5 signs that you’re being killed by complexity
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Consider these software tools to keep 'the process' in check
Do your business processes support innovation and productivity, or are they getting in the way? Here are five warning signs that a process might be doing more harm than good.
The process inhibits customer service
If you find yourself (or your employees) telling customers, “I can’t help you because …” and the reason is a process that isn’t critical, it’s time to rethink that process. Maybe you need a technology update or overhaul that allows customers to buy online or track their purchases. But if it’s simply a bad case of that’s-not-how-we-do-it, it’s time to rewrite the rules.
The process disempowers employees
If a process demands that every decision requires multiple approvals on multiple tiers, would-be decision makers become stifled and feel as if they aren’t trusted to carry out their jobs. It becomes easier to simply stop making decisions. Innovation suffers, as does morale.
The process creates too many meetings
Staying in the loop is important, and the multiple viewpoints and skill sets that meetings bring together can facilitate solutions to problems. But if you’re meeting just because it’s on the calendar and process demands it, you may be wasting time and limiting individual productivity.
The process demands busywork without next steps
Are you generating reports for the sake of generating reports? Don’t misunderstand, careful study and arrangement of data can reveal volumes about what you’re doing right—or wrong—and help you adapt to better reach customers. But if you’re not acting on the information, it’s time to either start acting or stop reporting.
The process makes you lose your sense of purpose
If processes go unchecked, eventually everything you do can feel like a micro-task, with no sense of the larger goal. Luckily, there are plenty of tools to help you rethink, improve, and streamline your processes. A few of our favorites include Workflowgen, Agiloft, and Canvas.
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