Mentor Me Diagnostic

Mentor Me Diagnostic

1Planning

2Systems

3Products

4Technology

5Money

6Sales and Marketing

7People

8You

1. Planning
1. Do you have an up to date and documented Business Plan?*
- No plan, not sure where to start
- I have started to make some notes but didn't get far
- I have the elements of a plan but need to pull it all together
- I have a documented plan but it needs work/needs updating
- I have a business plan I keep up to date and reference often
2. How much time would you spend each year planning your business?*
- No time
- A little bit at the start of the year
- Sporadically throughout the year when I can find the time
- I try to book time in, but not as much as I'd like
- I do regularly take time out to dream, plan, review my business
3. Is your Vision for your business documented and clear?*
- I am unclear on my vision
- I've clarified my vision previously, but it needs updating
- I have a clear vision but it's not documented
- I have a clear, documented vision
- My vision is clear, documented and it is driving me and my business
4. Outline your Vision for your business here (if you are unclear, perhaps just make a few dot points about the general direction your Vision may take):
5. Describe how you feel about taking time to do business-planning activities:*
- I find it a chore - not sure what I am doing
- I avoid it when I can
- I am ambivalent about it
- I am warming to it - getting clearer about the process
- I love planning my business and feel confident doing it
6. What level of priority do you give to having a business plan?*
- Low - not sure it's needed
- Not essential
- Necessary to satisfy the bank manager but not a useful document in my business
- Useful and important to my business
- Essential
7. Why did you start your business?

2. Systems
8. How would you rate your overall business performance?*
- Going backwards
- Struggling - just making ends meet
- Ticking along - head above water
- Gaining momentum - improving
- Firing on all cylinders - going great!
9. How would you rate the challenges you face in your business?*
- Massive - feels insurmountable
- A number of challenges competing for attention - split focus
- We are coping with the challenges
- We've overcome a number and are focused on a few key challenges
- No major challenges right now
10. What is the Number 1 challenge in your business right now?
11. How would you rate your current systems and processes?*
- Non-existent
- One or two key systems documented
- Some systems and processes documented and used for training
- We have a systems and procedures process for capturing, updating and training important systems
- We've nailed it - enjoying efficiencies from fully systemised business
12. Are processes in your business always done the same way, or does each team member (or yourself, if a solo business) do it their own/a different way each time?*
- Rarely, if ever, is a process done the same way each time
- Some processes are repeated but we are often re-inventing the wheel
- We try to capitalise on re-purposing work and processes already invented but not always
- We have a clear set of processes for most important tasks, which we follow
- We are always looking at ways to streamline, leverage and capitalise on processes already in place as well as implementing new processes efficiently
13. Has the financial performance of your business changed over time?*
- Gone backwards
- Stagnated
- Erratic - peaks and troughs
- Some moderate growth
- Continuous and sizeable growth

3. Products
14. How would you rate your customer service?*
- Really needs work
- Below par
- Average
- Above Average
- Exceptional
15. Do you get many complaints or negative feedback from customers about your product/service?*
- Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Hardly ever
- Never
16. Are your products and services clearly defined, packaged and priced?*
- No, often making it up as we go
- We've started working on this - it's an area to improve in
- Yes, for our core products/services only
- Yes, for most of our services
- Yes, for all of our services
17. How would you rate the breadth of your products and services in terms of meeting market needs?*
- Too broad - all things to all people
- Too narrow - we are missing opportunities
- We are meeting market needs with our offers
- We are meeting market needs and can see areas of opportunity we want to move into
- Just right mix of focus and breadth
18. How do your products and services compare with your competitors?*
- Not well - we need to make improvements
- We are often playing catch-up with our competitors
- We are middle of the market
- We are above average
- We are market leaders/top tier/customer's first choice

4. Technology
19. How would you rate the overall suitability/performance of technology in your business?*
- Non existent/not coping at all
- Outdated
- Doing an OK job
- Helping us grow, saving time, provide better customer service
- Totally revolutionising our business and its performance
20. Do you have adequate and effective software in place for key areas of your business such as a CRM (customer database), Accounting, Website CMS (content management system), Marketing (eg marketing automation tools)?*
- Non existent
- Not really and those we do have area outdated
- We have some of these but not all
- We are making good progress in most of these areas
- We have all these areas covered
21. Do you have adequate and effective hardware in place for key areas of your business eg computing, server, and production tools?*
- Non existent
- Not really and those we do have are outdated
- We have some of these but not all
- We are making good progress in most of these areas
- We have all these areas covered
22. How would you rate your communications platforms eg telephone, internet, VOIP, conferencing (video and voice)?*
- Not coping at all
- Outdated
- Doing an OK job
- Helping us grow, saving time, provide better customer service
- Totally revolutionising our business and its performance
23. How would you rate your technology systems and support (ie regular backups, good support people who can help you when you have issues etc)?*
- Need help!
- Sporadic
- Regular backup of essential data, needs improvement in other areas
- Good processes in place and competent support
- Regular and reliable technology systems and processes and a fast, reliable and well-trained support team

