The Ops Authority
Natalie Gingrich
2 Listeners
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 The Ops Authority Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Ops Authority episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Ops Authority for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Ops Authority episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
131: How to Get Your First (or Next) Client with Abbey Ashley
The Ops Authority
01/12/22 • 42 min
Do you have a plan to secure your next client? How can you build momentum in marketing yourself (even if it feels uncomfortable)?
My dear friend Abby Ashley is with me today chatting about how you get a client. Learning is great, but we also have to take action to secure that first client. This episode is sure to help you move forward with gaining your first (or next) client.
For full show notes, visit theopsauthority.com/podcast/131
1 Listener
209: What to do When Proposals Don't Get a Response
The Ops Authority
07/19/23 • 19 min
Have you ever sent out a proposal to a client you were really excited to get started with, and then... crickets?
We are bringing you a new series, called “Quickie Convos” which are questions that have come up in our Facebook group, inside our certified Director of Operations (DOO) Alumni group, or our active students. These are the questions that are coming up most often.
Today, our question revolves around proposals that have not gotten a response yet. Those that you’ve sent the proposal out, and now you are in that limbo phase in which the client hasn’t gotten back to you.
For full show notes, visit theopsauthority.com/podcast/209.
1 Listener
92: Four Types of People Who Will Help You Grow Your Business
The Ops Authority
04/14/21 • 21 min
Who are the people who help you grow and flourish in your business?
Today, we’re talking about a topic that will hopefully be beneficial as you grow your service based business. Because we are service providers we tend to be the servant type, but today we are talking about the four people you need in your business as it grows.
Four Types of People You Need In Your BusinessA common question I’m asked is “Who do you lean on for support” or “who is your coach?”
As I reflect back over my entire career, I always remember having mentors. I wouldn’t be at this point in my career if I did not have the influence of a variety of different people in my life. I've identified four different types of people who have influenced me in my journey. This is a framework that has served me both personally and professionally.
1. Your Biz BestieThese are your business influences that have become real friends to you on your journey. They are typically some of the first people who influence your business and are similar to you or are in a similar stage of business. I met many of my biz besties through Facebook groups, and sometimes these people would even turn into clients.
A biz bestie is someone you have a real life connection with. Business may have been the thing that attracted you to them, but along the way you became good friends. They allow you to be open, candid, and unscripted.
2. Your MastermindThe mastermind is a group of people you are drawn to, and who share your values. There is often a common thread amongst the entire group. I've had the best luck in masterminds when we all had a connection around our strongest values, even though the businesses we represented were very different. No one was in the same space, so there was no sense of competition.
I prefer to be in a mastermind of complementary businesses. When people come from different experiences, we tend to collaborate in groups which makes it easy for everyone to share. Over time those masterminds become stronger and stronger, and oftentimes end up being some of your business besties.
3. Mentor/CoachThis person is typically paid. They have gone before you so they are significantly ahead of you in business. This person has experience and success underneath their belt, they are doing something you aspire to do, and they have what you need.
I’ve had four different paid mentors at different times in my journey. I’ve reached out and became connected and mentored by someone who had something I needed. Sometimes it was in the operational field, sometimes I leveraged business model experience and knowledge, and currently I am mentored by someone with marketing knowledge.
“One of the richest things I've received from every coach that I've worked with are the strategies that helped them become effective.”
Don't have more than one mentor at a time! Do the internal work to figure out what you need support on, find who you need, and validate that this person aligns with you.
“When our environment becomes pervasive with thought leaders, ideas, and strategies, it can put us in a place of stagnation.”
4. Inspirational FigureThese people may not be in your field, but they are aspirational. You find yourself watching the way they run their business, and the way they show up and build their business. You don’t want to replicate their business but you are influenced by what they are doing.
It's important to find people who aren't in your space, but still give you an aspirational level to admire. Let it help you connect to what your business could be in the future. Let it help with strategy and innovation, and watch the way other women are thriving in their business. Let it fuel you!
Although the specific people may change over time, you need all four of these women in each stage of business growth!
Weekly Ops ActivityWho is your biz bestie (or besties)? Head on over to the Facebook community, and let us know!
Other Ways to Connect with Me:This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/92.
Which Assessments Matter for Ops Experts and Why
The Ops Authority
10/14/20 • 22 min
How do you know if you are suited for a career in operations, and how can you figure out if you have the innate strengths and instincts that it requires to be successful in this path?
