Process Pal: Lauren Stratford
Introducing Process Pal:
Lauren Stratford of Seriously Sorted
Tell us all about yourself and your business/what you do:
I’m a Productivity Coach & Systems Designer helping talented creatives design systems and processes that give them the freedom to do what they love: create! 💙
What was one of the very first processes you implemented in your business, that you would recommend others to try out:
Work out on paper what you want your customer journey to look like. This lets you identify areas you can template and automate, as well as the info you need when prospective clients ask you “what happens next”. The clearer you can be on your customer journey the more comfortable everyone will be! And as much as tech can help you automate “all the things” you need to know what those “things” are before you automate them. So don’t chose tech before you know what you need.
What's your super power when it comes to running your business, c'mon, don't be shy!
I’m a super high detailed person and i can take anyone’s business and find the repetitive processes and consistent stages of the client journey for you to free up your time!
What do you think the secret is to running a successful, sustainable business?
Understanding not just what you like doing but also your capacity to complete your service, and how that fits in with your wider life. I’m a big believer in ‘work to live’ not ‘live to work’. If the way you run your business or the structures you’ve created doesn’t serve you then change it so it does. Know your limits with availability as well as your skill set and stick to them. Niching will serve you better in the long run than trying to be everything to everyone. Stay in your lane and own it!
“I’m a big believer in ‘work to live’ not ‘live to work’. If the way you run your business or the structures you’ve created doesn’t serve you then change it so it does. Know your limits with availability as well as your skill set and stick to them. ”
Tell us the goss, have you had a process/biz failure story and what did you learn from it?
Haha! I help others sort out their systems and processes and I often stop and think ‘huh, i don’t do that for myself but I’m advising others to do it, whoops!’. I often catch myself out realising that I could improve my own customer journey by learning from my clients. I think this is common though - web designers often leave their site updates until last, photographers rarely get their own photo taken etc. And at the end of the day there’s always something to improve and people are very forgiving, we’re all human!
What's your go-to tool or system(s) for keeping your creative process streamlined:
For service based businesses in particular I will always suggest 3 basic tools:
Customer Relationship Management/CRM, for managing the back and forth with Clients and staying out of your emails (*Dubsado if you’re a one-woman-show is perfect)
Project Management System, for managing your own internal projects and tasks (ClickUp/Asana/Trello)
Appointment Scheduler, for managing all of your Enquiry Calls and Client Appointments (Acuity Scheduler/Calendly)
And if that feels overwhelming, then I always say to start with an Appointment Scheduler, as organising your client facing time is often the biggest back and forth piece. Plus this software takes care of all the reminders, can manage client notes, and has some cool little work around if you’re not ready/nervous about using a CRM.
Walk us through your morning routine and how this sets you up for a productive day. Alternatively if you are a night owl. let's here your evening routine!
Well as I’m a processes gal I let my tech systems tell me what to do! When everything is set up correctly I wake up, make a coffee, check that there’s no client follow up required in my CRM, check what meetings I have in my scheduler/calendar, and check my tasks in my Project Management software. As long as I update things as I go I never really have to plan my days at all!
Your top tips for balancing work and lifestyle so you don't end up a stressy mess:
Use one calendar to manage your work and life. Understand when you do your best work (eg days of the week/morning vs night) and design your routine around that. Get used to putting all your personal appointments in to an electronic calendar so that when you’re ready to have a scheduler, then scheduler does all the work and arranges work around your life and general availability.
What's your fav thing to do in the weekend after a long work week?
I’m quite introverted so I usually need a break from people! I love to ready fiction on my Kindle, or see what YouTube thinks I’ll be interested (usually a new software or tech gadget, YouTube knows me so well!). But I also adore spending time with my niece and nephew so I always have Fridays reserved for them.
What is one major pain point you or your client has had in business and how did you overcome it?
My client’s biggest pain point is not knowing where to start with their processes. They often thing that there is nothing repeatable or consistent about their work, but I can assure you there is!
Always start with your wider goals and establish your values for yourself and your biz so that when you’re mapping out your client journey or any other process you can always check back that these are in alignment.
Finally, do you have any resources you think would benefit other process-driven fiends?
Shameless plug for my podcast, The Seriously Sorted Podcast
Last but not least, where can we find you online?
Website: seriouslysorted.com.au / Instagram: @seriouslysorted
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