Rock LaManna06.23.20
Q: Rock, our ownership team loves change just for the fun of it, it seems. They are always trying some new leadership or management program that requires employees to measure something, tattle on each other, make drastic adjustments to how we do things, and generally cause upheaval. After a few months of enthusiastic chaos, we revert back to our normal way of doing things, feeling as though we’ve lost precious time. It’s not just the employees on the floor who feel this way. It’s everyone. In a busy label production environment, this is disastrous.
A: This sounds frustrating for you and your coworkers. Has this been going on a long time? It sounds like your owners think that something needs to be improved, and they’re not sure the best way to accomplish it. What do you think your owners are seeing from their side?
Thoughts:
Rock LaManna helps label and graphics company owners make better decisions. If you are ready to sell your business or improve your bottom line, integrity matters! Email Rock@RockLaManna.com for a confidential discussion about services available from the LaManna Consulting Group.
A: This sounds frustrating for you and your coworkers. Has this been going on a long time? It sounds like your owners think that something needs to be improved, and they’re not sure the best way to accomplish it. What do you think your owners are seeing from their side?
Thoughts:
- Owners may see on the bottom line that the cost of bad communication or inefficient workflows is costing them money.
- Owners may have heard from employees or the human resources department that there are issues with morale or toxic behavior.
- Owners are not sure what the issue is and keep trying different solutions.
- Owners may not feel skilled enough on their own to improve issues that have been identified.
- Owners may, as you describe, be enamored of the next shiny thing that tends to disrupt more than enhance.
- Volunteer for the team that reviews programs such as these, especially if there is no one representing the production workers’ viewpoint.
- Try to understand the bigger outcomes that the owners and the consultants are seeking, not just the process of achieving them. You may have ideas that can help them reach those goals.
- If you don’t want to stick your head up out of the foxhole, work on better workflow and practices within your own department. Create your own departmental plan for excellence that is set to run on an ongoing basis, not just when required by management. It’s harder for outsiders to judge you when you have zero defects, speedy and accurate throughput, excellent quality controls, and an atmosphere or teamwork and positivity. Improving your own department will also help owners get a better idea of which department(s) need more work… and hopefully leave your department out of the mix.
Rock LaManna helps label and graphics company owners make better decisions. If you are ready to sell your business or improve your bottom line, integrity matters! Email Rock@RockLaManna.com for a confidential discussion about services available from the LaManna Consulting Group.