Excellence is it Really the Answer

"Excellent firms don't believe in excellence - only in constant improvement and constant change." -Tom Peters Management Guru

An interesting thought. Why label an organisation as excellent and or set a 'benchmark' to a certain level of operation or standard. Why not consider the benefits of a constantly developing workforce where people are empowered to ensure effective and relevant change takes place.

I can hear the cries now, 'If we had the money we would change' There in the answer via your thoughts you have the seeds of what just might be 'killing' your business... I dare to say, it might just be you... For some, the idea of excellence is a great way to head, yet for others they avoid wanting to chase the unachievable.

Imagine if profit was measured as expanding the abilities of the people you have working in your organisation, and not just the mighty dollar, then your team may become more effective in handling and implementing change. lets face it how many organisations tell their people to chase $$ levels for sales budgets, and cut costs etc.

Many organisations worldwide have attempted massive change to work practices and have found to their dismay the drop in productivity was not worth it. Perhaps some did not allow the project to mature fully, while others simply met with resistance from their workers to a new idea.

Constant and never ending improvement may seem to many of you to be a way of being side tracked to working in your business, it may take your 'focus' away, however properly implemented change can sharpen the focus. Here are some points as to how it could happen.

Planning

What do you want to change and why, get clear on what areas need work, then set the goals, and action plans to get there.

Communicate

Get the whole team on board, not with scare tactics like "we have to do this or we are down the 'tubes'."" Try informing each person that you are aiming to provide a greater level of security form them and the organisation. Let them know they are important in the scheme of things.

Set tasks

Get the team to figure out who has to do what and why to make things happen with ease. Break it up into manageable 'bite sized' pieces.

Do it!

Get the ball rolling, consider what motivates your people other than money to keep them doing what they do well... Focus on this and get the idea clearly across to your people that they are valued for what they are doing and where the organisation will be in the future.

Review

Take time out to get them all together to discuss developments and challenges faced, have them brainstorm some solutions and other ideas to be sure what needs to happen next.

Act!

Based on the review, map out what the next plan of action is and keep the ball rolling. Before long this simple process will become ingrained in your organisations values and culture and become automatic. By the way, watch the productivity go up, the enthusiasm roll and the absenteeism drop all by pursuing the path to excellence.

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