Today I’m sharing the most important assessment that I use in my business for screening applicants for the Director of Operations (DOO) certification program and matching candidates to my clients. I’m going to be talking about the Kolbe A assessment.
Kolbe A AssessmentThis assessment is used in lots of industries, and in corporate settings. In fact, one of my last big projects in corporate was to administer the Kolbe A assessment to all of the managers and senior executives. This required me to become extremely familiar with the test, to learn how it worked, why it worked, what the value was and how to explain the test to the leaders in the company.
I’ve been using Kolbe A Assessment for the last 15 years, and I’m going to use some of that same knowledge to explain it to you today.
3 Different Parts of the MindThese all compartmentalize different parts of the way that we process information and feelings.
- Cognitive: The thinking part of your mind, including intelligence, experience, skills, knowledge, learned behaviors which become habits. This is all formed and held in the cognitive part of your mind. It is the piece of the brain that allows us to understand what we can do.
- Affective: The feeling part of your mind that looks at your values, personality type, types of emotions you have, your preferences and motivations. This is what you want to do.
- Conative: The doing part of the mind. This is all of our instinctive, innate strengths that we have, our purposeful actions, our mental energy and our problem solving methods. It increases performance and it decreases stress. It is how you will take action or execute.
There are specific tests that measure each of these categories. You need more than one assessment to get a good idea of who is on your team, and what their gifts are.
Cognitive: The Predictive Index or the Wonderlic. Both of these are cognitive assessments that measure IQ.
Affective: The DiSC, Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinders, and the Enneagram are all looking at the affective or feeling part of the brain.
Conative: The Kolbe A is looking at the way you execute. It's how your brain takes a task and goes to work.
The Conative Part of the BrainEveryone has equal amounts of conative mental energy. That's not the case with the affective and the cognitive parts of the brain.
The conative is your natural way of taking action if you are free to be yourself. It strips away your feelings, values and what you have learned over time, and is the default way you process information.
“It is massively important for operators to understand what someones natural innate strengths are because it allows us to put them in the best roles and develop people on our teams.”
Kolbe A Action ModesKolbe A looks at 4 different modes. There is not a perfect profile, although I have done extensive work to identify what profiles work best as an operator.
- Fact finder: How you gather and share information
- Follow through: How you organize and design
- Quick Start: How you deal with risk and uncertainty
- Implementer: How you deal with space and tangibles
Kolbe looks at these on a scale of 1-10, and assigns a number to each of the categories. Kolbe is the superior conative test because:
- Its unique
- It is the only assessment which measures your effort and energy
- It is positive and predictive; your results will be focused on your strengths and how you solve problems
- It is unbiased, and looks at the way that your brain takes action
- It's valid and reliable
“When you have this information you can stop trying to change who you are, and you can adapt who you are.”
How Assessments are Helpful in HiringWhen you are hiring, you want to make sure the candidate has the education and required skills for the position.
If you are looking at the affective (feeling part)... will their personality be a good addition to the leader or culture? Do they share the same values?
Regarding the conative... do they have the instincts or natural innate abilities that are needed to do this job?
“The Kolbe A takes an unbiased look at how we can add the right person to our team.”
If you ever see job descriptions that I create, you will always see that I ask for Myers-Briggs, DiSC, and Kolbe A scores. It is a huge benefit to know th...
149: How to Separate From an Implementer’s Identity
The Ops Authority
05/18/22 • 13 min
In today's podcast we are going to talk about how to separate yourself from the implementer identity, which you have been tied to for so long. I want to give you some helpful pointers on how to do that.
Get clear on the 10 ways to find higher quality clients with this free guide.
For full show notes visit theopsauthority.com/podcast/149.
09/11/19 • 56 min
How can you find the right project management tool for your business? What should you look for? What questions do you need to ask before investing money and time into a system? How does the way you think impact the tool you need?
In this episode, certified DOO and founder of Simplified Ops Collective Cadri Cunningham and I talk through what a project management system is, why you need one, and how to pick the right one for you. We share our favorite tools and break down the pros and cons of the top four options in the marketplace.
What is a Project Management Tool?A project management tool helps you create accountability for yourself, oversight for your projects and tasks, and show you the accomplishments you’ve had in your business.
Project management tools differ from note-taking tools. With a note-taking tool like a Google Doc or Evernote, you can’t track, be held accountable, or share tasks with a team.
