I confess, your company does not really need to have great business systems and processes. The truth is, most organizations don’t—and they get by (for a while). Some owners and managers are believers but don’t seem to get around to it. Still, others find the whole topic of business systems boring just to think about. (It pains me.)
So, today I’ve decided to write about the UPSIDE of holding onto your rudimentary, undocumented, half-baked, ever-changing, mistake-ridden, inefficient, frustrating, profit-stealing, seat-of-the-pants business systems and processes. You know… the ones that are sputtering along every day just keeping your company out of the boneyard, or at best, preventing you from becoming remarkably prosperous. Yeah, those are the business systems I’m talkin’ about!
Reasons to Celebrate
Well, cheer up! I now present you with twelve compelling reasons to celebrate the UPSIDE of having low-grade business systems and processes.
- The UPSIDE of not squeezing the maximum profit out of your business is that you will have fewer taxes to pay.
- The UPSIDE of not meeting customer expectations is more opportunities to get to know them up-close and personal.
- The UPSIDE of inefficiency and low productivity is that you will need more employees to get the work done, thus adding jobs to the economy.
- The UPSIDE of owning a business totally dependent on YOU is that you feel needed, irreplaceable, busy, and important.
- The UPSIDE of having chronic customer or employee frustration is that they will eventually leave you alone and go somewhere else.
- The UPSIDE of having rudimentary business systems invented by workers on-the-fly is that you don’t need to spend much time and money on training.
- The UPSIDE of ineffective marketing and sales systems is that you don’t have to deal with so many demanding new customers.
- The UPSIDE of having higher operational costs than necessary is that vendors and employees get more of your money, and you will have done your patriotic duty to spread the wealth.
- The UPSIDE of excessive mistakes, defects, returns, and repairs is that workers get more practice doing the task, and we all know that practice makes perfect. Upside Bonus: you also have more “seconds” to sell at the always popular discounted prices.
- The UPSIDE of not focusing on business and process improvement is that you are spared the brutal facts about what is wrong with your business and holding you back.
- The UPSIDE of crisis management is that there is never a dull moment.
- The double UPSIDE of not having written policies and procedures is that you don’t get bogged down writing policies and procedures. And you avoid the taskmaster of accountability.
Are You Upside Down?
It turns out, there are so many UPSIDES to having second-rate business systems and processes, I, myself, could be tempted to go back to the old ways.
On the other hand, I’m a sucker for doing things right. I admit it; I like happy customers and employees, making money, and creating a business I can one-day have someone else run. But that’s just me. I’m probably a little UPSIDE DOWN.
How about you?
