Paths for Business

Process

A goal this year for my team and I this year is for "repeatable business process." Sometimes I see people inwardly groan at the mention of the dreaded process word. Some people see process as boring or just paperwork.

As I took the dog ("Bailey" thanks for asking) for a walk I started thinking about the various paths in the woodland area where we walk.

Some paths are wide, well-trodden, and clear in summer and winter. Others are blocked by fallen trees from the storms, or at this time of year significantly overgrown and virtually impassable due to summer growth

These paths aren't built, they evolve over time and need effort from many people.

1. The wider clear paths are well-trodden they are familiar to many people, and because they are clear many people can travel quickly from A to B.

2. The overgrown paths are less used, and nature takes hold, they become forgotten. But they can still be of use as a shortcut or maybe they are seasonal and only useful in winter.

3. Where paths are blocked by obstacles sometimes people have made new paths around the trees.

So the next time you think the process is boring think about the paths in nature as an analogy for business processes.

In business process is what leads to those paths;

1. We only make a clear path everyone can travel on quickly by making a repeatable process and ensuring everyone follows it. Quickly this becomes the best way to get to the end result, especially if the process is fit for purpose and maintained.

2. If your processes aren't used regularly they may be forgotten, this is why we document process so even if you cant remember you know where to find the "map" and take the shortcut.

3. The fallen trees?. If your business process is ineffective, people will work around it. that may not be a problem but you need to know nothing important is being missed. More importantly, if everyone is working around your process it could be broken, time for the business chainsaw and update to make the process fit for purpose.

Finally, take away this other thought for paths

If you want to build or do something new, get all your teams on board, spend the time to brief them, make them clear, on the goals, and have all the team "walk the same path".

At first, people may find that path challenging, they mind find concerns (obstacles) or get lost, some people may explore different routes.

As a leader help and guide them as once you have everyone walking the same path it quickly becomes clear and wide and easy to follow. But let your teams explore you never know when that idea will lead to a new path and who knows where that will lead.

Happy trails and I would love to hear your thoughts.

/// John