Transform Your Business Operations with monday.com: Insights from an Industry Expert

In the fast-paced world of modern business, staying ahead requires innovation, efficiency, and tools that can adapt to your unique needs. This is where monday.com comes into play—a game-changing work operating system (OS) that has transformed how businesses manage their operations. In our recent podcast with Elena Korolkova, founder of Kick Consulting and a monday.com expert, we explored how this platform is revolutionizing businesses worldwide. Here’s what we learned.

What is Monday.com?

Monday.com is more than a task manager or CRM—it’s a comprehensive business operating system. From task automation and project management to customer relationship management (CRM) and data visualization, monday.com brings all your processes under one roof.

Elena describes it as a foundation for your business: “It automates your tasks, streamlines your projects, and centralizes your customer journey—all while offering a clear, real-time view of your operations.”

The Challenges Businesses Face Without Streamlined Tools

Many businesses come to Elena with common pain points, including:

Manual processes: Tasks and projects managed on spreadsheets often lead to inefficiencies and errors.
Disjointed systems: Using multiple tools for time tracking, invoicing, and communication can result in siloed teams and poor visibility.
Overwhelmed leadership: Business owners are often bogged down by operational minutiae, unable to focus on strategy and growth.

monday.com solves these issues by integrating disparate systems, automating repetitive tasks, and creating a single source of truth for your business.

Three Levels of Optimization with monday.com

Elena outlined how monday.com supports businesses at various stages of maturity:

Entry-Level: Task Management and CRM For businesses relying on spreadsheets, monday.com provides an intuitive task management system and CRM. Teams gain transparency and independence, while managers can track progress without micromanaging.
Mid-Level: Integrated Systems and 360-Degree Client Views For businesses juggling multiple tools, monday.com integrates platforms like Xero, MYOB, and time-tracking systems. This integration creates a holistic, 360-degree view of the customer journey—from first contact to final feedback.
Advanced: Automation and Customization Larger businesses or those with unique needs can leverage monday.com’s advanced features, including custom workflows, developer tools, and automation for complex processes like manufacturing or logistics.

Standout Features of monday.com

Elena highlighted key features that make monday.com indispensable:

Emails and Activities: This feature connects emails and meetings to tasks, ensuring transparency across teams. If one team member is unavailable, others can pick up right where they left off.
Connected Boards: monday.com’s database-like capabilities allow businesses to link data across multiple boards. For example, you can track a client’s billing history, project updates, and communication—all in one place.
Dashboards: Visualizing data is crucial for insights. monday.com’s customizable dashboards consolidate data from various boards, providing a clear overview of performance and progress.

Real-World Success Stories

Elena shared a remarkable example of how monday.com transformed a small accounting firm. Previously, the team spent two weeks every month collating data manually. After implementing monday.com, they automated their processes, saving countless hours and allowing their staff to focus on billable tasks.

In another instance, a manufacturing business reduced a seven-hour returns process to just two minutes by automating workflows with monday.com.

Adopting monday.com: Overcoming Resistance

Resistance to new systems is common, especially from teams accustomed to existing workflows. Elena stressed the importance of change management:

Involve teams in the process to gain buy-in.
Show the tangible benefits, such as time savings and reduced stress.
Start with simple solutions before expanding to advanced features.

Beyond Business: Creative Uses of monday.com

monday.com isn’t just for work. Elena and Harley Green, the podcast host, shared how they use it for personal projects:

Planning travel with visualized maps.
Managing home renovations with detailed dashboards.
Even tracking life events, like a cross-country road trip during pregnancy.

Why Your Business Needs monday.com

The flexibility and scalability of monday.com make it a powerful tool for businesses of any size. Whether you’re managing five team members or 150, monday.com offers the clarity and efficiency needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

Get Started with Kick Consulting

Elena’s team at Kick Consulting offers tailored solutions to help businesses unlock the full potential of monday.com. From initial discovery calls to in-depth scoping sessions, they ensure your implementation is customized to your needs—no cookie-cutter solutions here.

As Elena puts it, “We’re not yes-men. If you’re asking for a Titanic to cross a lake, we’ll guide you toward the right-sized solution.”

Final Thoughts

In a world where efficiency and adaptability define success, tools like monday.com are indispensable. By centralizing your operations, automating tasks, and providing real-time visibility, monday.com empowers businesses to focus on what matters most—growth and innovation.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Watch the full podcast episode and explore how monday.com can transform your operations.

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Transcript

Harley Green
Hello, everyone! Welcome to the workergenix Mastermind Podcast. Today, we’re diving into a tool that has been transformational in multiple businesses I’ve been part of: monday.com. Joining us is a true expert, Elena Korolkova from Kick Consulting. Elena is a seasoned project manager and technology enthusiast with over 15 years of experience, and she’s passionate about helping businesses optimize their operations. Elena, welcome to the podcast! How are you doing?

Elena Korolkova
Thank you for having me, Harley. I’m doing great—excited to be here!

