The Podcast

Learn the inside of operations

Ever wonder how other big-time businesses run? What a Director of Operations actually does? Maybe you’ve been thinking about scaling up for a while, but don’t really know where to start?

You can’t ignore the back-end pieces that have to work together and flow smoothly in order to build a brand, grow a movement or disrupt an industry. If the Operations side of your business is a mess, putting out fires will always take priority… leaving no room for creative innovation, fun visibility or networking with powerhouse peers (or wannabe peers).

Unlike other shows — The Ops Authority Podcast features:

💥 Zero Fluff or Padding – We’re not stretching 15 minutes of content out over an hour
💯 Super Effective Strategies – Proven strategies used by myself and other biz owners
😆Continue the Convo! – A community to share tips, templates, and more depth

Every week on my podcast, we’re going to share actionable strategies — that you can use in your own biz — on what makes awesome businesses really work.

I’ll be joined by other CEOs and friends of the Director of Ops community, to get a sneak peek into their ops wins and losses. They’ll help you move your business forward.

We’re not here to just point out the holes… we’re here to plug them!

If you are ready to add or improve the operations in your business, continue the conversation by joining TheOpsInsiders.com. This is our mighty community where we will share tips, trainings, tutorials and special interviews after the podcast ends.

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE

You can find The Ops Authority Podcast on all the major podcast apps, as well as here on my website. Go ahead and subscribe on your favorite podcast player using the links below. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review after you’ve listened.

Meet Your Host

Natalie Gingrich is the founder and host of The Ops Authority. She has been in operations for two decades – either in healthcare, corporate America or as an entrepreneur. Her goal is to bridge the gap and overwhelm when it comes to processes and systems, growing a team, and setting up solid business foundations. She gives her listeners a front-row seat to real solutions for scaling success by focusing the conversation on the backside of business.

Episode #73 Do You Need Digital Marketing Experience to be a DOO?

12/2/20

Are you interested in becoming a DOO, but not feeling confident in the amount of digital marketing knowledge you possess? Subscribe to the podcast here Today, I’m answering a question that popped up in my facebook group: If I want to be a Director of Operations, how much digital

How to gain visibility fo your doo business with lisa simone

Episode #72 How to Gain Visibility for Your DOO Business with Lisa Simone Richards

11/25/20

How comfortable are you with visibility in your business? Is it something you’ve been avoiding? Subscribe to the podcast here One of the biggest questions I get from those who come through the Director of Operations Certification Program is how to become visible so they can build out their

Episode #71 The 5 Levels of Operations

11/18/20

Are you curious where you fall in the operations hierarchy? Do you know what level of service you provide, or are you looking to ascend the operations ladder? Subscribe to the podcast here **If you haven’t listened to episode 70 yet, make sure to go back and give it a

Episode #70 How to Avoid Settling in Your Ops Career

11/11/20

Do you have trouble defining how you will best function in an organization? How about confusion over your title? Subscribe to the podcast here We are going to learn a little bit more about how operations complement you and help you figure out where you fit into an organization. Often,

Episode #69 Setting Goals in Your Business with Catherine Calmes

11/4/20

Is setting goals a priority in your business? Are you too busy setting goals for others, and often overlook your own business plans? Subscribe to the podcast here We are just getting ready to start the Scope Creep Solution, a 5 day experience that will allow you to get a

Episode #68 10 Questions To Ask for a Successful Discovery Call

10/28/20

How do you set yourself up for success as an operator from the get-go? What does your discovery process look like? Do you have one in place? Subscribe to the podcast here In today’s episode I’m discussing the 10 things you need to ask in a discovery call. A discovery

Episode #67 From Bookkeeping Agency to Profit Strategist as a DOO [with DOO Expert Coach Jenni Davis]

10/21/20

Do your financials frighten you? Do you dread the end of the month when you have to look at your books? Subscribe to the podcast here Today we are wrapping up our Director of Operations (DOO) expert coach series with our financial DOO expert coach Jenni Davis. Jenni is more

Episode #66 Which Assessments Matter for Ops Experts and Why

10/14/20

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? Subscribe to the podcast here Today I’m sharing the most important assessment that I

Episode #65 From Corporate Ops to Small Business HR Expert with DOO Expert Coach Kimone Napier

10/7/20

Do you have a background in HR and an interest in operations? Are you unsure how the two fit together? Subscribe to the podcast here Today on the podcast I am joined by Kimone Napier, one of my expert Director of Operations (DOO) coaches in the area of HR and

TOA 064 From Nonprofit Leadership to DOO Agency Owner with DOO Expert Coach Claire Crum Square

