Your team isn't following the processes? Here's why.
You created processes in your business, they are good, they have been tested and you expect everyone to be using them now. But people are reluctant. Some of your team members aren’t following the processes at all. You have to remind them multiple times and you are now losing more time than you were hoping to gain.
Why no-one wants to get on board if the processes are also meant to help your entire team? They’re not there only for your own benefit.
Here’s why your team isn’t following the processes:
You didn't involve your team in creating the process
One of the main reasons why your team isn’t following the processes is the fact that they weren’t involved in the process of creating these processes in the first place. Here’s a new process, a presentation, Word document, and from now on this is what you should be doing. Generally, people don’t like things to be just imposed on them. This makes people feel like they are children, not adults, they’re not trusted and not appreciated. And this then creates a resentment in using and following new processes.
You ignored your team’s feedback
Another reason for your team not following the processes can be the fact that their feedback was completely ignored. If the processes are created for those who do a particular job on a day-to-day basis, it’s important to listen to their feedback and take it on board. You may have a great idea about a process, but sometimes things work only great on a piece of paper. Those that actually do the job will tell you what challenges your suggestions can pose. This feedback is valuable as it helps to create practical processes that can be actually followed and processes that make sense to everyone involved. If you want to encourage your staff to follow the processes, listen to their feedback.
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You didn’t explain the WHY
If your team isn’t following the processes, it may be because they weren’t presented with the benefits and WHY behind these processes. They may feel the processes were created to control them or because you simply don’t trust them to do things in their own ways. But we know that’s not the case and the processes you want in your business are beneficial to your team as well, not only to you and your business. Make sure you present new processes from the benefits perspective, so your team can see how these processes will make their lives easier and maybe even positively impact their salaries.
You didn't present the process to your team
We see this one quite often. An email sent with a link or a presentation with a note for everyone to familiarise themselves with a new process and come back to you with any questions. In practice, these emails get ignored. Even when people initially have their best intentions. Work gets in the way; everyone gets busy and that’s the end of your new processes. There aren’t usually any follow ups within a reasonable timeframe either. The email gets forgotten even by the person who initially sent it. Suddenly one day, someone wakes up and realises that no-one is following any processes… But this is a bit too late. And why people should now be treating this seriously?
We’re not saying you shouldn’t send anything to your team for them to read but you need to make sure that there is a follow-up and this follow-up comes from you. Not you hoping that people will come back to you with any questions. The follow up should be active where you ask people what they understood, ask them to say in their own words what will be happening now as per the new processes etc. If possible, do this in a group as this gives an opportunity for more things to be clarified.
Why not get in touch with our professional Wantage accounting team today to see how they can help you and your business achieve its potential.
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