"Sorry your work cannot be done! Why? The rules won't agree!
"
You must have heard/said this many times. Most of the meetings, plans, proposals and daily activities often hit a dead end as some stupid stubborn rule exists. Why is it there? Who put it there? How to overcome it? No one knows or wants to. Defeatist people close their eyes and let the rulebook rule and ruin. Winners make/move things
Sometimes its not the rule book is not the only problem, people in positions are. They strictly follow the clock, time table, rules and regulations and come across as the most sincere person on the planet.
What are they actually doing? Creating a block, hurdle in the smooth functioning of the process. If you need to get things done think what the customer wants, smile and accept the application and check up with people who can do something about it. Empower your employees to think and use discretion in cases which can help your business.
Plan, think and work in a way that encourages people not to walk but run, win and complete the unfinished tasks, dead plans, relieve the painful customer and get the process going.
Let me relate a story my Dad told me once.
All the MPs in the Indian Parliament were postponing a particular bill for many days and kept on discussing for long. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the PM then. One day he came to office with a pair of old stinking socks in his coat pocket. No one knew where the dirty stench was coming from. After a long search and discussion Shastri revealed and put them on the table to much disgust of the MPs, especially ones around him.
One of them asked him, "PM sir! You are supposed to dispose of the old socks and not carry them around as if they are something important!"
"Exactly!" replied Shastri, "but I wanted to see how long can we carry dead weight as we are doing with this bill!" Needless to say the bill was passed before lunch.
Move the dead weight over. Either finish it or cancel it. Read my earlier post on why sometimes it is better to kick the rule book.
So what are you going to complete today?
"You must have heard/said this many times. Most of the meetings, plans, proposals and daily activities often hit a dead end as some stupid stubborn rule exists. Why is it there? Who put it there? How to overcome it? No one knows or wants to. Defeatist people close their eyes and let the rulebook rule and ruin. Winners make/move things
Sometimes its not the rule book is not the only problem, people in positions are. They strictly follow the clock, time table, rules and regulations and come across as the most sincere person on the planet.
What are they actually doing? Creating a block, hurdle in the smooth functioning of the process. If you need to get things done think what the customer wants, smile and accept the application and check up with people who can do something about it. Empower your employees to think and use discretion in cases which can help your business.
Plan, think and work in a way that encourages people not to walk but run, win and complete the unfinished tasks, dead plans, relieve the painful customer and get the process going.
Let me relate a story my Dad told me once.
All the MPs in the Indian Parliament were postponing a particular bill for many days and kept on discussing for long. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the PM then. One day he came to office with a pair of old stinking socks in his coat pocket. No one knew where the dirty stench was coming from. After a long search and discussion Shastri revealed and put them on the table to much disgust of the MPs, especially ones around him.
One of them asked him, "PM sir! You are supposed to dispose of the old socks and not carry them around as if they are something important!"
"Exactly!" replied Shastri, "but I wanted to see how long can we carry dead weight as we are doing with this bill!" Needless to say the bill was passed before lunch.
Move the dead weight over. Either finish it or cancel it. Read my earlier post on why sometimes it is better to kick the rule book.
So what are you going to complete today?
8 comments:
Vamshi,
I agree with you,that blatantly following rules are just blocking the process.A good example is the level of red-tapism when a person is trying to start a venture.The most difficult part is dealing with officials to get the required approvals than dealing with competitors.
Also some officials will stick to the rulebook only to pose as a sincere employee.But that's were under the table activities creep in.Once you bribe them,they not only kick the rulebook,they may even create a rulebook that will suit them.
Again great to read you and meet you in these windows
nice food for thought
wat a fun read....it was a pleasure reading ur page. and yes, by the way, I blogrolled you....will come back for more!!!! :)
I just hate that so called book of rules,just keep bending them all the time :P
Hi,
What you say is definitely true. We go by so many established traditions without knowing why they exist, which in fact lower our efficiency.
Nice thought to have shared with others :)
Keep Kicking t Rules !! ;)
Would appreciate if you could check out blog and share your thoughts.
Cheers.
Prashant
*+
Hi all, thanks for the comments. My view point is from the customer's angle. I dont mean to bend the rules. Rules are there for a reason but if you think the rule is a chance for you to escape your responsibility, then I have a problem.
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