Decluttering Your Business (and How to Keep It Clean)

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Once the junk is gone, it’s just a matter of keeping things clean.

By Josh Cohen
 
People have junk. Whether they admit it or not, it’s in their homes, offices, storage sheds, or garages. When it comes to businesses, however, junk can be a little different than the expected office clutter of old papers, receipts, and odds and ends. While those things are found in most office settings, many times companies experience intangible clutter that includes the people and practices in place that disrupt the productivity.
 
With growth and expansion as the main goals for any franchise system, even the smallest amount of clutter can actually hurt the company. When it comes to franchises, there are lots of people in place to ensure the day-to-day operations run smoothly. From the franchisor and the CFO to the franchisees and their staffs, multiple factors are in place that can prevent the brand from growing.
 
It’s taboo to talk about your business almost failing, but not too long ago that was an unfortunate reality for my company, Junkluggers. The irony is not lost on me that as a junk removal expert, I had to overhaul my company in order to keep it afloat.
Admit You Have Junk
The first rule to solving any problem is to admit you have one. After accepting this, the easiest thing to do is tackle the tangible junk lying around. Take a second and look around your office right now. What’s on your desk? Is there an office memo from two months ago next a coffee cup from last week? What about your email? Are you at the desired zero inbox? Take a few minutes each day or set time aside once a week to clean up your workspace. While many studies agree that creative people tend to be messier, spending 10 minutes to find an invoice is not helping anyone. Keeping your office somewhat organized means you can spend the 9-to-5 hours actually working rather than searching for important documents or files.
Clear the Air and Your Attitude
After you’ve swept the office and the files are put away, inspect the air in your office — by this I mean take a look at your company culture. Are people excited and energetic to be at work or are they simply there physically but not mentally? Do your employees get along and is there a sense of camaraderie in the office or is there constant disagreement among workers? At one time, I was working at home more than I was coming into the office because I didn’t want to be around the people I worked with. The overall energy of the office was very negative and it was causing me to resent my own company.
 
Start by reevaluating your company values. Company values and mission statements shouldn’t be created in an hour. Think about what you want your company to be known for, and write those items out so you can physically see them. Then, spend time asking your employees what they value and include their input in what the company stands for. Do your values match up with your employees? Allowing those who are very passionate about the brand to voice their opinions creates a stronger, unified culture.
 
In addition to working on your company values, changing the way you look at things can have a huge impact on the outcomes. Start small by saying “hello” to your coworkers in the morning instead of running straight into your office and shutting the door. As simple and obvious as that sounds, a little kindness goes a long way. Next, implement company outings, such as a company picnic or even something as simple as treating your employees to lunch. Create traditions such as Friday happy hours or company cook-offs once a month to inspire creativity in the workplace.
Hire the Right People
Maintaining a positive company culture and the people you employ go hand-in-hand. No matter how upbeat your culture is, one negative person can bring the whole office down. Be sure that you aren’t keeping people in positions just because they have been with the organization for years or because they are your friends. If an employee isn’t willing to adapt to a new culture, it may be time to fill the position with someone else. When I consolidated positions and moved people around, I found it made a huge difference in the Junkluggers office because it allowed my employees to become more hands-on. As you are moving around positions, be sure to fill the right seats with the right people. Take the hiring process seriously and once you hire personnel, trust them to do their job. After all, you hired them for a reason.
Cleaning Up the Franchise Model
After your culture and employees are cleaned up, the last step is to declutter your franchise system. As the plan that operates the entire system, it’s very important that your business plan is spick and span. In order to do this, take a hard look at your system. Is it the system that isn’t working or your franchisees? If it’s the system, turn to a franchise veteran as a mentor who can help point you in the right direction. It’s also beneficial to attend as many franchise conferences and expos as possible. The franchise industry is a tight-knit community, making it easy to meet new friends, colleagues and industry leaders.
 
If the problem lies with the franchisees, much like hiring the right corporate employees, be sure to pay very close attention to all you partner with. As tempting as it is to sell a franchise to any potential lead, be patient and strict about whom you sell to. Our franchisee selection process is strict in the sense that we only partner with people who share our values toward customer service and the environment. Franchisees have to be driven and also fit our culture while helping the brand reach common goals.
Staying Clean
Purging your business can seem easier said than done, but it is all worth it in the end once it’s clean, regardless of how much junk your business has. Decluttering my business truly changed the company for the better. The Junkluggers culture is something that is very important to me, and in order for us to keep growing, we have to keep the energy positive and the business from becoming cluttered once again.
 
People will always have junk that they need to get rid of. And once that junk is gone, it’s just a matter of keeping things clean. 
 
Josh Cohen is Founder and CEO of Junkluggers. He started the company out of his mother’s car in Trumbull, Conn. when he was 21, and has since grown Junkluggers into a multi-state franchise operation.

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