When was the last time you cleaned out your car, a closet, or a desk drawer? Why did you clean it? If you’re like me, it was probably because when you used it last, you saw something funky on the floorboard, saw some clothes getting smashed in your closet, or you couldn’t find something in your desk drawer. So, being efficient and organized, you cleaned up the mess.
However, why is it when we come across something funky or messy in our businesses, we don’t always stop and clean it up right away too? Why is it we often accept inefficient, time-consuming, overly-expensive and otherwise funky systems in our businesses? Why don’t we immediately clean up messy business practices?
Why? Because too often we’re just comfortable doing the same tasks the same ways we’ve always done them. We’re so comfortable doing them inefficiently, that we don’t even see the mess. The mess has become normal and accepted. For many of us, when an employee asks, “Why do you do it like we’re surprised at the question. We’ve never even thought it needed to be cleaned up. Yet, by not seeing our own messy business practices, we’re often behaving just as those individuals who have incredibly messy, cluttered, and stuff-filled homes, offices, and cars. When someone points out their messes, these individuals look surprised too. They don’t see the mess. Their mess has become normal and accepted.
So how can we clean up our businesses? We start the same way we start our spring cleaning efforts. Pick a room and start cleaning it up. In our businesses, pick an inefficient, time-consuming, or otherwise costly process and clean it up. What we’ll find is that one cleaning effort will by default lead to another, and another, and another – just like spring cleaning – you can never stop cleaning just one closet.
Over time, your clean-it-now mindset and practices will positively impact your entire organization. As you and your employees continue to identify and clean-up messy practices sooner rather than later, your teams and your organization will become more efficient. Waste will be kept to a minimum, costs will be reduced, and time-wasting processes will be revamped.
Now isn’t that a great return for cleaning up the funky practices in your business?
Copyright 2010 – Liz Weber, CMC – Weber Business Services, LLC www.WBSLLC.com
Copyright – Liz Weber, CMC – Weber Business Services, LLC.
WBS is a team of Strategic Planning and Leadership Development Consultants, Trainers, and Speakers. Liz can be reached at info@wbsllc.com or (717)597-8890.
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The best thing about that is it is true. Thanks for the insight.
Its funny cause its true. Thanks for the good time.. lol
Hey, that is a excellent post. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks
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well written blog. Im glad that I could find more info on this. thanks
Glad you found the blog AND that you took the time to post a comment. Bookmark us, use the RSS feed – follow me on Twitter @LizWeberCMC and on FB = LeadOrLeave
I love your articles like this keep up the writing
Thanks Vernie – Bookmark us and come back often. Also, sign up for our free montly leadership articles at: http://wbsllc.com
this post is very usefull thx!
Book mark us and come back often!
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
Check out our latest blog on “What Are Some ‘Leaders’ Thinking?” Do you have an example of stupid leadership thinking to share?
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article
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great post as usual!
Thanks Mark! We’re working hard to keep you coming back for more!
Thans
for the nice post.
Glad you enjoyed it. Did it make you want to clean out your mulberry handbag?!
Brandon you’re right. It’s best to start with the process that will have greatest impact. However, I see many small business owners hesitating, waiting, analyzing, reassessing, etc to determine where the most impact will occur. As a result, they hesitate themselves into non-action. My suggestion with this blog was to not hesitate the next time you come across a “mess.” Stop the habit of noticing and not taking action. Start taking action. Once you start taking action and start making improvements, you’ll also be able to start projecting impact. Then go for maximum impact! I like your thinking Brandon!
Totally agree with this message. I would not just pick any area of your business at random. Start with the area that would allow you to be most productive and have the greatest impact.
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
Great.
Share the information and the site with anyone you believe could benefit – colleagues, employers, associations, family & friends.
What specifically made you think of sharing this with your friends?
What a great resource!