Fixing "That Thing"

One of the largest problems in business is largely avoidable. 

It's caused by the friction of competing priorities and employees managing the risk of their businesses and the risk of their own careers. Opting to take the safe path limits their business to mediocrity, and they think ensures safety for their own careers (while generating mediocrity there as well).

At the end of the day you end up with a very mediocre business, filled with very mediocre people that feel secure.

Everyone can agree there's a better way to do things.

That process that's broken. That product that doesn't live up to anyone's expectations. That problem around employee retention. That other thing that everyone knows could be better.

It's easy to point to something and understand that things could be better.  It's much harder to actually make something better.

No one wants to give anything up.

It's so hard to actually make things work better because no one wants to give anything up. Those broken processes, which we all know are broken, are still processes and creating new ones is hard.

"What if the new and improved 'thing' isn't better after all? Someone will be upset, and they'll point the finger at me." 

So, often what we end up with is something that is less risky in the meantime, doesn't advance the business' goals, and keeps people 'tucked into the corners' in companies longer than is beneficial.

How to make a positive change.

1. Get data on things that don't work properly. How much time is spent? How much money is lost? What is the opportunity cost to continuing on the current path?

2. Propose new solutions. Consult with peers that also understand the risk of under-performance, subject matter experts, managers, and front-line employees.

3. Get/project data on new solutions. Having some forecasts/metrics up front about new solutions that you're proposing make people feel better about a change.

4. Get used to being measured and held accountable. It's likely that things are broken, because no one was actually held accountable in a meaningful way. Volunteering to be responsible will only put you in a positive light.

5. Evangelize success or progress. Offering updates on the new 'thing' will show that you're invested and have fully taken responsibility for effecting change.