Month: January 2014

A management consultant was visiting a small and somewhat antiquated English manufacturing company, to advise on improving general operating efficiency.

The advisor was reviewing a particular daily report which dealt with aspects of productivity, absentee rates, machine failure, down-time, etc. The report was completed manually onto a photocopied form that was several generations away from the original master-copy, so its headings and descriptions were quite difficult to understand. The photocopied forms were particularly fuzzy at the top-right corner, where a small box had a heading that was not clear at all.

The advisor was interested to note that the figure ‘0’ had been written in every daily report for the past year. On questioning the members of staff who completed the report, they told him that they always put a zero in that box, and when he asked them why they looked at each other blankly. Hmmm.., I’m not sure about that, they each said, I guess we’ve just always done it that way.

Intrigued, the consultant visited the archives to see if he could find a clearer form, to discover what was originally being reported and whether it actually held any significance.

When he found the old reports, he saw that the zero return had continued uninterrupted for as far back as the records extended – at least the past thirty years – but none of the forms was any clearer than those presently in use.

A little frustrated, he packed away the old papers and turned to leave the room, but something caught his eye. In another box he noticed a folder, promisingly titled ‘master forms’.

Sure enough inside it he found the original daily report pro-forma master-copy, in pristine condition. In the top right corner was the mysterious box, with the heading clearly shown – ‘Number of Air Raids Today’.

Some questions for you to consider:

• What are you or your business holding on to that needs to be changed?
• What is the stupidest thing we do that no one can remember why?
• What working practices help your team performance?
• What working practices hinder your team performance?

If you would like some help dealing with the obstacles and challenges that stop you or team being the best you can be and maximising your potential, we would be delighted to help.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

Life is all about margins – there is often a small difference between winning and losing, success and failure, hitting or missing a target, winning or losing an election.

I am sure that you can think of countless examples from your own life experiences. It can be the tiniest of margins that determine the outcome of a situation. We all sometimes mistakenly think that we have to keep taking massive action to get a result. The fact is that small incremental steps towards a goal accumulate into massive progress when applied consistently. One action per day applied every working day of the year, towards a specific goal amounts to 260 separate actions and seems somehow bigger when you look at it like that!

As I am writing this, I am reminded of that famous African Proverb, often attributed to Anita Roddick, Founder of Body Shop:-

‘If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito’.

This quote always reminds me to keep in mind the power of small! A small action is better than no action and you do not achieve anything without some sort of action!

It is a great quote to use in your team meetings and interactions with staff about the importance of small actions and the huge impact they can have. Sometimes that little margin can be the difference between landing a big contract or missing out. It could be 1% extra effort seals the deal. That small action may just give you the edge over a competitor organisation.

A great example of edge is the story of Johnnie Wilkinson the England Rugby International who secured the Rugby World Cup for his country in 2003 in the final seconds of the final against Australia with a drop goal. Wilkinson’s kick won the game.

Wilkinson had spent the previous Christmas Day practicing his kicking. Johnnie had figured that any opponent he faced in the finals (who ever that may be) would not be out practicing on Christmas Day. He figured that little bit of extra practice and preparation may just give him the edge and so his theory was proved correct.

First Class Leaders look for the edge, they know that one per cent extra effort, action, or preparation could make all the difference. They understand the importance of small. Where could you or team apply one per cent additional focus or effort? What impact could that have on your results?

I enjoy helping Leaders and business owners deliver and sustain high levels of performance and have a life!

Please feel free to contact me to arrange a chat to explore how I can help you or your team grow your results and give you the edge. You can e mail me at Stephen@be-first-class.com or complete the contact form.