Go Behind the Panel with judges from the Telstra Best of Business Awards to learn how systems and structure help businesses scale, stay consistent and unlock creativity.
Many small businesses start with energy, passion and an idea that works.
As they grow, leaders often face new challenges:
Without the right systems in place, things that once felt simple can become stumbling blocks.
Judges from the Telstra Best of Business Awards say strong systems are a distinguishing feature of great businesses. The standouts they see aren’t only driven by vision. They have discipline, clarity and a structure that supports growth without losing what makes the business special.
Here are five ways businesses can build strong systems to help overcome common operational challenges faced by growing businesses.
Some businesses chase complexity when they haven’t nailed the fundamentals. Others do well despite patchy systems, but that lack of discipline may hold them back. When expectations rise and delivery matters more, these gaps can become visible.
Judges say standout businesses aren’t always the most innovative. Often, they’re the ones that consistently execute well. They pay attention to detail. They build trust by doing what they say they will, every time.
Christopher Marr is a Telstra Best of Business Awards National Judge, Co-founder and CEO of ThinkMD.ai and Co-founder of Sonder, 2019 Telstra Business Awards National Emerging & Energised Award Winner. He says it’s about consistent excellence.
It’s the outstanding attention to detail in execution — being brilliant at the basics — that’s a consistent trait amongst winners.
Christopher Marr – Co-founder & CEO, ThinkMD.ai
Some businesses succeed quickly and start to grow without the operational foundations to support that growth. As more people, clients or complexity enter the picture, cracks can start to show. The opportunities for miscommunication can grow and leaders can feel further away from customers and control.
Phil Brown, Telstra Best of Business Awards State Judge and COO and Co-founder of Growth Activists, sees it often.
You can see some of them in the scale-up stage and they’re going to break because they haven’t put the structure, the agreements, the strategy, the plans in place. They haven’t prepared the business to scale.
Phil Brown – Co-founder, The Growth Activists
Building for scale means putting the right systems in place before it's urgent. That includes clear roles, defined processes and tools that can grow with you. This helps your people do their work effectively rather than wrestling with admin and inefficient processes.
Explore how the right technology can help your business grow
As your business changes, your systems often need to change with it. Old processes that once worked can become blockers. But many businesses resist change or fail to recognise when it’s needed.
Christopher says leaders should be ready to adapt.
Think about how quickly the world is evolving. Business needs to evolve just as fast to thrive. It’s unlikely the infrastructure, systems and processes that you need to win tomorrow are the same as today.
Christopher Marr – Co-founder & CEO, ThinkMD.ai
Successful businesses keep refining their systems. They regularly assess what’s working and what’s not. They upgrade tools, evolve roles and refresh processes as they grow. Flexibility, not rigidity, is the real strength of a good system.
Early-stage businesses often focus on product and passion, not process. Yet our judges say that businesses that are focused on excellent operations can often outperform flashier competitors.
Phil highlights how a well-developed approach to building systems helps businesses stand out in the awards process.
The businesses I see and think 'wow' are the ones that conscientiously create a business operating system.
Phil Brown – Co-founder, The Growth Activists
Businesses that adopt a systems mindset early are better prepared for growth. Phil flags how experience from a franchise or corporate background can be an advantage that helps create consistent performance. Learning from what works in more mature business operations can help you create clear processes early on. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
Founders often wear many hats, but over-dependence on the founder can become a risk as a business grows. Decision-making can slow down if everything comes back to one person. When this happens, the business may struggle to scale if the founder can’t step back.
Andrew Coronis, Telstra Best of Business Awards State Judge and Chairman of Coronis Group, says founders who meddle too much risk holding their teams, and their businesses, back.
Once you’ve brought someone in, or given them responsibility, the worst thing you can do is meddle in a decision-making process. Support them, yes. Offer guidance of course. But you also need to get out of their way.
Andrew Coronis – Chairman, Coronis Group
Delegation can be daunting. It takes bravery to hand over control to let others lead when you built the business.
Our judges say the key is to find someone you can trust. Having a clear view of your business purpose, and how it aligns with the impact you aim to make, can help you attract people who share your aspirations. Build trust and knowledge over time so others can take over key responsibilities when the time comes for you to step back.
Structure, process and discipline are what turn good ideas into strong, sustainable businesses. With the right systems and processes in place it’s easier to delegate, grow, adapt and improve.
Start with documenting how things work. Then look at using tools to track activity, automate admin or help share knowledge across a team. Or, as a start, simply commit to doing the basics well, every time.
Consider auditing your business with a clear view on how you can strengthen your processes and systems. It can help you build a business that’s better equipped to lead with purpose and deliver consistent value into the future.
Celebrating the people, purpose and bold moves behind Australia’s best of business.
The Awards give small to medium-sized businesses a platform to celebrate their achievements and stories with peers. Plus, opportunities to learn from Australia's best business minds. Nominate your own or another remarkable business today.