Why These Tools are ImportantThese tools allow you to:
- Track deadlines
- Connect daily actions to your vision
- Provide understanding of all the steps in your project
- Outline who owns each task
A system needs to work for those who use it. Don’t go with the shiny new tool. Use what works for you or else it’s ineffective.
Questions to Help You Choose the Right Tool for You Questions a DOO Will Ask- Which project management tool do you use?
- Do you really use it?
- Who keeps up with the information in the tool? In other words, who “owns” the tool?
- Why do you use it?
- Is your current tool working for you? Do you check it everyday?
- If it doesn’t work for you, what features are missing? What is complicated about your current system?
- To-do list people are often linear thinkers.
- Board view people are often visual thinkers.
- If you’re unsure where you land, ask yourself how you plan your child’s birthday party. Whatever process you use in “real life” will be similar to how you think about your business.
- Do you prefer a to-do list or board view?
- Do you like a calendar view for tasks?
- Do you like a simple system or a more involved system?
- Is there a specific project management tool designed for your industry? (Interior designers, attorneys, and home-schoolers have their own tools.)
- What document storage program tool do you use and does it integrate with your project management tool?
- Do you use a lot of processes and workflows? Do you like your tasks to move from left to right (visual thinker) or top to bottom (linear thinker)?
- Do you have a lot of repeated tasks? Does the project management tool allow for that?
- Do you need a tool with automation features?
- What does your budget look like for systems and tools?
- How many people do you need to communicate with?
- Do you need to be able to track time within the project management tool?
- How much are you doing together within the tool?
There are a variety of options for project management tools. We share some of our favorites and the pros and cons of various tools.
Natalie and Cadri’s Top PicksI default to Trello because I’ve used it for so long. However, I’m also interested in Teamwork because of the messaging capability and task management features. It also has a CRM. ClickUp also has my interest because it can show you all your projects at one time.
Cadri prefers Asana because she loves to-do lists and the clean interface. She can also organize by task and it offers a calendar view. She also loves SubCast because of the to-do list capability.
Pros and Cons of the Top Project Management Tools Trello- It’s good when you have just a few projects, and it allows you to track workflows.
- It’s visually stimulating, you can get lost if you don’t set it up well, and there’s no calendar piece.
- It offers a clean interface, to-do list and board views, and the free version is perfect for most organizations.
- You can only have a limited number of people on your team and you can’t see timelines.
- It allows client and team communication.
- It can get pricey an...
14: Standing Out Online Without Spending A Fortune
The Ops Authority
10/16/19 • 16 min
Visibility is a key aspect of any business, but how can you stand out in a crowded digital space? And what will work for you at your current stage of business?
In this episode, I break down what I’ve done the past three years in my own business, what I’m doing now, and how you can create a strategy that works for you. Whether you want free visibility or you’re ready to invest, this episode will help you learn how to increase your visibility online.
How I Stood Out OnlineIn my first two years of business, I promised myself a zero-debt business so I offered a one-to-one service.
“Persistence is the name of business.”
My free visibility strategy for those two years looked like:
- Networking in Facebook groups
- Going live on Facebook weekly
- Hosting online coffee chats
The results of that free visibility strategy were that I:
- Incurred no cost!
- Spent my time networking
- Learned about other business structures
- Understood pain points of potential clients
- Created solutions
- Grew my opportunities like participating in online events and conferences
- Generated $10k/month
In year three of business, I was a guest on 21 podcasts, I spoke on three stages, and traveled to business events. I was super intentional about every event and courageously connected with influencers who introduced me to their contacts and mastermind groups. I also got serious about my content strategy, e.g. posting blogs weekly and emailing my list.
Here’s My Visibility Plan TodayNow in year four of my business, visibility looks like:
- Paid speaking engagements
- Participating in higher-level masterminds
- Growing my email list
- Podcasting
I strongly encourage you to do what I did to grow my business online:
- Connect with integrity
- Serve
- Listen
- Save money
- Make sacrifices
- Test lots of things
- Optimize and automate what works
“Visibility is a key component to a successful and thriving business.”
If You’re Still Stuck on How to Get Visible, Do ThisIf you’re feeling really stumped about visibility, I encourage you to join the A-Team waitlist. We spend one full month on creating your visibility plan and optimizing your current one. Sounds good right? The A-Team is designed to help you take action, become accountable, and accelerate your business growth.
