Why is operational improvement so difficult? Maybe it is because we are our own worst enemies. Here are a handful of our own organisational demons.
Dogmatism ~ an unquestioning belief in our own “rightness”
Instead of questioning our own beliefs we plough on regardless. The more senior we are the more dogmatic we become, after all, “why would I have been promoted if I wasn’t invariably right?”
Vanity ~ managing the message
Scrabbling about in a desperate attempt to look good, rather than being good.
Have you ever seen anybody fudge the figures just to please their boss?
Self-centeredness ~ worrying about ourselves first and others later (if at all)
Building silos and fiefdoms that focus on our own needs, not those of our customers or colleagues.
Judgmentalism ~ criticising others
Holding people accountable and blaming them when something goes wrong not looking at the system that caused the issue (and just maybe our part in it). Cf. performance management.
Greed ~ the need for instant gratification
Knowing full well that success comes to those who wait, yet insisting on imposing short-term targets.
Ignorance ~ lack of knowledge
An inability to learn from our own mistakes, closely related to an unwillingness to admit we have made them. Commonly seen in post project reviews or the lack of them.
Lethargy ~ an inability to move on
Being more worried about maintaining the status quo and holding onto what we have than creating a vision of the future. Often manifested as defensiveness and indecision.
Like all good demons the demons of management ensnare us, once we have entertained one, the others are sure to follow.
There is another demon ~ hypocrisy
But of course I have never met that one. Do as I say, not as I do.
If you enjoyed this post click here for updates delivered straight to your inbox
Read another opinion
Image by Razvan Marescu
I think I’ve witnessed most of these. Not sure which is the most egregious, though.
Annette :-)
Glad my demons are alive and well in the US
I love the first one about Dogmatic, and how some people can have in their mind: “why would I have been promoted if I wasn’t invariably right?”. Things change so “maybe” it is time to realize that perhaps “I am not Always right, and try to accept changes
That is possibly the worst of all 7, but I think judgementalism comes a close second
James,
Demons that haunt operational improvement but also haunt much of the human condition. To improve business we also need to battle to improve ourselves as people.
Adrian
I think you hit the nail firmly on the head Adrian, the issue is the human condition.
On a positive note I am unlikely to ever be out of work.