common design mistakes can turn an exciting process into a stressful nightmare. What if there was a way to simplify this process and reduce the anxiety it brings?
 
This week on De-stress Your Business, we're thrilled to host Rob Law, the mastermind behind Trunki, the beloved brand that revolutionized children's travel gear.
 
Rob's journey from a high-profile rejection on BBC's Dragon's Den to selling over 4 million suitcases worldwide is nothing short of inspiring. With over 120 awards and a personal endorsement in the form of an MBE for Services to Business, Rob's approach to product design not only avoids common pitfalls but also harnesses creativity to thrive in the global market.
 
Join us as we discuss:
Key strategies to avoid design mistakes that most business owners face.
Insights into turning design challenges into competitive advantages.
Real-life stories of overcoming adversity in product development.
Practical tips for streamlining your design process and reducing stress.
 
Tune in for an episode packed with actionable advice to help you navigate the product design journey with more confidence and less stress.
 
#DeStressYourBusiness #podcast #productdesign #entrepreneurship #businessgrowth #RobLaw
 
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Helpful resources:
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/trunkidaddy/
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-law-mbe/
Website- https://www.roblaw.com/
Zeepy: https://zeepy.co/