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One of the few blessings of hard times is that of searching
carefully for waste. Waste includes, of course, not just actual money spent
unproductively, but everything that diverts the focus of your human
resources from their core functions.
One of my favorite exercises is to suggest the following memorandum be sent
to everyone in middle and lower management:
Effective immediately, no one will convene any internal meeting (meetings
that do not involve customers for proper purposes) to deal with any subject
that can be dealt with by conference call or email. It is requested that
everyone review every kind of report they are required to make and suggest
its elimination, revision and changes in frequency, including the reasons
for the suggestion. These suggestions may be made anonymously, but specific
reasoning for the suggestion is necessary. No out of town internal meeting
will be called without prior authorization based upon a “specific detailed
needs” request in writing.
There is an inherently abrasive interface between administrative functions
and the fulfillment of responsibilities by those with responsibility for
production of revenue. Production of revenue (sales and marketing) resources
need to be freed from impedimenta to the greatest possible degree.
If you look through any organization, I can promise you that you will find
very substantial wasted resources squandered on useless meetings, frequently
called for purposes of personal convenience more than business necessity.
Most of the others can be handled in email traffic if people just get
organized.
You can thank me later.
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