We all want more productivity…
The world abounds with productivity experts of one sort or another:
- Outsource this
- Streamline that
- Squeeze the other
We obsess about reducing our cost base. Taking out heads and slashing expense. But we are missing a trick?
How do you define productivity?
Using a little advanced algebra (if I say so myself), I came up with this:
Or maybe this…
When you look at it like that there are two ways to improve productivity.
- The way we all focus on, reducing our cost base
- The other way, increasing the value we provide
Both are equally valid but the second way has a couple of things going for it…
Thing 1:
It is a lot easier to engage your staff in increasing the value they offer. That is something they can get excited about. Trying to persuade them that outsourcing is a good thing is a different kettle of fish altogether.
Thing 2:
Is a quote from the richest man I ever met.
You don’t save yourself rich ~ John Mars
How do you approach the productivity problem?
Should you accentuate the positive or minimise the negative?
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Read another opinion
James,
I’m wondering if it’s not an “and” instead of an “or”… increased output and increased value?
Annette :-)
This is called wanting to have your cake and eat it. Though you may have a point.
Hello James,
I get what you are getting at. Which is the reason that I left behind my productivity (almost always cost cutting and dumb automation) days. And moved into demand (revenue generation) back in 1999. Haven’t regretted a day of it.
I found that the productivity focus and folks (cost cutting and automation work and folks) eventually wore me down. Life become lifeless – the adventure-joy was just sucked out.
The interesting thing, for me, is that the demand side is more challenging, more fun, more rewarding for me. And so I have not regretted a single day of my move. It occurs to me that a company does not make its way to greatness simply by focussing on productivity.
Furthermore, if you show up and travel from a big enough context, one that meets people’s deepest needs-aspiration, usually along the lines of paying them well and being about creating a better world, productivity and cost control take care of themselves.
All the best
maz
An interesting but heretical thought Maz