people, man, alone

Why are mistakes being made in my business?

If you’ve clicked onto this article then chances are that you’ve got a problem to solve, more than likely you’ve become frustrated with things not being done right in your business. A business owner came to me with this very same problem not too long ago and I thought it would be a great topic to share with you.

What is the problem you are trying to solve?

First we need to understand what “not being done right” means. Does it mean that the task is getting done, but there’s a mistake? Or does it mean that the task is not getting done at all?

Are the instructions written down?

You might be thinking “why should I write it down?… If I tell someone to do something they should do it!”. If that’s the case then remember that you clicked this article for a reason, what you have been doing isn’t working and… my golden rule is: An action unwritten is just a request.

If you’ve just told them verbally then there’s a chance it can be misunderstood, even if it seems completely obvious to you. For example, unbelievably there are 7 ways to interpret this sentence “I didn’t say you stole the money”, depending on which word you stress and each with its own unique set of consequences.

Hopefully, we’re not trying to solve a problem of money going missing in your business, but this does prove that verbal communication by itself is flawed.

There can be no question that if something is written down it becomes more concrete. That’s not to say that written instructions can’t be misconstrued (ever become frustrated with IKEA instructions?).

Write out what needs to be done, when it needs to be done by and who is responsible. Now see how it goes, I guarantee you will see an improvement because now the team have a clear point of reference to understand if they are doing something right or wrong.

I have written instructions but people still make mistakes!

Who do you know that wants to make a mistake on purpose? I’ll give you a hint… hopefully no one! So with that in mind there must be a reason mistakes are still being made and the people most likely to give you the answer are the people involved.

We don’t want to create a blame culture, so make it known that nobody is going to get into trouble for making a mistake, it’s just an opportunity to improve the way we work. So ask the team what went wrong and what would be a better way to work in the future? If it’s not already obvious then you can ask them if there is a problem with the instructions.

Now that you have an idea of what went wrong you can ask the team to come up with solutions to stop it happening again. The secret here is that your staff will have the answers. Make sure you give them praise for their ideas as this will help proactive problem solving become part of their day to day routine.

Example problem and ideas: “I just keep forgetting to send the report”… Can we setup a reminder? Can the report be sent automatically? Can we use a shared folder so the report doesn’t need to be sent at all? Is the report still needed?…

Finally, you’ll need to put their suggestions into action which might mean updating the written processes and the daily routine. Don’t be resistant to change, nothing is permanent and this is a really positive step forward. It will show everyone that they are listened to and that it’s worth participating in improvement opportunities.

You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain so give it a try and see what impact the changes have? If it happens again just try another solution and you’ll eventually find the one that solves it permanently.

Summary

So now you’ve got an approach to fixing recurring problems it’s time to put it into action! Understand what the problems is, why is it happening, never blame your team and solve the problem together.

For more great ideas and insight into improving your business join our mailing list in the footer below.

Share this post with friends

Other posts

  • All
  • Articles
  • Short Reads
  • Videos
All
  • All
  • Articles
  • Short Reads
  • Videos
Zoho One Product Review

What is Zoho One?

Read More →
Google Yahoo Email Security Changes Feb 2024

Zoho Email Deliverability 2024

Read More →
What KPI Means key performance indicator

What KPI Means: What Gets Measured Gets Managed

Read More →

Feedback

Was this post helpful? Is there something else you would like to know? If so let us know using the form below, we’d love to get your feedback!

Get productivity tips, hacks and insights every Wednesday.

What happens next?

When you click send, the information you have provided will be emailed to us. We will review it and contact you to chat about your project. 

If there’s a specific time you prefer to be contacted, please let us know in your message and we’ll do our best to honour your request.

Looking forward to talking to you!

Announce

New
arrival

2019 collection

Let’s face it, no look is really complete without the right finishes. Not to the best of standards, anyway (just tellin’ it like it is, babe). Upgrading your shoe game. Platforms, stilettos, wedges, mules, boots—stretch those legs next time you head out, then rock sliders, sneakers, and flats when it’s time to chill.

Log in

[mepr-login-form use_redirect="true"]

Sign-up

Not a member yet? 

Join now and get access to video tutorials, downloadable content and much more.