My "I talk to myself" blog was quoted in the Globe and Mail today.
I was in my Guelph office today. I still feel I am only at 80% efficiency. Lots of little things are hampering full speed. I am still feeling in crisis on the building. Way too many little things that need doing. It is one of those times when I feel we are far from excellent. I guess the advantage of that is we can only go up from here.
A good well run business does not have extra resources. What makes a move of the magnitude we are doing problematic is that we ask our people who already are fully loaded (if we are running the business well) to take on more. The challenge we face is multiple moves. Integrating Redmond. And a huge building which is a huge maintenance and management challenge itself.
When faced with more than I can do, I always turn first to my systems. So this is what I am doing now and encouraging people to do. I will develop systems to allow me to cope with the volume.
I know 6 months from now, life will be good. Now to try to enjoy the process to get us there.
There are two points I really like in this post.
ReplyDeleteFirst, that well run businesses do not have "extra" resources. No just-in-case. The best businesses I know run lean, which means that when resources are stretched it's a period of walking through the fire.
Second, developing good systems. The best organizations and individuals develop systems that help them succeed consistently.
Good luck on your fire walk.
Jim, I'm afraid that as a CEO, responsible for the bottom line, you may not like what I have to say on this matter.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote: "A good, well run business does not have extra resources".
Well, this is what I witnessed over the past 10 years or so: One of the ways to increase profit, corporations must reduce overhead. One way to do the latter is to reduce the headcount. Initially they cut the fat. Then, they cut the meat. Then, there are bones missing.
Now, some may call it "no extra resources". I call it a sure way to wear your resources down to the point that they become non-productive and demotivated.
Of course, you know and do practice, what should be done (and improved) BEFORE you are missing the "bones". Systems and Processes.
Hi Jim,
ReplyDeleteJust curious. Do you think that Dell is a "well run business"? On the top of your blog are currently running Dell Canada ads. Lots of discussion recently about Dell entering the channel in the U.S. - and growth still ocurring with their Direct model in Canada. What are your thoughts?
Regards,
Susan