Episode #64 From Nonprofit Leadership to DOO Agency Owner with DOO Expert Coach Claire Crum

9/30/20

Are you aware of how much value good communication creates in a professional relationship? Subscribe to the podcast here Today my Director of Operations (DOO) expert coach is Claire Crum, the founder and CEO of Calm Ops. Claire and her team move social enterprise CEOs and executive directors from reactionary

Episode #63 The TIES Method: How an Operations Expert Shows Their Value

9/23/20

How can you demonstrate your value or return on investment (ROI) as an operator? Subscribe to the podcast here As an entrepreneur or service provider, you know that when you invest in something… you want to know what your return on investment (ROI) is. As someone who does a lot

Episode #62 From Corporate Accounting to Data-Driven DOO [with DOO expert coach Kelsy Schmidt]

9/16/20

How do you feel about analyzing data? Do you zone out when someone starts talking about data driven decisions? Are you confused about where to begin? Subscribe to the podcast here Today my guest is Kelsy Schmidt, one of the expert coaches in my Director of Operations (DOO) certification program.

Episode #61 Fame vs. Impact: What Matters to You and Your Clients?

9/9/20

Have you ever worked with a client, and something was just a little off? Maybe you got along great and even believed in their mission, but you couldn’t pinpoint where the breakdown was happening. Subscribe to the podcast here If you are taking the risk to run your own business,

Episode #60 From Systems to Strategic Partner [with DOO expert coach Amy Lockrin]

9/2/20

What is the best business model for your Director of Operations (DOO) business? Subscribe to the podcast here Today on the podcast, I have one of my expert coaches Amy Lockrin, a business practices expert. She has many years of experience as a DOO and has gone through several business

Episode #59 How to Have a Difficult Conversation

8/26/20

Does the thought of having difficult conversations leave you with sweaty palms? Do you have a hard time communicating during uncomfortable situations with your leader? Subscribe to the podcast here If you are in a service provider role, you know that at some point there will be questions, disagreements, and

Episode #58 From IT Project Manager to Director of Operations [with DOO expert coach Liz Watson]

8/19/20

Are you curious about what type of experts are involved in the Director of Operations Certification Program? Subscribe to the podcast here I am joined by a very special guest today… one of my expert coaches in the Director of Operations (DOO) Certification Program, Liz Watson. I am currently

How to Avoid Scope Creep in Your Business

Episode #57 Managing Your Time with Multiple Clients

8/12/20

How do you manage your time when you have multiple clients? Do you find yourself suffering in your personal life because you are pouring so much time into your clients? Subscribe to the podcast here Today I want to talk to you about a common struggle that service providers

Episode #56 Should I Pursue the OBM or DOO Certification?

8/5/20

Does project management, organization, and leadership come naturally to you? Have you been working in project management, and wondering what your next move is? Subscribe to the podcast here Today we are covering the number one question I get asked when people are trying to decide if they should join

Episode #55 The Difference a Year Can Make in a Small Business

7/29/20

Can you remember what your business looked like one year ago? What has changed? Subscribe to the podcast here This is the one year anniversary episode of The Ops Authority Podcast, and I want you to join me in reflecting on your small business over the last year. Realize and

Episode #54 Risks and Rewards: Full Time or BYOB

7/22/20

Are you someone who needs consistency in your work and your paycheck? Or is it more important to you to decide who you work with, when you work, and what types of projects you take on? Subscribe to the podcast here Today we are talking about something that comes up

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Episode #53 Run Your Business as Well as You Run Your Client’s

7/15/20

Do you serve your clients so well that your own business takes a backseat? Are you spending enough time making sure your business is functioning in a way that will allow you to achieve your goals? Subscribe to the podcast here As someone who has been in the project management

Episode #52 What To Do When Your Leader Doesn’t Let You Lead

7/8/20

Are you fully capable of being a leader, but your leader (your client) won’t let you step into that leadership role? Does it feel like you are being held back? Subscribe to the podcast here You are super invested in your clients business and can see yourself in a leadership

Episode #51 How to Help Your Visionary Create Priorities For Their Business

7/1/20

As an operator, do you ever feel like you are bombarded with ideas from your leader? How do you help your visionary identify what ideas are the right ones to pursue? Subscribe to the podcast here Today we are talking about how to help your clients prioritize their projects and

Episode #50 Master Your Next Virtual Interview

6/24/20

Do you treat a virtual interview the same as you would an in-person interview? If you are wondering what to expect from this process in the virtual realm, you are in luck because today is all about the virtual interview process. Subscribe to the podcast here I spend a portion

