As we try to establish that new process that will dramatically improve our companies, our client experience and our employees' lives, we have to realize processes are not perfect. They don't need to be, either.
A process that is imperfect but has the buy-in of everyone involved is as close to perfect as possible. A brilliant process that has no support is not just a waste, it's worse than no process at all.
If the people who will follow the process are the ones who helped create it, then at worst, the process will live on. At best, the process will constantly be tweaked and improved upon.
You don't need "perfect" if you have collaboration.
Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com
Showing posts with label process. Show all posts
Showing posts with label process. Show all posts
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Buy-in before process, Part Two
It's easy to say you need buy-in before a new process will be accepted and become a part of a culture. But how do you get buy-in?
Some companies provide arguments, others mandate, while others ask kindly so as to not anger anyone. None of these work ideally. Legalistic arguments make logical sense, but adoption of a process is not usually logical, it's emotional. Mandating creates a flavor-of-the-month compliance, which we all know will not last. And finally, asking nicely will not get results because you would have gotten them already.
To ensure your new process will be adopted with love and enthusiasm, you must NOT unveil your process. You must, instead, include all the constituents in the creation and testing of it, which will cause some tensions, but will dramatically improve your odds of success.
Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
http://www.labov.com/
Some companies provide arguments, others mandate, while others ask kindly so as to not anger anyone. None of these work ideally. Legalistic arguments make logical sense, but adoption of a process is not usually logical, it's emotional. Mandating creates a flavor-of-the-month compliance, which we all know will not last. And finally, asking nicely will not get results because you would have gotten them already.
To ensure your new process will be adopted with love and enthusiasm, you must NOT unveil your process. You must, instead, include all the constituents in the creation and testing of it, which will cause some tensions, but will dramatically improve your odds of success.
Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
http://www.labov.com/
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Buy-in before process, Part One
I admit it, I'm not a real "process" guy. Process, just the word itself, sounds cold and sterile to me. As I've aged, I've come to accept that processes are critical in any company.
But, the one thing I've learned is that while processes are important, they mean little unless they are "bought" by the individuals who are supposed to be executing them.
The greatest process in the world will fail if people don't understand or like them. However, if people really get it and feel a part of the creation of the process, it's an entirely different world.
Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
http://www.labov.com/
But, the one thing I've learned is that while processes are important, they mean little unless they are "bought" by the individuals who are supposed to be executing them.
The greatest process in the world will fail if people don't understand or like them. However, if people really get it and feel a part of the creation of the process, it's an entirely different world.
Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
http://www.labov.com/
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
One question before you "process"
Before installing your next process - before asking prospective suppliers to submit their customer relationship process or their work flow procedures - ask yourself:
Why am I looking for a process?
If it's because you want to find a smarter or quicker way to achieve something, then that's great. But if it's because you're frustrated with mistakes being made, with sloppy performances, with uninspired work or with bad customer service, maybe it's not a process that you're in need of.
A process will not guarantee that your supplier, for example, will take care of you, be creative or even just care. Those issues, as tough as they are to deal with, have to be faced head-on with humans.
A prospective client asked my company, LaBov and Beyond Marketing Communications, to show them our project management process. Once we listened long enough, we discovered that their current provider took them for granted and gave them little more than competent products delivered with lip service. That provider also probably had an impressive project management process. They just didn't care.
Do you need more process improvement - or do you need people improvement?
Why am I looking for a process?
If it's because you want to find a smarter or quicker way to achieve something, then that's great. But if it's because you're frustrated with mistakes being made, with sloppy performances, with uninspired work or with bad customer service, maybe it's not a process that you're in need of.
A process will not guarantee that your supplier, for example, will take care of you, be creative or even just care. Those issues, as tough as they are to deal with, have to be faced head-on with humans.
A prospective client asked my company, LaBov and Beyond Marketing Communications, to show them our project management process. Once we listened long enough, we discovered that their current provider took them for granted and gave them little more than competent products delivered with lip service. That provider also probably had an impressive project management process. They just didn't care.
Do you need more process improvement - or do you need people improvement?
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