In order to improve workplace performance, you need to change the status quo. You know the challenge, too. The workplace is a complicated and messy place. So it’s not surprising that the odds are stacked against you. A Bain and Co. survey found that 70% of companies said they failed to realize the expected results from recent change initiatives.
Trying to determine how to improve workplace performance can be a little like sailing into uncharted waters. Decision makers often lack sufficient information about the day-to-day operations because of limitations on their time, their ability to remain objective, and the challenge of creating a process where people can speak openly. And frontline workers may not see the big picture, have no clear avenue to decision makers, and not feel safe sharing their opinions especially around emotionally charged issues.
Much of the problem lies in a limited understanding of the workplace and how it operates. Without a clear understanding of the factors that are affecting workplace performance, identifying a path that will lead to improved performance becomes less about charting a strategic course and more about just doing something that is quick, easy, or obvious.
Consider this. What information do you need in order to confidently commit resources to the following?
- A full-on overhaul of processes and procedures.
- A small adjustment that will bring about systemic change.
- A clarification of individual roles and responsibilities to create effective interactions.
- A focus on improving the skills of managers and team leads to get the best out of entire teams.
- An emphasis on specific values so that the entire workforce can align around core behaviors.
And since there are inevitably good practices already happening in the workplace, how do you identify them so they don’t disappear during change initiatives?
By engaging Transformation by Design, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the workplace issues that inhibit growth and success. By doing so, you’ll be able to develop a suite of strategic options for bringing about improved performance including “quick wins” and longer-term solutions.