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Jeff Colvin
Management Consultant & Founder of Link,
a Management Consulting Group
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It
is a time of uncertainty. Like Charles Dickens said, "It was
the best of times, it was the worst of times." Well you can't
recall the year 2003 or any minute that you have spent in it so
far. But in addition to the governor of California, wouldn't it
be interesting if we could recall a number of things that we didn't
like about the way things are going?
Outside of product recalls like unsafe toys for kids, foods that
are potentially hazardous, or cars that are more dangerous than
usual what if we could recall our boss, our department, or the entire
company. What if you could be recalled?
Well, in matter of fact language these corporate and personnel
recalls are going on all of the time. When the stockholders begin
dumping shares of stock and Wall Street lowers the stock price,
people are recalling the business. When a department is re-organized
and the players are shuffled around within the corporation, this
is a form of recall. And even at the individual level, when an employee
is kindly walked to the door for lack of performance or team play,
this is the most intimidating type of recall possible.
The repercussions of any recall are very costly. These range from
the tangible dollars associated with the loss of company value,
to personnel searches and training costs.
So why are there so many recalls going on around us everyday? Haven't
people heard, or more importantly embraced, the acronym knows as
DIRTFT. That's right, do it right the first time.
Doing it right the first time is not just doing hard work or doing
what you think is best. The definition of "right" comes
from your customers. Just ask the majority of Gray Davis' customers.
Had he been meeting their requirements all along he would not be
in the precarious position that now marks a historic milestone.
The message to you this month is to prevent your recall. In fact,
the goal is to call a rally around your worth and value and reaffirm
the contributions that you bring to your position and your business.
Do this by seeking out the chain of people that count on you for
your work and ask them how you are doing. Find out how you can make
the relationship better and what you can do to best meet their requirements.
Then do this courtesy for your boss and tell him or her what your
expectations are, so they too can meet their customer's requirements.
By the way, yesterday was a time of uncertainty and so tomorrow
will be. Do it right the first time so you don't have to recall
it later!
Make this the best of times!
Avoid a Personal Recall
Know What Stimulates a Recall
- Learn from other's mistakes
- Watch what happens to whom
- Benchmark success and failure
Check With Your Constituency
- Ask the tough questions
- Listen attentively
- Check the rumor mill
Solicit Customer Requirements
- Define who the key players are in your value chain
- Get trusted feedback
- Clarify your roles/responsibilities
Validate Your Value
- Use metrics to evaluate performance
- Defend your contribution with data and promote yourself
- Assure requirements are met with a closed loop
Jeff Colvin (Jcolvin@linkllc.com)
founded Link, a management
consulting group in 1997 whose mission is dedicated to the Systems,
Structures, and Behaviors that make people and companies successful.
Link's bottom line focus on process improvement is achieved through
the facilitation and training of cross-functional teams to address
key strategic goals. Learn more about Jeff
Colvin & Link...
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