“I told them 3 times already! Why can’t they get it?!” Sound familiar? As a business leader, do you feel at times that you’re the only one that cares about the company and its mission? You feel that nobody has the ownership mentality as you do. Guess what! Nobody will unless you develop the ownership culture (as mentioned in A Company of Owners by Daren Martin).
This blog is about Business System Truth #3 – Without Process, People are not deployed through the Infrastructure.
No Process, Bad Culture!
How do we create a high-performing culture within ourselves . . . where we’re on top of our game time after time? What is it about high-performing individuals that make them successful? In my last blog, I wrote about creating an Olympic Champion Culture. How do people replicate that culture individually, in your business, in your family, in our communities?
As individuals, I believe that people don’t ever reach their highest potential until they’re honest with themselves about their strengths, weaknesses, and passion. They really have to know themselves and what they’re gifted in; and how that gift serves what they’re put on this earth to do, their purpose. Once you’re honest with yourself, you must be disciplined in acting intentionally time and time again so that your gifts are used to serve people, whether it’s your family, business, or community. When these intentional behaviors become automatic and ingrained in your being, it becomes part of your individual culture, which enables you to continually perform at your peak level.
So it ties back to my formula of Process = Communication + Flow + Culture
Really understanding yourself and your purpose is an internal Communication within yourself. Your intentionally consistent behaviors are your Flow. When these two combined become automatic, it becomes your Culture. The result is a Process that keeps you at the top of your game.
More Lessons from The Profit
In the TV series, The Profit, Marcus Lemonis goes into businesses to help owners get more out of their business. Process is a key component of his People, Process, Product model. I focus on People first, then Process. I believe he does, too, but I believe he looks at Product initially before he’s interested in looking at the business. I have a different view on that but that’s a subject of another blog. No matter how good your People are, without Process their talents are not deployed. The businesses Marcus looks at usually has good people, but their processes are hampering the business. Marcus completely re-vamps the processes of the businesses he invests in.
Once he’s decided to invest, he holds a company-wide meeting to Communicate to the team his excitement, plans and expectations. He then focuses on streamlining workFlow (or product flow) to make the business more efficient and profitable. He then reinforces the new Flow through constant Communication until he’s able to change the Culture. When he comes back to visit after a few months to see how things are going (Process), if the new Culture hasn’t been instilled in the team, he goes back to Communication and tries to see where the Flow is still not consistent. If he feels he can’t change the Culture, then he pulls out of the business even if it means losing some of his investment.
Culture is a Process
So without Process, you won’t be able to build the Culture that you want. When you want to change your own individual lifestyle, it takes being honest with yourself. Only then can you be intentional in your behaviors for change so that it becomes habitual, creating a culture of excellence for yourself. Same goes for your business.
Imagine your business where you’re utilizing 100% of the talents around you. You’re a Multiplier, not a Diminisher (as Liz Wiseman would reference them). What would that do to your bottom line? More importantly, how would that help your business better serve the people who need your products or services, thus fulfilling your purpose?
You can do that by strengthening your Process component of your business! When you do so, the talents of your People are deployed throughout your organization . . . in a culture of excellence that you have defined.
What part of your Process needs to be evaluated? Communication, Flow, or Culture? Are you honoring the Business System Truth #3?
Take the Organizational Checkup to gauge the health of your company! For more information on creating a healthy business lifestyle, read about the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
My next blog will be about the first element in Infrastructure – Functional Roles & Structure. The right structure helps you break through the ceiling!
To Your Business Health!