Start Out as You Mean to Go

Do you have an organization  chart of your business? All to often, I find that business owners have never drawn an organization chart for the business they are building. Your org chart is the blueprint upon which your business is built.

As a business owner, you should think of yourself as the architect of your company. It is your design upon  which everything is built. As an architect, you determine all aspects of the business and how they will function and collaborate with one another. When architect designs a building, he creates drawings that for electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry and foundation. The front elevation drawing allows any one who sees the drawing to imagine what the finished building will look like however the additional sets of electrical, plumbing, carpentry etc. describe in complete detail where and how the building is constructed.

This is the same process that you need as a business owner. To begin building a business with a strong foundation, you must create a visual representation of the inner workings of the company.  In order to do this begin by describing each job within the company and how they are connected to all areas of the company. 

This visual representation or organizational chart allows you the ability to see in front elevation the business that you are designing.

In order to craft your organizational chart. Begin with your position as CEO/President draw solid lines to indicate any positions which will report directly to you and dotted lines for any lines of positions which you may input into their functions. Separate each individual department with a title and position and the indicated with a solid line any positions which report to this position.

Notice that I did not say person but position. Don’t create an organizational chart based upon a person. People come and go, but the duties of the job remain the same. It is important to know what are the functions of jobs and how they impact your companies to provide a valuable service. If you create a job based upon the person performing the job, if and when that person leaves it may be difficult to fill the position because it was crafted based upon the person and not the job responsibilities. Be careful to craft the design as how it will be in 3 to 5 years not how it is today.

If you need further help in crafting your vision of your business, I am happy to help, email me at sakira@drsakira.com or give me a call 773-491-1028. Dr. Sakira Jackson is the founder and CEO of Masters of Business Academy and CEO Mastermind Groups in Chicago. www.drsakira.comin chicaagofounder and CEO of Masters of Business Academaves it may be dificult to re bu