In his paper, Principles of Scientific Management, Frederick W. Taylor wrote: “It is only through enforced standardization of methods, enforced adoption of the best implements and working conditions, and enforced cooperation that this faster work can be assured. And the duty of enforcing the adoption of standards and enforcing this cooperation rests with management alone.”
Your leadership team must first identify and document each of your core processes. Then you must all enforce that these processes are followed by all, meaning, anyone who touches a process must know and follow the documented way of completing it. As Taylor states, this enforcement is the only way “that this faster work can be assured.”
Businesses running businesses on EOS®: 1) establish training tools and methods, and ensure compliance using 5-5-5 (see Iron Briefing, April 2022), 2) conduct an annual review of their processes for efficacy and accuracy (yes, your processes will change and improve!), and 3) update and retrain their employees to ensure that the new, improved (lemon-scented) process is followed by all.
“Systemize the predictable so you can humanize the exceptional,” says Isadore Sharp, founder of Four Seasons Hotels. Documenting your core processes and ensuring that they’re followed by all will free up you and your employees to “humanize” how you deliver your product or service, delivering greater value to your customers.
When the most important things in your business are getting done the right and best way every time it improves efficiency, quality, and consistency, and makes your business easier to manage, more profitable, and more valuable.
Contact me for the new Process! book from EOS: brent.stromwall@
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