When I think of a junk drawer, I think of stuff placed in a drawer to be forgotten about. Unused stuff that I don’t have any other home or spot to put it. Actually, I have a junk closet where I stuff decorative boxes, both small and large, ribbons, wrapping paper, fun bags, and tissue paper. You wouldn’t be alone in thinking it is a waste of space. I agree, but I can’t seem to give up the space for another purpose. Unless I stop giving gifts. I just did the annual organization of the closet and threw out a bunch of stuff. It felt great.

A junk drawer usually doesn’t cause much stress as a business junk drawer can. Even though junk drawers don’t necessarily disappear, there are ways you can deal with them to relieve stress, save time, and increase profitability.

 In business, we have metaphorical junk drawers that cause us and others anxiety and lead to inefficiencies in our businesses. Sarah calls the first one our Financial Anything junk drawer. This business junk drawer is about tracking and processing money going in and out of the business; and how those processes allow or hinder growth. Processes we start with aren’t necessarily the processes or the software that will support the next company growth spurt. We consider the length of time it takes for business owners to make financial decisions. Only your bookkeeper knows for sure. Sarah has lots of ideas here.

 Find out the customer service areas like speed and quality you can organize and update in the #2 Customer Service business junk drawer.

 The #3 business junk drawer is Quality Assurance. Become aware of what needs thinking through before hiring more people.

Sarah works with businesses employing 10 to 300 people. She has many examples of how many days, hours, and work weeks she has saved companies, working her way out of jobs.

Sarah’s inspiration comes from being raised by two highly efficient computer programmers. And, maybe playing hockey for the College of St. Benedict shaped her unique perspective and ability to know her competition. Could it be that completing her MBA coursework in London and Thailand expanded her business savvy, widening her perspective of business cultural practices and boosting her business competence? How about working at Target honing her Process Ninja investigative skills and applying her unique expertise in saving Target and other companies time, valuing talent, and improving profit margins? These experiences and skills are integrated with Sarah’s aspirations: to help clarify and simplify how you do business and make money.

Use our conversation to get inspired and lower your stress and the stress of those you employ by tackling one or all three business junk drawers we discuss. Next week we will introduce four more business junk drawers to facilitate how you efficiently run your business, so get started by addressing those junk drawers this week. DOWNLOAD

Next Step after listening: Challenge yourself and do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below.