#357: Don't focus on fixing people, fix the process
Too often we find our efforts wasted on trying to change people. What we should be focusing on is the process. That's where the magic happens.
When companies scream from the highest mountains that the are putting people first, they are making a critical mistake. Focusing on refining the processes within a business before addressing the people aspect is a strategic approach crucial for long-term success. This emphasis ensures that the organization’s foundation is robust, efficient, and adaptable, fostering an environment conducive to employee productivity and growth. Here’s why prioritizing process over people is paramount:
Efficiency and Effectiveness:
Establishing streamlined processes ensures that operations run smoothly, minimizing wasted resources such as time, money, and effort. By optimizing workflows, businesses can enhance productivity and output quality, improving customer satisfaction and competitive advantage in the market.
Consistency and Standardization:
Clearly defined processes create consistency in how tasks are executed across the organization. This consistency fosters predictability and reliability, which is crucial for building trust with customers, investors, and stakeholders. Standardized processes also simplify training for new employees, reducing onboarding time and ensuring a seamless transition into their roles.
Scalability and Adaptability:
Well-defined processes provide a scalable framework that can accommodate organizational growth and changes. As the business evolves, having adaptable techniques allows for efficient scaling without sacrificing quality or risking operational disruptions. Moreover, adaptable processes enable the organization to respond effectively to market shifts, technological advancements, and regulatory changes, staying agile in a dynamic business landscape.
Risk Mitigation:
Robust processes help identify and mitigate potential risks and vulnerabilities within business operations. Organizations can reduce the likelihood of errors, fraud, and compliance breaches by implementing proper controls and checkpoints. Addressing these risks proactively safeguards the business’s reputation and protects against financial losses and legal ramifications.
Culture Alignment:
While focusing on processes may seem impersonal, it fosters a positive organizational culture. Clearly defined processes promote transparency, accountability, and collaboration among team members, encouraging a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. When employees understand their roles within structured processes, they feel empowered to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s success.
In essence, prioritizing the refinement of business processes before addressing the people aspect lays a solid foundation for sustainable growth and success. It ensures operational efficiency, fosters adaptability, mitigates risks, and cultivates a culture of excellence, ultimately driving business performance and employee engagement.
Once you have clearly defined processes that consider all of the above, the people part is more accessible. I am not claiming it is easier, but you have defined the necessary seats in our organization. It’s up to you to place the right people in the right seats.
Too often, we are forced to do the opposite. We have a task that needs to be done in the accounting area, but someone in marketing is doing the job. We create job descriptions around one person’s talents, and when they move up and around, we struggle to fill that post.
This was initially written in the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. When I say “putting the right people in the right seats,” I’m referring to matching individuals’ skills, strengths, and talents with their organizational roles and responsibilities.
We must be careful not to dismiss the employee’s talents that might be outside their typical day-to-day scope. However, there are other ways to encourage professional growth, like providing a path to particular projects or short-term assignments. We can do this without upsetting the workflow and what makes sense for the organization.
In short, it’s easier to fix the process than people. Credit this quote to Rick Kole, my brother. Like me, he cherishes efficiency.