If you want to stand out, don’t be different. Be outstanding. – Meredith West
In my last article I wrote about tough lessons learned while attaining World Class S&OP (Sales and Operations) certification. The most comments I received pertained to “It’s the people and their decisions that will make a project hell” It’s beneficial if you go back and read the article before going on.
How DO we take a politically saturated, finger pointing and dysfunctional team and mold it into a group of well-oiled collaborative partners that will gladly share their lunch deserts and even Facebook each other?
Here are a few tips
Sitting there quiet like a mouse in workshops or meetings will create mouse crap. An effective team consists of people willing to battle for their ideas, confront others when necessary, and stand their ground when confronted. I once facilitated a workshop with 22 executives and experts and we battled for hours but we found common ground with a relaxed confidence (mostly) and celebrated our hard fought victory as one team. I did not censor ideas until we had a winning agreement on each one. Don’t censor and make sure the argument is clear for all sides. And hide any heavy and blunt objects.
Updating company wide procedures is not running through a field of rainbows and lollipops. It is grinding work. In this particular World Class project the 2 consultants gave us our homework and audited us on a monthly basis. Was this met with a sunshine and roses attitude? No. But we were accountable to each other, as well as the auditors and got the job done. Not only did this create a cohesive team, it highlighted the usual whiners and backstabbers that could be bounced out on their asses.
Once the cats away the mice come out to play. Being held accountable on a regular basis is key to a project that requires a world class solution. Once the consultants or auditors leave there is a tendency for team members to put their feet up, light up a cigar and let a few details slide. If your leadership isn’t paying attention then the whole company slides backwards. Being World Class means adhering to your original and hard fought vision with no excuses, performing with excellence every single day and celebrating all major victories. This is the time your leaders will truly shine as they set the example for all others to follow. If you don’t reward them, they will leave.
Let’s recap
- An effective team consists of people willing to battle for their ideas, confront others when necessary, and stand their ground when confronted.
- Becoming World Class includes writing new and improved procedures. Not the most glamorous job but leadership must explain how this is one foundation is key towards becoming a truly World Class organization.
- Being World Class means adhering to your original and hard fought vision with no excuses, executing with excellence every day and celebrating all major victories. And recognizing your true leaders.
Terry Vermeylen brings 30+ years of experience in SAP and Supply Chain Process improvement. As an SAP professional and Supply Chain Architect he has worked and consulted for some of the world’s largest and most successful manufacturing companies focusing primarily on the Aerospace and Pharmaceutical industries.
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