What is a BOS? Is Growth-Drive a BOS?

What is a Business Operating System (BOS)?

Should you use a BOS with Clients? Why? And should the system you rely on be specifically designed to be facilitated by you, the advisor? Here’s an analogy about why this is critical.

Imagine a business as a rally race car. During the race the car navigates crazy terrain at high speed -and the cars that win don’t slow down, they power over obstacles and through blind curves at top speed. How? Winning depends on the driver, co-driver pilot navigator and pit crew. Imagine that the CEO is driving… which role should you have? If you’re thinking “Co-Pilot Navigator”, huzzah, we should chat. Do you want to bring your own maps or rely on whatever the driver hands you? Yeah. I thought so - we’ll get to your maps in a sec. 

First: What is a Business Operating System? So much confusion out there. You should be clear: dashboards and technologies like ninety.io are tools. They are powerful tools - but they are not a BOS, they support a BOS. 

A Business Operating System (BOS) refers to a holistic methodology and process aiming to align all components of the organization towards achieving its objectives. A good BOS acts like a map ensuring consistency and clarity across the business. (This is my take, and let’s debate it if you’d like: this is the kind of thing we kick around in the public Coffee Klatsch* every Tuesday - join us please.)

Want to get a feel for this system? Take a free look-see 

For all you finance geeks out there, here’s a clear distinction: GAAP are the principles that govern what we might call a ‘Business Finance System’ - the financial operating system; and QBO, ProfitCents and (my current fav) VFD Pro are financial management software. No one would call QBO a Business Finance System. Right?

Likewise, the distinction between a Business Operating System and business management software lies in their scope and function:

Business Operating System (BOS):

   - Scope: Encompasses the entire methodology of running a business, including its core processes, values, goals, and operational strategies

   - Function: Serves as the fundamental system that defines how all aspects of the business are managed and integrated to achieve strategic intent

Business Management Software:

   - Scope: Typically focuses on specific operational aspects such as CRM, HR, accounting, or inventory management

   - Function: Provides tools and applications designed to facilitate the day-to-day management of particular business functions or tasks, often automating or streamlining these processes

Coolio. OK, that's a lot so let’s take a deep cleansing breath...

Examples of proven BOSs include Growth-Drive, EOS, Scaling Up, Metronomics and more. But only Growth-Drive was written for Business Advisors. The others were written for CEOs, and we can only surmise that CEOs struggled adopt these systems so the various systems ended up training a bunch of coaches - good move. 

So are you considering adding a BOS to your quiver? You might want to look for a system that benefits from being designed from the ground up for you to install in client businesses, keeping your butt in the co-pilot's seat for as long as you need. A design leveraging a decade of work with over 1,000 advisors and thousands of middle-market and pre-middle market cases. While there is such a thing as EOS fatigue, our subscribers don’t experience it.  Happy to discuss. 

So we're clear: a BOS is a methodology and process. Here at Growth-Drive we apply the Three Dimensions of Business Growth Methodology (affectionately known as 3DoG) and business advising process which are brought to life in the  CLARITY Strategic Capacity Analysis™ software. AND pros powered by great systems like EOS®, Pinnacle Guide®, Metronomics®, Coach’s Coach® etc are using CLARITY with their clients. Those are all good systems. Exit Planners are using Growth-Drive. CFOs are using Growth Drive. So are Management Consultants, Investment Bankers, and Private Equity Operators. We work with CPAs, NACVA Valuators, BEI CExPs, CEPAs, CM&AAs... Why? Because Growth-Drive and CLARITY are efficient, powerful, designed to play nice with existing systems. Oh and yeah, they help win engagements and deliver client wins. 

If you need them, a Growth-Drive subscription includes the 3DoG methodology and process, plus the client workshops, meeting agendas, scorecards and project management tools to deliver wins. (We define wins as growing profits and transferable value - do you?). Yes, there is robust training and support to help you build a thriving advisor business… whether you are using our BOS or someone else's.

So let’s recap: your key takeaways:

1. a BOS is much more than business management software
2. Growth-Drive is a BOS and also has a robust software platform
3. Growth-Drive’s platform supports pros using BOSs like EOS and Metronomics (good systems for sure)

Bottom line: a BOS can transform a business; software brings power and efficiency to your work. The ultimate measure of business success is high transferable value, which is exactly what we’re committed to helping you deliver. 

Want to learn more? Check this out: CLARITY

PS: Thought leaders, Industry Leaders and your fellow Senior Pros share tips and techniques in Growth-Drive’s Business Advisor Hot Seat Podcast. This week our guest is the awesome Dr. Allie Taylor, Business Psychologist specializing in helping family businesses in the three dimensions of business growth. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

Meet with George to discuss your advisory business and how we might help. 

Coffee Klatsch: free, weekly, come on in.    Top.

We'd love to know what you think - please comment or email blog@growth-drive.com