Morning Minute 6/25/24
“How DOES Progression Affects Your Processes!”
In a process, the order of steps that happen in that process…is progression.
Consider this. If you are playing a game, you are constantly planning your next move. You are also anticipating the progression of moves by your opponent to win the game.
The same is true in war. The 3 greatest American generals, Patton, McArthur, and Lee, all understood progression. To ensure victory, they devised their battle plans, anticipated their opponent’s reactions, and determined how their plans would need to change based on those enemy reactions.
To create great processes, you must understand and learn how to implement progression. A process is a progression of actions, designed to achieve an outcome.
Let’s use a fast food drive-thru window as an example.
Step 1: The customer pulls up to the menu board. After a pleasant greeting, the employee takes the order, keying it into the computer, and reads it back to them to ensure accuracy. The employee shares the total price, inviting the customer to proceed to the 1st window.
Step 2: The kitchen staff see the order and begin preparing the non-drink items so that they are ready for assembly by the staff at the 2nd window.
Step 3: The cashier at the first window reads the order back to the customer. If correct, the cashier receives the payment, inviting the customer to drive to the next window. If changes are made, the cashier corrects the order, collects payment, sending the customer to the next window. The kitchen staff makes the necessary changes.
Step 4: As the customer exits the 1st window, the 2 people at the 2nd window assemble the order. 1 assembles the food, while the other gets the drinks..
Step 5: At the 2nd window, 1 person inspects the order, while 1 person restates the order to ensure accuracy. If a problem arises, the process stops and the order gets redone. If the order is correct, the person closest to the window hands them their order, and thanks them, sharing their hope for the customer to have a great day!
Notice the progression of steps required to serve the customer properly, quickly, and courteously. Usually, there is no problem. However, there is a process for when problems arise, so that adjustments can be made quickly and seamlessly.
This example showcases how the progression of actions in their process is designed to accurately and efficiently serve the customer. The process is mandatory, with all team members involved being responsible for its proper completion.
Successful organizations have written processes in place to achieve their goals. They also understand how that progression, the order of steps, must be arranged in order to achieve those goals, with maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
To request a review of your processes, and/or assistance in building your processes, simply text the word “REVIEW“ to me at 864-630-2625.
“How DOES Progression Affects Your Processes!”
That is today’s Morning Minute
Morning Minute 6/28/24
“Leadership is a Responsibility, Not Just a Promotion!”
The coach blames the loss in a big game on the team.
The business owner blames a failed promotion on the advertising.
The politician blames negative results on everyone but himself.
When you choose to be a leader, you accept responsibility for the failures of your team. This is true in business, sports, politics; or any organization. The buck stops with YOU!
As the leader, you chose the team and how they are trained and organized. You chose the processes the team uses to achieve its goals. You made the decisions on products and services for the team. And you decide how to both position and promote the team to achieve success. You assumed that responsibility when you chose to be the leader.
Thus, as the leader, you must be accountable when things go wrong, even if you were not directly responsible. Let’s look at some examples.
When teams coached by Nick Saban, John Wooden, Pat Summit, or Lou Holtz lost a game, they always took responsibility themselves. They shared that their game plan was inadequate, that they didn’t have their team ready, or, they made a bad decision. When they won, they praised the players and the asst. coaches. That is real leadership!
In 1982, 7 people in Chicago died from cyanide poisoning after taking the pain reliever, Tylenol. Even though these deaths happened outside the company, James Burke, chairman of Johnson & Johnson, stopped production, recalling every bottle of Tylenol to prevents more poisonings. He shared a toll-free number people could call to get information. Burke assumed responsibility, taking quick action to save lives, while protecting the value of the Tylenol brand. This became a case study of how to successfully lead a company through what may have been a business ending calamity.
In 1961, President John Kennedy approved the invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. In 2 short days, the invasion force was defeated and captured by the Cuban army. Publicly, Kennedy took responsibility for this failure. He stated, “We intend to profit from this lesson.” He also shared, “Victory has 100 fathers, and defeat is an orphan…I am the responsible officer of the Government.” A leader takes responsibility for the failure of his subordinates!
Now, contrast those events with our retreat from Afghanistan. 13 members of our military were killed and scores injured during the withdrawal. We foolishly pulled the military out before the civilians. We abandoned Bagram AFBleaving our civilians no safe route for evacuation. We left billions of dollars of military equipment behind. And, we abandoned hundreds of American citizens and Afghan advisors to the mercy of the Taliban. No one, not President Biden, nor any military officer, nor any State Dept. official has taken responsibility, nor been held accountable.
When you take on the role as leader, you take responsibility for yourself, your team, and the team’s results, good or bad. If you are unwilling to accept that responsibility, leave the job to someone else, who will!
“Leadership is a Responsibility, Not Just a Promotion!”
That is today’s Morning Minute.