5. Money
24. Are you making a taxable profit?*
- Large Losses
- Small Losses
- Break Even
- Small Profit
- Large Profit
25. Are your accounts up to date?*
- No, really behind
- A few months behind
- Core data up to date but behind on the details
- Mostly up to date
- All up to date and totally sorted
26. How would you classify your cashflow?*
- Not sure, I don't track it
- Highly erratic/lumpy, causes headaches, often need to stretch payment terms
- Managing to keep things ticking along most months
- Reliable and predictable and enough to cover expenditures
- Ample cashflow to pay all current expenditures with plenty in reserve
27. How well can you pay your Creditors/Suppliers?*
- I struggle to pay them on time, often need extended payment terms
- I am usually paying bills late
- I sometimes struggle to pay on time
- Usually pay on time
- Always pay on time
28. How well do your Debtors/Customers pay you?*
- I am always chasing my customers for payment
- They mostly pay me within 90 days but I have to chase some of them
- They mostly pay me within 60-90 days but I have to chase some of them
- They pay regularly within 30 days and occasionally I have to follow them up
- My customers pay me within my payment terms and I never have to chase them

6. Sales and Marketing
29. Do you have a documented Marketing Plan?*
- No plan, not sure where to start
- I have started to make some notes but didn't get far
- I have the elements of a plan but need to pull it all together
- I have a documented plan but it needs work/needs updating
- I have a Marketing Plan I keep up to date and reference often
30. How effective would you rate your marketing overall?*
- Non-existent
- Poor results - wasting my money
- Average results - hit and miss
- Getting better - we are winning more business
- Great - very effective at winning new business
31. How big is the market for your product?*
- Small - very few customers who are hard to find
- Small - very few customers who are accessible
- Emerging market - looking for early adopters
- Established market with a good number of customers
- Booming market with lots of customers
32. Do you have clearly defined target markets for your products/services?*
- No, I don't know where to start
- I have started to make some notes but didn't get far
- I have some data and analysis of our clients and potential clients, but need to pull it all together
- I have documented my target markets but it needs work/needs updating
- I have documented and clearly defined my target markets and focus my marketing energy on those groups
33. How active is your marketing?*
- Nothing
- Some sporadic marketing when we are low on sales, but nothing planned or strategic
- I do one or two marketing activities a year but I find my focus is split and I can't do as much as I'd like
- I have a regular marketing schedule
- I have a regular marketing schedule across a number of channels, targeted to my key markets and strategised for maximum results

7. People

If you are a small business without paid employees, or a solo operator, remember here that your team does not have to constitute paid employees or partners only. It can also include contractors and key suppliers. So, try to extend your thinking on these questions to include those vital members of your team who may not be on your direct payroll, but do have a direct impact on your ability to deliver your products and services.
34. Do you have enough support in your business?*
- No, feeling totally overwhelmed
- No, I need more support in a number of areas
- I have some support but not enough in all areas of need
- I have a good team around me
- I have a great team who supports me to achieve my business goals
35. List here the areas in which you need more support:
36. Have you given your team clear job descriptions, KPIs and regular reviews?*
- No, I haven't done any of that
- I have basic job descriptions but that's about all
- I do some of those things, some of the time
- We generally give written job descriptions and annual reviews
- We have a detailed induction program which provides team members with KPIs, Job Descriptions etc. and we review regularly.
37. What level of staff turnover do you have?*
- High - people are always leaving
- Moderate - we tend to lose good people after a short time
- Our staffing levels remain quite stable
- Low - we have a good mix of long term team members
- People love working with us and we are able to keep our best team members for the long term
38. How would you describe the level of training you offer to your team?*
- None
- Very little
- Ad hoc
- Regular training offered
- Comprehensive and regular training offered
39. How successful would you say your recruitment processes usually are?*
- We find it very difficult to find the right people
- Not great - often hard to find the right people
- Average, although it can be hit and miss
- We often find the right people
- We always find the right people in a short period of time

8. You
40. How would you rate your current level of passion for your business?*
- Low - not inspired
- On decline - need more inspiration
- Stagnated
- Moderate
- High - so excited about where we're going
41. How would you rate your leadership skills, on a scale of 1-5, 1 being 'poor', 5 being 'excellent'?*
Please enter a number from 1 to 5.
42. What worries you about your business? What keeps you awake at night?
43. What drives you personally?
44. Do you have a clear personal mission?*
- No, I am lacking clarity
- No, but I do have some ideas
- Yes, but I feel it's time to make some changes
- Yes, and I would like it to be even clearer
- Yes and it drives me daily
45. How well does your current work/life balance reflect your desired outcome?*
- Not at all - need help
- Needs to change
- Getting there
- Quite happy with the balance
- Really happy - going great
46. Are you getting the level of personal and professional development you need to lead your business right now?*
- Not at all
- Some, but nowhere near enough
- Enough to get by
- Doing well, but would like more
- Yes!
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