When to Attack Your Systems Versus Your People

How do you know when it’s time for someone on your team to go? Knowing when to attack your systems versus your people does not have to be a guessing game.

“You got to know when to hold ’em, “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em…” KENNY ROGERS, “THE GAMBLER”

There are many gambles in business – in fact, just starting a business can be a gamble! But knowing when to attack your systems versus your people does not have to be a guessing game. If you have a clear understanding of processes versus people when challenges arise, your plan of action will be clear.

In business, the equivalent to the “hold ’em, fold ’em” lyric could be, “there’s a time to fire fast, and there’s a time to hold back.” It is essential to make an educated decision. The challenge you’re facing as the leader might be one involving poor customer service, an accounting error, or any number of mistakes that negatively impact your business.

The first thing you need to do is take the time to gather all the information needed to make an informed decision. This is exactly where many leaders get tripped up, making an emotional decision rather than an educated one. Their perception is that somebody dropped the ball, and that person must face the consequences.

Instead of responding this way, stop – take a breath, avoid reacting in the moment, and gather all the facts of the situation.

Before taking action, find out:

1. Did the person who dropped the ball fully understand what was expected of them? If not, did they proactively seek to understand?
2. Did they have the proper training and procedures to perform the job/task at the level required?
3. Did they have the appropriate skill set to perform the assigned job?

“Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.” JIM COLLINS, “GOOD TO GREAT”

Sometimes we inadvertently put talented people in the wrong roles, the wrong “seats on the bus” (read Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great, for more on this concept) in relation to their skill set. Doing this sets up that person, as well as the business, for failure. The ability to recognize this mismatch will help the leader when it comes to understanding problems as they occur in the business.

If the answer to all three questions above is yes, then it’s time to give that person the “Gift to Go,” as we call it. You can learn more about this in Snapshot Business Planning, or schedule a free strategy session to discuss your unique circumstances by emailing us at info@mcleaninternational.com today.

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