Weekly Ops Activity- Look at where Visibility ranks among your seven Strategic Objectives.
- If it’s in the top three, create a list of where you’re currently visible, e.g. social media, Facebook groups, opt-ins, podcast appearances, your email list.
- Evaluate if these current channels are doing you good. Look at your metrics to see if your Visibility is paying off.
- Post your plan (or questions!) in our private Facebook group.
Episode 5: The Seven Pillars to Your Business Strategy with Andrea Layne
Episode 11: Behind the Scenes of The Ops Authority’s Systems with Esther Littlefield
Other Ways to Connect with Me:This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/14.
21: Managing the Holiday Hustle in Life + Business
The Ops Authority
12/04/19 • 19 min
The holiday hustle is coming! How can you balance the holidays with your family while being productive in your business? How can you think strategically in your business without sacrificing family time?
In this episode, I share seven ideas to help you manage the holiday hustle. These ideas aren’t prescriptive so pick and choose what works best for you.
1. Remember You Have Less TimeDuring the holidays, you have less time, less focus, and lower productivity so readjust your expectations and don’t take on new projects.
2. Take This Time Show Your GratitudeLove on your people, e.g. your team, subscribers, social media followers. Show the human side of you.
3. Make a List of Everything Going On in Your Business and LifeGrab a sheet of paper. Make one line down the middle vertically. On the left side, write down your business tasks. On the right side, write down your personal tasks. Now take your business task column and determine what’s a “Have To Do” and what items are “Like To Do.” Do the same for the personal side of your list.
Making these lists will allow you to understand the magnitude of all you need to get done and then be strategic about it. Delegate what you can and create deadlines for the “Have To Do” items. Tackle your “Have To Do” list first then prioritize your “Like To Do” items.
4. Communicate Your NeedsYou have a lot of commitments right now so communicate what you need in your business and in your personal life.
5. Give Yourself a GiftWhat can you give yourself? For me, I dream of shopping with no kids or a day in the kitchen. For you, it might be upgrading your computer or investing in a course.
6. Make Sure the Season is Meaningful to YouYou can continue to do the same activities at the same pace or you can slow down and enjoy the season. In our private Facebook group, let us know what makes the season special to you and how you’ll carve out time for it.
7. Dream. Reflect.Take the time to innovate and evaluate. And don’t forget to make a way to capture your ideas all in one place. (I use the Notes feature on my phone. It doesn’t have to be fancy!)
“This season doesn’t have to be hustle, hustle, hustle.”
Weekly Ops ActivityGrab a sheet of paper. Make one line down the middle vertically. On the left side, write down your business tasks. On the right side, write down your personal tasks. Now take your business task column and determine what’s a “Have To Do” and what items are “Like To Do.” Do the same for the personal side of your list. Now share it in our private Facebook group!
Stay Connected:Subscribe on your favorite podcast app.
Other Ways to Connect with Me:This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/21.
16: How One Business Grew Her Revenue by 46% with Veronica Staudt
The Ops Authority
10/30/19 • 47 min
As you lead your business, do you experience mental blocks, time challenges, or the desire to bring in more revenue? Every entrepreneur experiences these issues while battling feelings of overwhelm because she’s trying to do it all.
In this episode, I talk with two-time A-Team alum Veronica Staudt, owner of Vintage Meet Modern, about what the A-Team is, how it works, and what you’ll get out of it.
If you’re ready to take care of the backside of your business, the A-Team is the way to get it done. Veronica is a great example of how A-Team can help a business transform and increase revenue by focusing on the operations side of business.
Veronica’s Business Before A-TeamVeronica started selling jewelry through eBay in 2009 after 20 years of working in the personal shopping and jewelry business. She realized she was bringing home increasing revenue, but she wanted to provide a more personalized experience for her shoppers, so she launched her own site.
Before A-Team, Veronica:
- Felt overwhelmed, tired, and heavy because she knew leaner times were ahead.
- Had a business that wasn’t growing how she wanted.
- Was trying to do everything at once.
“We cannibalize some of our own energy with negative thinking.” - Natalie Gingrich
The A-Team gives you practical strategies to personalize what works for you and your business.
Veronica’s Business After A-TeamAs a result of going through A-Team, Veronica stopped getting up every day trying to do it all with a mega-long to-do list.
Through the program, Veronica:
- Discovered what she’s more passionate about so she could focus on those areas.