Episode #49 The Top Traits of a Director of Operations

6/17/20

Have you ever wondered what makes a good Director of Operations? Are you interested in pursuing this line of work but unsure if you are the right fit for the role? Subscribe to the podcast here I often get people asking me what they can do to prepare to apply

Episode #48 Two Operational Opportunities the 2020 Current Events Brought Small Business

6/10/20

Is your business prepared for the worst? Do you have plans in place for emergency situations? There are processes you can put in place to make sure your business is able to operate in the wake of an emergency or disaster. Subscribe to the podcast here Before I became an

Episode #47 Why Your Marketing Should Match Your Model

6/3/20

As a service provider, do you find yourself confused about the methods of marketing you should be using? Should you be spending your time on social media, webinars, funnels or something else? Subscribe to the podcast here One of the biggest frustrations we have as service providers is

Episode #46 4 Ways I’ve Found Balance During this Disruption

5/27/20

How are you doing during this crazy time of the COVID19 pandemic? Have you found ways to keep some sanity in your life and your business? It’s a difficult time for so many, but life keeps forging ahead… have you been able to find new motivation or small wins in

Episode #45 How to Transform Your Business and Life with the Director of Operations Certification

5/20/20

Do you enjoy transforming the lives of people around you? Are you looking for fulfilling work that will allow you to be a leader and a strategic thinker? Subscribe to the podcast here Today’s podcast is going to give you a look at how the Director of Operations Certification has

Episode #44 The Benefits of Becoming a Director of Operations

5/13/20

Are you a project manager or do you have operations experience in your current job? Are you sick of the grind, and looking for a way to leverage your skills to work from home? Are you craving flexibility and a desire to operate in your zone of project management genius?

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Episode #43 How I Transitioned from Corporate to Entrepreneurship with a Project Management Skillset

5/6/20

Do you have skills you’ve already perfected? Are you looking to make a good living by using those gifts in new ways? Subscribe to the podcast here If you’re an operations expert and want to break through to new levels, you’re invited to my upcoming 5 day sprint. We are

Episode #42 4 Challenges Online Project Managers Face

4/29/20

Are you thinking of becoming an online project manager? Do you thrive when managing people, projects, and systems? If you are wondering what kind of challenges online project managers face, this episode is for you. Subscribe to the podcast here I spent lots of years in corporate as a project

Episode #41 How Chanie Wilschanski Rebuilt Her Team

4/22/20

Have you been unhappy with the team you’ve assembled? Do you feel like there is a better way to find people who are committed to helping your business succeed? How do you go about finding the right people and the right roles that will fit seamlessly into your business? Subscribe

Episode #40 Managing Up to Your Leader While in Crisis

4/15/20

Our world is in crisis at the current moment with the coronavirus pandemic. As we navigate our roles in our clients businesses, what are ways we can show up and serve? How can we be a steady, reliable voice that can help keep things moving forward? How can we truly

Episode #39 Behind the Scenes of Growing a Team with I Heart My Life

4/8/20

What does it look like to bring on a DOO into an already successful and established business? How will you, the business owner, be able to trust someone to come in and take the reins from you? How do you relinquish that control? Subscribe to the podcast here In

Episode #38 What to Do Before Cutting Your Team in a Crisis

4/1/20

The effects of coronavirus are raging all around us, and business owners are feeling the stress. Lots of questions are hanging over our heads, but in times of crisis how do you know what you should do about your team? Subscribe to the podcast here Over the last week,

Episode #37 Eight Ways to Keep Your Business Running During Chaos

3/25/20

It’s a crazy, all consuming time with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. As business owners, we want to lead the way in times of stress, but what can we do? How can we continue to serve our people in the face of uncertainty? What can we do behind the scenes that

Episode #36 How to Move From Directing to Leading

3/18/20

Scaling a business means multiplying ourselves, our product, and creating processes that make things run smoothly. You do all of those things through operations. If scaling a business is a desire that you have, I want you to look inward. Ask yourself if you are using a directing style or

Episode #35 Pricing Pet Peeves & How to Set Pricing as a Service Provider

3/11/20

One of the biggest challenges of hiring and offering services in the online space is the rates for services. Today I’m sharing some of my pet peeves around the rates that support staff service providers are charging and offering a few ideas about what we can do about it. Subscribe

Episode #34 What to Do Before, During, and After Firing

3/4/20

Inevitably, there will come a time in your business where you have to let someone go. Even though this is not fun to talk about, it’s important to be prepared and know what to do when you must deal with the firing process. Subscribe to the podcast here As

