Worksheet 16: Systems Audit

Reviewing Your Root Systems for Strength, Gaps, and Sustainability

Purpose of This Worksheet:
In the Business Tree Model, roots represent the systems and processes that hold your business together and deliver your work to the world. Like root structures, these can be deep (taproots) or wide-spreading (feeder roots), and they need to grow with your business.

Use this audit to:

  • Map your existing systems clearly

  • Spot gaps, duplication, or fragile areas

  • Decide where to simplify or strengthen

Instructions (Step-by-Step):

Step 1: Map Your Core Systems

🟩 Prompt:
For each business area, list the systems or processes you currently use — even if they’re manual or informal.

AreaSystem/Process UsedNotes on Reliability or GapsLead generationOnboardingClient deliveryOffboardingPayment + invoicingScheduling/bookingsNotes + documentationFile storage/sharingMarketing managementAdmin + task tracking

✎ Write directly in this table, or copy it to your workspace.

Step 2: Categorise Your Roots

🟩 Prompt:
Now, decide which roots are:

  • 🧱 Foundational (taproots) – essential, deeply embedded systems (e.g. payment, booking)

  • 🍃 Flexible (feeder roots) – useful but easier to adapt or replace (e.g. email templates, content banks)

✎ For each system from Step 1, mark: Taproot / Feeder

Step 3: Evaluate Strength + Simplicity

🟩 Prompt:
For each system, ask:

  • Is this sustainable?

  • Is it overengineered or underbuilt?

  • Does it serve both the business and the gardener (you)?

✎ Make notes beside any system that needs streamlining or shoring up.

Step 4: Spot Redundancies + Fragilities

🟩 Prompt:

  • Are any tools doing the same job?

  • Are there steps you always forget or that feel clunky?

  • What breaks when you’re tired, ill, or busy?

✎ List 2–3 areas where your roots feel tangled or fragile:
[Blank space]

Step 5: Prioritise 1–2 Fixes or Experiments

🟩 Prompt:
Where would small changes make a big difference?

✎ Choose 1–2 priority upgrades to experiment with:
[Blank space]

Optional Reflection:

  • What systems feel like “you” — they reflect your style and priorities?

  • What systems feel like “shoulds” — tools or setups you inherited or copied but don’t love?

✎ Free space:
[Blank space]

Final Prompt:
What’s one small action you’ll take this week to strengthen your root system?

✎ Write your systems commitment:
[Blank space]