5 ideas to prepare your organization for the rebound

Posted by admin on March 20, 2009 under Process Improvement, Technology |

This week begins the NCAA college basketball “March Madness”. While many teams have seen their season come to an end, those still in contention are busy preparing their offensive and defensive tactics for their next opponent. They are assessing their playbooks and fine-tuning the plays that provide the greatest potential for winning. Each day, coaches and players are taking steps to improve their performance – even in incremental amounts – knowing that small changes can make the difference and provide big wins.

 

Here are 5 “offensive tactics” for preparing your “team” for the coming rebound:

 

·          Cross training – Cross-train your employees, giving them opportunities to work in other parts of the organization. Benefits include: keeping employees engaged, improved morale, employee growth and development, promotes innovation of new products, services and processes, and maximizes organizational flexibility to adapt to change.

·          Test business process changes – This is a great time to experiment with making those process changes you know are needed. Smaller workloads allow employees to absorb and practice these changes so they are second nature during the busy times.

·          Skills development – Provide additional educational opportunities to employees. You’ll realize the maximum return on your training investment if employees can bring their new training back to the job and put it to use right away.

·          Evaluate your technology – Take a look at the new technologies available in the marketplace and consider how these would help your organization work more effectively when the boom times return. It is much easier for employees to learn and adopt new technologies now, than when they are overwhelmed with work.

·          Re-strategize your investment priorities – Review your strategies and priorities. Determine where it makes the most sense to invest your resources (people, time, money) to position your organization for the future.

 

What changes are you making in your “playbook” to prepare for the “championship” (future)? (More indepth discussion here.) Please share your best ideas…