Episode #33 How to Set Goals to Measure Your Team’s Performance

2/26/20

How are you measuring success and performance of your new hires? Do you go by a gut feeling, or do you have something more substantial in place? Subscribe to the podcast here We’ve been talking about the hiring process in the last few episodes. By this point, you’ve done the

Episode #32 Step By Step to Onboard Your New Hire

2/19/20

Hiring is an entire project within itself… it has to have a plan, a goal, and excellent delivery. So once you’ve found the perfect fit… what happens next? Subscribe to the podcast here Onboarding is challenging, and for that reason it often gets overlooked. Even if this is your first

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Episode #31 Ten Questions to Answer Before You Write a Job Description

2/12/20

As an operations expert I’m hired to help businesses grow their teams. I do this by asking the right questions that help define the role they are hiring for. This is an important marketing piece of your business that requires strategy. Subscribe to the podcast here To scale your business

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Episode #30 How to Break the Bad Habits of Hiring

2/5/20

What makes the hiring process so hard? Why do you find yourself hiring the wrong people, and why is your turnover so high? These are some of the questions I get over and over. Hiring is one of the biggest challenges I see in growing businesses. Subscribe to the

Episode #29 Six Ways to Build a DOO Business

1/29/20

What does it look like to build a business as a Director Of Operations (DOO)? How do you build a truly sustainable, profitable business utilizing the skill set of a DOO? Subscribe to the podcast here A Director of Operations certification will help you leverage the unique skills and innate

Episode #28 How to Determine if You Should Become a Director of Operations

1/22/20

Are you interested in upleveling your skill to become a Director of Operations (DOO)? Or are you an established business owner who anticipates hiring a DOO in the near future? Perhaps you’re wondering what specific skill sets a DOO needs to be successful. Subscribe to the podcast here This post

Episode #27 Directors of Operations: Then and Now with Liz Watson & Kelly Reynolds

1/15/20

Is the Director of Operations certification right for you? How does it differ from the OBM certification? And what kind of impact can the DOO certification have on your business? Subscribe to the podcast here Investing in a certification is a big decision, and sometimes it helps to hear from

Episode #26 A Week in the Life of a Director of Operations

1/8/20

Have ever wondered what it looks like to be a Director of Operations or to have one working inside your business? In this episode, I’m sharing a typical week in the life of a Director of Operations so that you can understand what this role entails. Subscribe to the podcast

Episode #25 How to Expand Your Business in 2020

1/1/20

It’s a brand new year, and you want growth, both professionally and personally. In this episode, we’re going to identify your current stage of business, look at what type of team growth is needed for each phase, and determine exactly what type of support you need if you are ready

Episode #24 Ten Quick Year-End Tasks with a Long-Lasting Impact

12/25/19

It’s the end of the year and you’re inundated with people telling you to plan your 2020 strategy and review your mission, vision, and values. Those tasks are really good, but you can also gain clarity and increase productivity with smaller to-do’s as well. Subscribe to the podcast here In

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Episode #23 How to Reflect on Your Accomplishments

12/18/19

As small business owners, we reflect at the end of each year. However, sometimes all this reflection can leave us in a negative headspace. We find it easier to think about what we didn’t get done, how we failed, and what we neglected to start. This year, let’s spend time

Episode #22 What 2019 Taught Me

12/11/19

This year was a big year for me, and perhaps it was for you too. I experienced audience, technological, messaging, and marketing changes. I moved from being a client-services business to an education-business model. That’s a lot right?! Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, I share year-end thoughts,

Episode #21 Managing the Holiday Hustle in Life + Business

12/4/19

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? Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, I share seven ideas to help you manage the holiday

Episode #20 Behind the Scenes of Redefining Mom with Monica Froese and Theresa Baretta

11/27/19

If you’re the CEO of your business, what’s it like to be supported by a Director of Operations (DOO)? Exactly how can a DOO benefit your business? On the flip side, what if you love operations? What is it like to be a DOO? How can you work with a

Episode #19 Three Shifts to Make Business Fun Again

11/20/19

Are you running out of steam as you lead your business? As an entrepreneur, do you feel stuck and frustrated? Are you ready to make business fun again? Subscribe to the podcast here Running your own company means it’s easy to feel tired doing all the tasks necessary to

Episode #18 Why it Pays to Develop a Customer Journey

11/13/19

Customer Journey: what is it and how can you ensure a positive one for your customers? Why do you need to define your customer journey? What should you consider in developing one? Subscribe to the podcast here The client and customer experience is one of seven pillars of your business,

Episode #17 How to Prepare for Your First Hire

11/6/19

As a small business owner, you may hesitate and get nervous when you think about bringing on your first hire. You start to think, “The work isn’t that hard. I’ll keep doing this myself” or “I don’t even have time to think about what I need let alone hire someone!”

