Morning Motivator – Simplify Your System

"Efficiency is doing better what is already being done."
- Peter F. Drucker 

A major problem with any business is the need to REPEAT the same action twice (or more).  This includes the submission of paperwork to multiple people, separately, requiring "management authorization" for a BASIC problem, as well as the dreaded, COMPANY MEETING… 

For those who are fans of Verne Harnish, you may already UNDERSTAND the need to eliminate meetings for meeting sake.  Rather, you focus on small, high level, fast meetings daily (called "huddles") to keep all parties on the same page.  There are two (2) reasons why – (1) it keeps everyone in RHYTHM and (2) allows everyone in the company to hear the CRITICAL measurements of each area.  Seriously, when was the last company meeting you attended that should have lasted MORE than 10 minutes?  (it's a control thing) 

As for workflow, you may consider the AUTHORIZATION process or having a KEY PLAYER in work flow.  What I mean is, when you generate a work order, sales sheet, or any other action driven item, you should NOT be forced to provide it to more than 1 person.  If more than 1 person needs it – at the same time – then you have WASTED effort.  Otherwise, the document should go from one person to the next with accountability coming from the last. 

Would you agree there is nothing more FRUSTRATING than sending the same email 4 times over a week?  (maybe other than standing in line) 

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Want to improve your SYSTEM?  Ask the people that deal in it.  Eliminate the need for "authorizations," so that people can just keep moving. 

Manage by DEVIATION. The reality is that you either HIRED the right people to do the job or not.  If not, then you will have multiple 'work-arounds" and circles in your work flow. 

When you EMPOWER your people, with guidelines, then you should only be dealing with issues outside the scope of that work. 

Hour long meetings – end them.  They are a waste. 

Set an agenda, have a time keeper, get to business and get out.  NEWS FLASH:  No one wants to be there anyhow…  Now get to work!! 

Cheers,
Zach

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