This post started out in some frustration, and perhaps embarrassment. How often has it happened to you that you know you’ve saved a document, or snap as in this case, but cannot find it? How many hours have you wasted trying to find that spreadsheet that you now want to use again? I’ve certainly gone around this mill more than once.
The trick is to implement a system to save your stuff in the same place and in the same manner so that you can readily find it again. This takes time to implement, time to execute and discipline to stick to. But it is worth being able to access that information when you need it without the runaround to find it.
This has a direct bearing on the topics under discussion today. Gather data from the different facets of your business and convert it into information with reports, charts and analytical tools. Use this to better anticipate the future, make better decisions and improve your actions. Report the outcomes and expand your knowledge base.
You’ve all heard the axiom: what you don’t measure you don’t manage. This is complemented with: report the outcome to improve performance exponentially.
You must identify the key activities in your business to deliver your value proposition to your customer. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure these and VISIBLY DISPLAY the results for all those involved in executing these activities to see. Put up dashboards and have regular meetings to keep everyone abreast of what the business is focusing on right now, and how you are faring at it.
It is crucial to ensure you don’t stop doing in favour of measuring. Implement systems and technology to gather the data, mine it and generate reports to help you better run your business. And for goodness sake, save it where you can find and use it.
So I never found that snap I was looking for, but did get hold of some alternatives. Shortly before I left the Kingdom of Eswatini a friend took me for a flip in his fighter jet. What an unforgettable experience! We did barrel rolls, loop-de-loops and pulled some serious G’s. For a brief moment, I envisioned getting a PPL (this is Private Pilot Licence, not Pay per Lead). The dashboard in the jet brought me back to reality though. As I recall, Ernest had more than 10,000 hours flying time under his belt. The meticulous manner in which he still checked each of the gauges before take-off reminded me that, in contrast, I liked to simply kick-start my XR500 and go off into the forest, sans dashboard of any kind, at times saved only by the reserve tank to get back to Nito’s garage in Mhlambanyati.
So say the bosses
The fourth core of building credibility is getting the results, as per Stephen M.R. Covey in The Speed of Trust. Your track record not only proves to others that you are willing and able, but it also gives you the confidence to do even better. Don’t keep your KPIs locked up in the Cloud; display them visually to communicate your performance to others and yourself.
Marnus Broodryk’s advice is to have status meetings on the same day, at the same time and same place every week. This will keep the team informed, aligned and allow them to address issues that warrant collective attention.
The Sologix solution
I cannot credit David Madie and the team enough for developing this decision sheet. Even if it is the only thing you take out of the GrowthWheel business toolkit, implementing the Culture of Productivity will have a positive impact on your business. One of my clients has embraced most, if not all, of the elements of this decision sheet in their business and is reaping the benefits thereof on so many levels.
Fact culture
Make a practice of making decisions based on facts through the collection of data, measurements and monitoring of key figures.
Information culture
Ensure transparency through sharing relevant information (i.e. by stand-up meetings, information screens, notifications and information meetings).
Knowledge sharing culture
Introduce systems and practices that gather, document, archive, share, use and develop knowledge.
Engage with Sologix to help you on this path. Join an online course or contact us for personal business coaching by sending us an email here.
