The Story of Waste
Let me begin by asking you, ‘How do you decide the effectiveness of your efforts?’
Is it by measuring the increase in revenues, profits, clients etc. or by measuring the relative increase in your energy levels, time for personal growth, time for indulging in some passion like music, sports, long drives, painting etc.?
Well I feel, and I assume most of you will agree, that the ideal answer to this question cannot be in terms of ‘either-or’, but rather in terms of ‘this and that’- because both are important! But practically, can there be a win-win scenario? The answer to this, like Henry Ford says “Whether you think you can, or you can’t, you are right!” can only be determined by you. However, my answer is ‘YES’.
Many wise leaders, experts and entrepreneurs have learnt and realized that true success means a win-win between one’s personal and professional goals and desires. And that, one of the main reasons why this ideal scenario may seem like a far-fetched idea, or an illusion or an impossibility is because we underestimate our own power to optimize our lives, by reducing ‘waste’. Such wise leaders have contributed many effective concepts like Lean management, Six Sigma etc. which help reduce waste in processes.
However, there is another area (a very important one too) where many organizations produce excessive wastage – Communication! Whether it is top-down, or bottom-top or within the same level, there is usually a lot of Communication wastage, and consequent ‘Energy and Effort’ wastage, ‘Time’ wastage, ‘Trust’ wastage, ‘Credibility’ wastage, Resource wastage, ‘Focus wastage’ and so on…
For example, in a reputed organization I know of here in this city, decision makers decide on something in a morning meeting and give a brief idea to the execution team, only to change or cancel it by afternoon, without intimating the team of executors. The next day when the decision makers demand to know the status, the execution team is caught unaware, and often blamed for the delay!
While it may sound silly, this situation and its variations are very common across organizations – big and small. We can see that there is time wastage, focus wastage, resource wastage (stationary, electricity etc.) and other wastage due to working and researching the previous plan of action!
Aren’t these too small and un-important to cause any effect on the final productivity and turnover year after year? Not really. A wise, focused and successful entrepreneur knows how apparently small factors such as these wastage, are related to the bottom-line, top-line, growth, industry credibility, expansion and ‘Everything you have ever wanted’! Or for a detailed sermon, ask a house-wife (read home-maker) on how small wastage can affect the quality of life at home!
So, what kind of wastage are you aware of, in your organization or at home? And are you doing something about it?
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