Breaking the Bad - "We've Always Done It That Way"

We have all been a part of that organization.  Where the old way, is the only way.  No matter how many questions you have, or ideas to make it better, the resistance to change is headstrong on the best of days.

Remember that the six most expensive words in business are:  "We've Always Done It That Way" - Catherine DeVrye

So I am going to put a challenge out to you.  Take a moment to look at a particular process in your business and ask yourself - is this the best way we can do this?  My best guess is no. Change can only come about if leadership and all involved are willing to make the change work. Sometimes it will be for the better.  Other times, you will just go back to the old way.  At the end of the day, make the effort to try.

If you are looking for a place to start, use the concept of Kaizen - the Japanese word for "improvement". Kaizen is not about finding ONE solution for that massive problem that has been plaguing your business since the beginning of time.  Kaizen is finding the small, simple improvements to make a process better. You can even use the Kaizen concept in every day life.  An example of Kaizen is using an email signature in your email.  This way, you don't have to constantly write your name, company, and contact information for every single email that you send, every single day.  Simple improvement for a repetitive process.

Give yourself and your employees the opportunity to find these simple improvements. Be willing to make the changes.  Be willing to provide a culture that welcomes innovation. Having a bunch of people who just follow what has always been done, will not make your business better.  Break the bad, and find the improvements that can be made today.

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