Harley Green
It’s fantastic to have you. Most of our guests are North America-based, but you’re joining us from a different corner of the world. Can you tell us where you’re located?

Elena Korolkova
Of course! I’m based in Australia, or as Bill Bryson would say, the “sunburned country.” Originally, I’m from Russia, but I’ve lived here for over 20 years. I suppose I’m more Australian now than Russian! And no, we don’t have kangaroos hopping down the streets—unless you live really far out. I live in a beautiful little holiday town called Boomerang Beach, which has some of the most stunning beaches in the world.

Harley Green
That sounds incredible! I’ve been to Australia a few times, but mostly to remote areas like Alice Springs. I’d love to explore more of the coastal parts on my next trip.

Elena Korolkova
Alice Springs is definitely off the beaten track—red soil, intense heat, the works. Boomerang Beach is quite the opposite. White sand, turquoise water, dolphins, whales—it’s breathtaking. I feel so lucky to wake up here every day.

Harley Green
That sounds like a dream! Let’s dive into your professional journey. What led you to start Kick Consulting, and how did monday.com become central to your work?

Elena Korolkova
I started my career in finance. It wasn’t my passion, but my parents encouraged me to pursue it, believing it was a stable choice. I spent nearly 10 years in financial planning, managing businesses and navigating strict regulations. Through that, I developed a strong sense of doing things in the client’s best interest.

At the same time, I always loved technology. As a kid, I’d take apart TVs and computers just to see how they worked. So, while managing financial planning businesses, I found myself naturally drawn to solving problems with tech. When my contracts ended, my husband suggested I turn my tech skills into a business. Initially, I was skeptical—why would anyone pay me to teach them tech? But I gave it a shot, and that’s how Kick Consulting was born.

monday.com became our platform of choice because of its versatility and user-friendly interface. Little did I know it would grow into the powerhouse it is today, offering everything from task management to CRM solutions. Over time, our team became experts in the platform, and it transformed our operations. In fact, we’ve doubled our capacity while reducing our team size by 50%, thanks to monday.com.

Harley Green
That’s an amazing journey! What are some of the common challenges businesses face when they come to you, and how does monday.com address them?

Elena Korolkova
The challenges vary, but some common ones include:

Disorganized Operations: Many businesses still rely on spreadsheets or manual processes. This creates inefficiency and leaves business owners overwhelmed because everything depends on them.
Disconnected Systems: Businesses often use multiple tools—one for invoicing, another for time tracking, and yet another for client communication. monday.com integrates these systems into a single platform, creating a seamless 360-degree view of clients and operations.
Inefficient Processes: A lot of time is wasted on repetitive tasks. For instance, one of our clients, an accounting firm, used to spend two weeks every month compiling reports. We automated that process on monday.com, cutting the time down to minutes.

Harley Green
For those unfamiliar, how would you describe monday.com? What makes it so special?

Elena Korolkova
monday.com is a work operating system that serves as the foundation for your business. It helps automate tasks, manage projects, and centralize operations. Essentially, it streamlines your business so you can focus on growth.

Harley Green
I like to call it a business operating system. We use monday.com for everything at workergenix, from CRM and payroll to managing podcast production and client projects. It’s a game-changer.

Elena Korolkova
Absolutely. It’s versatile and easy to customize, which is why businesses of all sizes can benefit from it.

Harley Green
What are some of your favorite features of monday.com?

Elena Korolkova
Two features stand out for me:

Emails and Activities: This connects team emails to monday.com, so everyone has full visibility into client communications. If someone’s out of office, others can easily pick up where they left off.
Connected Boards: These allow different parts of your system to work together. For example, you can link a client’s billing history, appointments, and tasks, creating a comprehensive, 360-degree view.

Harley Green
I also love the dashboards. They provide visual insights into data, making it easier to make informed decisions. Plus, the ability to share dashboards with clients adds a professional touch.

Harley Green
Some business owners are hesitant to adopt a new system. How do you help them overcome that resistance?

Elena Korolkova
We involve their teams in the process. When employees see how much easier their work will become, they’re more open to change. It’s also about showing the ROI—how much time and effort they’ll save in the long run. And if a business isn’t ready for a big transition, we start small and build from there.

Harley Green
It’s fascinating how versatile monday.com is. Personally, my family uses it to track our world travels. What about you?

Elena Korolkova
I’ve used it to plan vacations, manage household tasks, and even track Eurocup soccer results! It’s so intuitive and adaptable that it becomes a go-to tool for both work and personal life.

Harley Green
For listeners ready to get started with monday.com, what’s the next step?

Elena Korolkova
The best way is to book a discovery call with us. We’ll discuss your needs and create a tailored solution. From there, our team will guide you through implementation, ensuring everything is set up for success. You’ll find all the links in the description.

Harley Green
Thank you, Elena, for sharing your insights. I encourage everyone to explore monday.com and reach out to Kick Consulting to get started. It’s a game-changer for any business.