Organizational Excellence consists of what we refer to as “The Six P’s”. This roadmap to excellence includes planning, positions, people, processes, performetrics, and passion. Number four is an oftentimes overlooked, yet extremely important part in creating a thriving organization. This aspect of organizational excellence is called process.
To establish a clear understanding of what we mean by 'process' lets first talk about what a process really is. A process is a series of actions carried out in a particular order, not just one action. These actions should result in the achievement of a desired outcome, one that has already been determined.
The key attributes of an effective process are that it must be aligned with and driven by the plan, well documented, it must be clear, leaving no room for misinterpretation. It needs to be repeatable, followed precisely, and continually re-evaluated to ensure ongoing effectiveness and simplicity. It is also very important that a process has employee training and development built around it, is linked to incentive compensation when appropriate, and is connected to someone who is accountable.
So how do you know if your organization is using a process or processes effectively? Start by asking some questions, such as: Are current processes being looked at objectively or finding reasons not to invest time, money and other resources to make changes? How will creating a new process, or updating current a process, impact your organization? What are plans for addressing the opportunities and challenges that will go along with the implementation of a new process?
Any effective process needs to be clear, well documented, repeatable and as simple as possible. The habit of improving and/or establishing processes when needed is something that should be set in the culture of an organization of excellence. Having good processes in place ensure quality within your organization, resulting in a higher level of success in all other aspects of the business.
Are you interested in experiencing a Sandler session at no cost? Request a guest pass here.
Alana Nicol
President of Gerry Weinberg & Associates, Inc.
