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DOING BUSINESS AT THE SPEED OF LIFE

My last Strategic Snippet made the case for organisations being faster. I made the point that power is moving from slower organisations to faster organisations.

Organisations need to be faster because:

1. Opportunities are here today and gone tomorrow
2. Customers demand instant satisfaction
3. Today no one can afford to maintain inefficient processes.

We want faster systems, not faster work:

I do a great deal of work in this area so I've thought about it quite a bit..

I'm NOT talking about working faster, indeed I think that this is a major issue:

1. The frenzy is increasing
2. Senior people are so busy they have insufficient time to think, visit clients, personal growth or families.

What we need is a faster system; the time it takes work to flow through the organisation needs to be shorter.

By working with the people who actually do the work, significant improvements are possible which is a win-win-win:

Win 1. The customers get better service

Win 2. The costs of inefficiency are reduced

Win 3. The workers take ownership of the process

However today I want to argue the case for being slow. You see what we want is both fast and slow.

For the next 30 seconds I challenge you to think back over the thousands of things you've done at work in the last year. How many were truly important to the business? Please stop and think now!

......................... ......................... .......................... ......................... .......................... ......................... .......................... ......................... .......................... ......................... .......................... ......................... .......................... ......................... .......................... .........................

If you're like most people, only a hand full of things will be have truly important to the business.

Why do we fool ourselves that the other stuff is important?

We are obsessed with the urgent. Faster in the short term does not always mean faster in the long term. Just like a short-sighted person, if organisations spend their time focussed on what's immediately in front of them they'll fail to see what's in the future. They can have the best databases, information systems and people but still they stumble around. Things don't get done. Everything they need could be there in front of them but if people don't know what to look for or if the organisation stops them being effective confusion will continue and progress will be slow.

In my experience successful people and organisations know what's important and do this first come hell or high water. This means stopping to think and getting the whole team to agree so we all move forward focussed on the same things. It's Called Strategic Planning. It's what I specialise in.

I don't believe anyone is going to give us time to think. We have to reclaim it for ourselves. Thinking is the place where intelligent action begins.

If you are in a position to reclaim some time for your team to think then please do it.

Get your team together and think about what's important to their success (and your's) in the long term.

I'd like to help you in this. Rather than me telling you that I'm good at it, here are a few comments from my clients (if you want the names I'm happy to supply them to you individually):

1. Quote: One of the highlights of the last year has been the Strategic Planning session you ran for the Northern Region. It was a memorable learning session for me and I felt compelled to write and say "thank you". I am richer for the experience!..... Thanks Bruce for your wisdom, your guidance and above all the challenge to think hard about the future.

2. Quote: Good interaction with participants. No preconceived ideas or negative sentiments to disrupt what turned out to be a positive and thought provoking exercise that will help us focus on achieving targets.

3. Quote: To keep 80 people motivated and task oriented, and to achieve as much as we did was an experience I was glad to be involved in ... Session was amazing. Bruce was an inspiration .... Dynamic positive person with great people skills.

4. Quote: The workshop was excellent. It brought out a high level of commitment from the team to the goals. This is what I was seeking. Bruce is an excellent facilitator - one of the best I have been involved with over many years.

5. Quote: Well prepared, organised and conducted ... Would highly recommend. One of the best workshops.

6. Quote: Brilliant prework because it really got me thinking in a bigger, strategic way before we got into the detail. No hesitation in recommending Bruce.

7. Quote: Very good. Getting people out of their shells - to communicate. Very good discussions, especially at end - to conclude. Highly recommended. Inspiring (which was surprising)

8. Quote: Very insightful. Has broadened my thinking about how I may make a difference. A good investment and well presented. Do all the pre - course work.

9. Quote: Very good participation and outcome, against a very tight deadline. A very open and useful planning process for anyone to undertake.

10. Quote: Very interesting. Everyone participated which was due to the facilitators input. Would recommend.

11. Quote: Has given me great inspiration. An incentive to help the organisation strive and thrive for many years. Don't just think about it. Make time - it is well worth it!

12. Quote: Top job and insight into leadership and strategic thinking in the available time. Good interactive practical sessions. Pre-meeting material superb. Any training that breaks down theories and bureaucracy and provides practical elements has to be worthwhile. Excellent.

13. Quote: Very enlightening! Have learnt nuts and bolts of why and how people should be handled differently, and why they react as they do. A totally different approach.

14. Quote: Interesting prework. Excellent knowledge of facilitation techniques and great implementation. I leave with a sense of achievement and good understanding of the ground we have covered and where we need to go in the future. One of the best sessions I've been to!

So how about it? Give me a ring onPhone +6421620456 or Skype Bruce.Holland and we can talk through the costs and benefits. Or if you know someone who wants their organisation to be more focussed, fast and flexible please pass this Snippet on to them.

I hope things are going well.

Bruce.

Bruce Holland

Helps large organisations be focussed, fast and flexible. Places where people have more meaning, depth and connection.

Expert in Strategy, Structure, Culture and Leadership Development.

One of NZs most experienced change agents.

Liberating the Human Spirit at Work