I recently took on the challenge of improving operational efficiency in my company. It’s a service-oriented company, and most of the employees have a strong belief in the 9-to-6 workday.
I’ve been with the company since Windows ’98, and I’ve seen my managers have highly technical emails about project architecture written for them, even though they had no idea how to use Microsoft Word. Most of the managers are growing here in their political expertise, but I have both, political as well as technical.
I know it’s going to be very difficult to improve operational efficiency in an organization like this. But I’m a bit adventurous, and I hope I’ll be successful in my mission.
One thing is for sure: I’m going to have to lose my personal relationships for a while.
I’ve started by identifying and eliminating wasteful processes. I’ve also been investing in technology to automate tasks and improve communication and collaboration.
I’m also empowering my employees to make decisions and take action. And I’m creating a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone is encouraged to constantly look for ways to improve their work and the company’s processes.
It’s not easy, but I’m making progress. I’ve already eliminated a few wasteful processes, and I’m starting to see some improvements in productivity.
I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I’m committed to making my company more efficient and productive. I believe that if I can do that, I can also improve the lives of my employees and the company’s bottom line.
Lessons learned so far:
- It’s important to start by understanding the concerns of your employees. Why are they opposed to change? Once you understand their concerns, you can start to address them.
- Be patient and persistent. It will take time to change the culture of your company.
- Empower your employees and create a culture of continuous improvement.
- Focus on the most important areas first and set realistic goals.
- Celebrate successes along the way.
I hope this helps!