- Gained confidence in knowing what roles needed to be filled in her business.
- Learned that “efficiency is everything.”
- Completed homework and exercises that allowed her to measure results.
“If you’ve got an idea, if you’ve got a product, I can help you be successful.” - Natalie Gingrich
When you do the work in A-Team, you realize all you do in your business and how you spend your time. Veronica found the group component very helpful because it provided both accountability and motivation.
“Putting the processes into place, and doing the work, and going through A-Team is what has made our business move forward.” - Veronica Staudt
A-Team ContentWe walk through the seven pillars of business and spend one month on a strategic objective.
“The more you get into A-Team, the less overwhelmed you feel.” - Veronica Staudt
The A-Team is a safe place where you talk about real struggles and how to grow your business right now.
A-Team Time CommitmentWe meet for one hour every single week. Here’s the weekly breakdown:
- Week 1: Live training with Natalie
- Week 2: Implement
- Week 3: Mastermind
- Week 4: Get It Done Day
You’ll recoup your investment because you get your time back and once you learn the system, you can continually implement it over time.
Veronica went from her business revenue being down by 20% to being up by 46% six months later. This came as a result of implementing what she learned in A-Team.
“We don’t do things that we know could easily move us forward in our business... so when you’re doing it in a group, and when you’re holding yourself accountable... it becomes a lot less scary.” - Veronica Staudt
Ready to sign up on the waitlist for the A-Team? Go here.
Previous Episodes MentionedEpisode 5: The Seven Pillars to Your Business Strategy with Andrea Layne
Connect with Veronica Staudt:Veronica Staudt is a Jewelry Stylist, Speaker, Entrepreneur and thought leader based in Chicago, IL. Veronica’s passion is helping women look and feel their best by dressing in details and setting themselves apart from the rest. Veronica learned at a young age the power jewelry has to help a woman feel transformed without having to step foot into a dressing.
In 2009, Veronica founded Vintage Meet Modern, and online and in-person pop-up vintage jewelry and styling boutique. She uses her 20 years of styling expertise to show women and even retailers how easy it was to mix vintage jewelry with modern clothes, with great support fr...
19: Three Shifts to Make Business Fun Again
The Ops Authority
11/20/19 • 14 min
Are you running out of steam as you lead your business? As an entrepreneur, do you feel stuck and frustrated? Does life feel out of balance?
Running your own company means it’s easy to feel tired doing all the tasks necessary to keep your business going. I don’t want you to stay stuck and frustrated. Let’s get you re-energized!
“Creating a business is the fun part. Staying in business is the hard part. This is where operations come in.”
Three Shifts to Make Business Fun AgainHere are three mindset shifts to move your business past its struggles.
1. Take Action.Take action in an area you’ve put off or is outside your area of expertise. Don’t overthink or try to do it perfectly. To get yourself into action, set a time limit on dreaming. Map out your tasks with a productivity tool. Your goal is to accomplish three business tasks per day.
2. Find Accountability.Find a mastermind, coach, or project manager to hold you responsible for meeting the goals you set.
“Setting goals is great, but real forward momentum happens when you’re responsible for accomplishing those goals.”
3. Dream Bigger.Revisit your vision: are you off course? Delegate the tasks weighing on you or pick up tasks that invigorate you. Innovate a new offer.
“If your business is draining you, accelerate your dreams. Dream bigger. Revisit your vision.”
Consider how you can create momentum in your business. Momentum is contagious and it leads to growth and renewal.
“What got you here won’t take you there. What’s your ‘there’? When you define that concept you’ll accelerate your business again.”
If you’re ready to accelerate your business, the doors are open for the A-Team. Sign up here.
Weekly Ops ActivityReview your vision. Grab this free download to help you define or refine your mission, vision, and values. Then get personal feedback from me when you go to our private Facebook group.
Other Ways to Connect with Me:This episode was first published at theopsauthority.com/podcast/19.
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does The Ops Authority have?
The Ops Authority currently has 268 episodes available.
What topics does The Ops Authority cover?
The podcast is about Management, Entrepreneurship, Podcasts and Business.
What is the most popular episode on The Ops Authority?
The episode title '131: How to Get Your First (or Next) Client with Abbey Ashley' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Ops Authority?
The average episode length on The Ops Authority is 31 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Ops Authority released?
Episodes of The Ops Authority are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Ops Authority?
The first episode of The Ops Authority was released on Jul 19, 2019.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