Is the problem inflation or inefficiency?
Concerned about inflation? Worried about budget? Losing customer interest? Considering cuts? Maybe, there is an alternative to be found in addressing inefficiency.
Inflation is everywhere we go. And it’s hitting hard.
As my dad would say, “it’s tighter than a duck’s bum out there,” especially with budget.
It isn’t easy to know where to trim the budget when every part is rising higher than a helium balloon at a fairground.
Businesses often respond by stopping services and reducing expenses.
But what if the alternative lies in increasing efficiency? Or more accurately, reducing your inefficiency?
Let’s explore how you can reduce inefficiency now
Inefficiency is killer. The problem is, it looks really nice on paper. Observe:
1) We’re giving everyone a seat at the table. That’s code for too many people working on the same bit of work and designing work based on who’s loudest or with the least expertise.
2) We’re trying to get stuff done! Unsustainable deadlines are causing people to work under constant stress, increasing the margin for error and burning out workers.
3) We’re allowing people to explore their creativity! There’s no deadline in sight, briefs are absent, and everyone lacks accountability because the outcomes aren’t clear.
4) It has to be perfect! You fiddle so much with the margins, the work becomes overdone and ineffectual. Or it spends so much time creating, everyone’s sick of the work by the time it’s live and needs the most marketing and consumer support.
5) People like to be heard! You’re not putting the project needs – or your customers – first.
Sound familiar? It’s an easy trap to spring. Especially if you face challenges you can’t influence, like customer’s reducing their spending, less funding, rising costs, and so on.
But this can be a pivotal moment for many businesses. Think of it as outsmarting inflation by spending less time and energy distracted by what goes on inside the organisation and direct it to focus on the customer.
The magic mix lies in retooling your processes by:
Streamlining work processes
Identify areas where you’re double handling or gathering opinions for the sake of it.
Look for and remove:
· Any repetitive steps
· Unnecessary voices
· Manual tasks you can automate
· Meetings don’t generate money making work
· Endless email chains
And promote:
· Leaner approval cycles
· Empowering individuals to push the work live solo or in leaner teams
· Clear ownership of projects and roles
· Communicating via Slack, Asana, Trello and other tools
Remove barriers
Inefficient workflows often create bottlenecks. Bureaucracy can hinder decision-making. Too many cooks can weaken work quality or delay launch. Out-dated or messy systems can be difficult to use, inviting procrastination, delays, and self-doubt or resentment.
Look for and remove:
· Opinions that don’t measurably improve the work
· People that delay work shipping on a routine basis
· Processes that slow down timely delivery of work
· Software and hardware that frustrate people
· Extra stresses and potentials for tension
And invest in:
· Training to boost people’s skills and confidence
· Time to develop repeatable working processes
· Larger scale solutions that cost more up front but pay off over time
· Time to lead people to better outcomes
Incremental progress
During economic crises, people either make big, clumsy swings or become risk-adverse, frozen and unsure. What you need is to find certainty in a reliable, consistent routine.
Put to one side:
· Plans that seem out-of-touch with the current reality
· Work that won’t change much right now or in the near future
· The fluffy work
Adopt:
· Plans that help breakdown and propel action forward quickly
· A recycle, reuse, reinvent mindset
· Timelines and budget constraints
· Praise for showing up, lacing up, and getting stuff done
· Celebrating small wins to stay motivated
Embrace the done is better than perfect mentality
Stop fussing and seize the opportunities. Do your best work, but don’t stress about things customers won’t even notice.
Prioritise:
· Completing tasks
· Learning by doing
· Confidence in your people
And stop:
· Falling into risk-aversion
· Refining the work so much it loses its edge
· Seeking validation and certainty in the incorrect places
· Holding work back – if it’s not live, it’s not pulling its weight
Consider the behaviours, too
Inefficiency isn’t Taylor rarely moving except to rock on their chair and read the paper.
It’s Bailey, Alex and Elliot focussing on each other instead of the project and what it needs.
It’s Jordan trying to prove themselves by redoing and rehashing work, eroding people’s patience and confidence.
It’s George and their need to see every piece of work, even after Darcy has proven themselves.
It’s Sam wanting to be everyone’s friend instead of the leader they need.
It’s Tyler needing everyone to notice their contribution and fluff their ego.
It’s Willow navigating layers of approval from teams with contradictory feedback and competing priorities.
It’s Morgan looking to coach people, even when they don’t want or need it.
It’s Leslie who hasn’t figured out you don’t have to like someone to help them.
It’s Charlie who has such a fear of mistakes, they can’t take educated risks.
Inefficiency comes in tiny, imperceptible doses. Like raindrops in a bucket, small moments come together to drown you if you’re not careful. Keep your eyes on the prize. Now is not the time to get distracted by minor details.
Struggling? Sometimes it’s good to get an outsider’s opinion on culture, how to collaborate better with freelancers and contractors, and build a foundation to achieve your goals that you can build on.
Need help streamlining things and getting rid of inefficiencies? Reach out now.