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Episode #16 How One Business Grew Her Revenue by 46% with Veronica Staudt

10/30/19

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. Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, I talk with two-time A-Team

Episode #15 Where to Invest Next in Your Business

10/23/19

Have you ever wondered where to invest in your business? Do you ask yourself who’s trustworthy? What makes a business investment smart? There are countless ways to invest in your business. Which one is right for you? Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, you’ll learn the types

Episode #14 Standing Out Online Without Spending A Fortune

10/16/19

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? Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, I break down what I’ve done the past three years

Growing Your Business without Burning Out w/ Jen Grayeb

Episode #13 Growing Your Business without Burning Out with Jennifer Grayeb

10/9/19

You have a passion and gifts that you want to share with others so you decided to start your own business. Your passion comes with 1 million ideas and you’re putting in the time and energy to bring your passion to the marketplace. Then you grow. Now you feel paralyzed

Episode #12 Why $100K in Revenue is the Wrong Financial Goal for Your Business

10/2/19

Money equals business. You got started in business because you wanted to make a profit. Yet money is not just business; it’s emotional too. Money can cause disagreements, make us feel amazing, or frustrated. So what’s a practical way to view money in your business? Subscribe to the podcast here

Episode #11 Behind the Scenes of The Ops Authority’s Systems with Esther Littlefield

9/25/19

It’s difficult to thrive when you feel inefficient and overwhelmed. That’s where systems come in. But what does a system in business look like? How can it help you grow and scale your business? Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, we’re going behind the scenes of my business.

Episode #10 How to Inventory Your Own Productivity

9/18/19

Do you feel sluggish in your day-to-day work life? Are you curious if you use your time wisely? Are you ready to run a more profitable business? Every small business owner has limited time and desires success, so here’s how you can inventory your productivity and maximize your time. Subscribe

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Episode #9 How to Find the Right Project Management Tool with Cadri Cunningham

9/11/19

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? Subscribe to the podcast here In this

Episode #8 Three Productivity Hacks You Haven’t Thought Of

9/4/19

Would you like to be more productive in your business and finally get that long to-do list checked off? Or maybe you want shorter work days or less stressful (and more profitable) launches. If that’s you, listen up. Subscribe to the podcast here Today we’re talking all about productivity.

Behind the Scenes of Boss Mom: Dana & Amy together

Episode #7 Behind the Scenes of Boss Mom with Dana Malstaff and Amy Lockrin

8/28/19

From the perspective of the CEO, what is it like to be supported by a Director of Operations? Why do you need a DOO? What are the first action items a DOO will handle in your business? Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, I visit with Dana Malstaff,

Episode #6 How to Measure the Effectiveness of Your Business

8/21/19

How can you measure the effectiveness of your business? And how do you create these measurements? Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, you’ll learn what a KPI is and how to establish KPIs for the most important areas in your small business. There’s no need to be overwhelmed

Episode #5 The Seven Pillars to Your Business Strategy with Andrea Layne

8/14/19

As a small business owner, you feel pulled in a thousand directions, right? Well, there are seven reasons for this because there are seven areas vying for your attention all day, every day. Keep in mind that in the corporate world, there’s a C-level position for all seven of these

Episode #4 The Core of Business: Your Mission, Vision, and Values

8/7/19

What’s the difference between your mission statement and vision statement? Where do values fit in? Why is it so important to articulate these pieces? Subscribe to the podcast here The core of your business is your mission, vision, and values. You need to clearly identify and articulate what these are,

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Episode #3 The Essentials of Your Business Foundation

7/31/19

What is a business foundation and how do you create one? How can you have a greater sense of what’s going on in your business? Subscribe to the podcast here In this episode, I’ll walk you through a business summary and strategic operations planning. If you’ve ever wondered how to

What is a Director of Operations? Episode 2

Episode #2 What is a Director of Operations?

7/31/19

What is a director of operations? What does this role do? And how do you go about finding one? In this episode, you’ll learn all about the skills your Director of Operations (DOO) needs and what a DOO does not do. Plus, you’ll get your weekly ops activity to keep

Episode #1 Business Operations 101

7/31/19

As a small business owner, what do you need to know about business operations? Why are operations important to your business? What is the difference between front-office and back-office activities? Subscribe to the podcast here Welcome to the first episode of the Ops Authority Podcast! Throughout this podcast you’ll learn

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