Imagine you have just started a new job. Soon after getting acquainted with how 'things are to be done', you realize that there is room for improvement. You start with minor changes, such as a different desk setup, a new labeling or color-coding system, or filing projects alphabetically or by priority.
Then you see a way for bigger improvement – something that could boost productivity and quality and maybe cut costs at the same time. You'll soon realize that, depending on your position, age and sex, your suggestion may be received with anything from 'well done' to 'not interested' or even 'how dare you?'
Gather facts
You have your workload to think of, and your effort to elaborate any plan will more or less be a side project. So, you might be tempted to take a casual approach – 'just an idea' you would bring to (or throw on) the table at the first opportunity. In the unlikely event that everyone in the company trusts you blindly, that might be enough. Otherwise, it’s advisable to do your homework first: do some research, crunch some numbers. Let facts and figures speak for themselves; they can take hierarchy out of the equation.
Tread carefully
Not everyone is open to changes and, let’s be honest, any suggestion or advice is de facto a form of criticism. Be aware that your colleagues might be disinclined to make the extra effort it takes to change things. They might feel threatened. They might even hate you for it, especially if it works. Good intentioned as you might be, putting yourself on the line for the cause might seriously harm your chances of invitation to the next barbecue. Or promotion. When the human factor is involved, there’s hardly a one-size-fits-all solution, but...
...there might be another way
You might remember the fictional scapegoat from The Boss of It All. I’m not suggesting that you go to such extreme lengths, of course. Still, hiring an external consultant could be the key to improving things without becoming 'the bad guy':
Immune to office politics, consultants can focus on results.
They will analyze your specific situation thoroughly and tailor an action plan based on the resources available.
They know how to help stakeholders to transition from well-established routines to optimized business practices.
Should their plan generate any hard feelings, those emotions will simply follow them on their way out once the consulting is done.
Conclusion
You won’t need a consultant every time you want to improve something in your company, but sometimes it can be the perfect way to 'outsource the burden' and still be promoted for having the idea in the first place.
Do you agree? Was the blablameter score too high? Have you found a typo? Feel free to comment or get in touch!
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