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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Process - Uncrushing Creativity

by Rick Baker
On Feb 15, 2012

The word Process annoys many people.

Some feel Process locks them in closets and beats down their independence. Actually, the exact opposite is true.

So, when someone like me talks about the value of business Process...for these people, it's like I am throwing a wet blanket at them...Process turns some People off. I see that. I hear that. It is between the lines and it is the lines.

I want to help People get over their aversion to Process.

To succeed in my job, I must do that.

Why?

I will let W. Edwards Deming1, the extraordinary teacher who changed the world's auto sector, answer that question:

"If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing."

And, I will expand on that a bit:

  1. Business Contains Only 3 Things: People, Process, & Situations [that's a Spirited philosophy]
  2. If you can't describe what you are doing as a Process, then you don't know what you're doing. [that's Deming's wisdom]
  3. Even if that Deming wisdom can be proven wrong on some occasions, if you can't describe what you are doing as a Process then you can't delegate to other People what you are doing.
  4. If you can't delegate to other People then you can't grow your business beyond the weight your single set of shoulders can bear.
  5. And - if you can't delegate to other People then you can't smoothly exit your business.
On top of that, and of most importance, clearly defined Process helps People feel more comfortable and confident...making your workplace more harmonious, more satisfying, and more fun.
 
Process does not throttle creativity. The reverse is true. When the numerous repeated work-tasks are organized and well-defined People have two things that open the door for creativity: (1) they have more time to use their imagination and (2) they enjoy a more-positive frame of mind.
 
 
Footnote:
  1. Deming was visionary and he taught many people. For example, in his book 'The MasterMind Marketing System', Jay Abraham talked about what he had learned while working for Deming, in summary:
  • well-defined process is essential
  • process consists of finite elements
  • we must isolate and identify each element of every process
  • we must measure & monitor each element
  • we must compare each element against alternative: testing each with a view to enhancing and improving it
  • we must focus on the benefits each element provides 

Tags:

Business Only Contains 3 Things | Leaders' Thoughts | Seeking Simple!

Tonic for Toxic Business

by Rick Baker
On Dec 16, 2011

Business Contains Only 3 Things: People, Process, & Situations.

When People are doing Processes in Situations - when People are doing business - the business culture can be described as:

  • as good as it gets
  • good
  • satisfactory
  • bad
  • as bad as it gets
A survey of business people, regular 'normal' folks, confirms:
 
Given a choice of work culture most people would choose 'as good as it gets' or 'good' or, at least, 'satisfactory'.
 
I would like to feel comfortable when I am working.
 
I would like to feel positive about my work environment.
 
I would like to enjoy my work environment.
 
I would like to be enthusiastic about my work environment.
 
I would like to be passionate about my work.
 
People say things like that.
 
People do not say things like...
 
I want to feel uncomfortable when I am at work.
 
I want my blood pressure to hit all-time highs every single workday.
 
I get a kick out of arguing with co-workers.
 
I like it when my boss takes a big strip off my hide...that's the way to keep me on track.
 
Hating the thought of another workday...that's what turns my crank.
 
Regardless, many business people struggle in a negative work culture every single workday.
 
Sometimes the work environment becomes so negative people become toxic. People become poisonous. Some people become infectious. And, sometimes work cultures become unhealthy. 
 
When work environments become unhealthy people have choices:
  • complain, which feeds spreads the problem
  • be silent, ignoring the unhealthy culture and doing nothing to address it
  • depart...either quit or fire people in an effort to ablate the unhealthy parts, much like a surgeon does
  • make constructive changes
Constructive Change means Constructive People Change, which means Individual People making Constructive Changes by removing Bad Habits and adding Good Habits. And, it means Individual People sharing stories about and celebrating the arrival and spread of new Good Habits.
 
Carefully planned new Actions are the keys to change...new Actions are the tonic!
 
 
 
 

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