Stupid and Painful

4 May, 2014 by James Lawther 6 Comments

Process improvement is about taking stupid stuff out

It is not about adding more controls
It is not about adding handoffs to specialist groups
It is not about adding measures, checks and balances

Process improvement is about taking out the stupid stuff. Stupid stuff that gets in the way of people trying to do a good job. Once you have taken out all the stupid stuff, then what you have left will be the perfect process.

Staff motivation is about taking painful stuff out

Who said you can add motivation?

It is not about adding targets
It is not about setting up competitions
It is not about team away days (though if you are reading Jimmy, Edinburgh is nice)

Motivation is about taking away all the painful stuff. Painful stuff that stops people from wanting to do a good job. Once you have taken away all the painful stuff then you are left with a motivated workforce.

A funny thought

Maybe the stupid stuff that ruins your processes is the same as the painful stupid stuff that demotivates your staff:

Sign offs
Audits
Delays
Handoffs
Authorisations

Double bubble — lord alone knows why I wrote that.

Why would you keep it?

Get rid of the stupid, painful stuff. It is not so difficult, learn how here.

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Read another opinion

Image by Ety

James Lawther

James Lawther is a middle-aged, middle manager.

To reach this highly elevated position he has worked in numerous industries, from supermarket retailing to tax collecting. He has had several operational roles, including running the night shift in a frozen pea packing factory and carrying out operational research for a credit card company.

As you can see from his C.V. he has either a wealth of experience or is incapable of holding down a job. If the latter is true this post isn’t worth a minute of your attention.

Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to read it and decide for yourself.

www.squawkpoint.com/

Comments

Adrian Swinscoe says

5 May, 2014 at 2:28 pm

James,
Isn’t the trouble with taking out the stupid stuff is that someone ‘owns’ it and taking it out would affect their job or even eliminate their job?

Adrian

Reply
- James Lawther says
  
  9 June, 2014 at 5:37 am
  
  Absolutely, why did they put it there in the first place?
  
  Reply
Annette Franz says

9 May, 2014 at 3:50 am

I agree with Adrian. Whoever came up with the stupid stuff probably doesn’t want you to fix the stupid stuff. At the same time, I vote for fixing it. If you were dumb enough to hire someone who is going to waste valuable resources and effort on stupid stuff, then the whole lot needs to go. :-)

BTW, the picture is perfect for this post. :-)

Annette :-)

Reply
- James Lawther says
  
  9 June, 2014 at 5:37 am
  
  Picture was me in my youth Annette, glad you liked it. It still hurts a little
  
  Reply
maz iqbal says

17 May, 2014 at 10:01 am

Hello James,

What would be left of the modern organisation if you truly took out all the stupid stuff? What would happen to our way of life including our institutions if you took out the stupid stuff?

It occurs to me that if you taking your suggestion seriously and take it to it’s logical conclusion then you are pointing to a revolution. You do know what we do with revolutionaries? And I suspect you also know what happens after even a successful revolution? The winners get busy creating their own ‘stupid stuff’ to privilege their status, their power, their privileges and keep the masses down.

Maz

Reply
- James Lawther says
  
  9 June, 2014 at 5:38 am
  
  Maybe you are right Maz, I am embroiled in a long battle against human nature
  
  Reply