 Last week I was featured in Management Today, which was fun.
The article was all about my take on what small business has to learn from McDonald's. You may have seen it, but if not then you can read it by clicking HERE. It's a really good article, and well worth five minutes of your time. Reading what someone else had written about the benefits of modelling McDonald's though, got me thinking again about why most don't. We all know we need systems in our business; we know they keep everything uniform, consistent, reliable. But the fact is that many feel about them, the same way they feel about the dentist - with the anticipation of pain and suffering. Many don't go to the dentist for that reason. They suffer on with toothache, in pain, complaining to anyone who will listen, not doing the one thing that would relieve the pain, and solve their problem. Until that is, the pain becomes unbearable, they visit the dentist, realise it's not as bad as they had imagined, and feel immediate and lasting relief. And so it is with systems. You know you need them; you know that your team will perform better for having them, that your business will be more consistent, more profitable, more scaleable, but you're just not in enough pain yet; or you feel it's just too big a job; or you just don't know how to get started. But you need to start somewhere, and as someone said to me just last week, 'The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now!' Start to build your systems, start small, but start now - because as your business grows that pain is only going to get worse. For more information on how MPL can help you visit www.mariannepage.co.uk or contact me on hello@mariannepage.co.uk
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 I was attacked by a wasp the other day. My lovely walk in the country was suddenly interrupted by a severe burning pain in my arm - the little beggar having sunk his stinger into me with no provocation whatsoever.
On my way home, accompanied by what felt like a hundred pixies stabbing my arm with tiny sharp daggers, I pondered on the purpose of a wasp. Wondering if their role in life was simply to cause pain, annoyance and allergic reactions. Why do they exist? So next day, faced with some serious work to do… I googled ‘What purpose do wasps serve?’ and was amazed to discover that they actually do serve some purpose as pollinators, though not as efficient as their cousin, the bee. To be honest, it kind of ruined the blog I was going to write about the wasps in your business that serve no purpose:
But now I know that the pesky wasp actually does some good, it got me thinking that perhaps we shouldn’t rush to judgement, or take things, particularly people, at face value. Maybe that person you think has struggled since day one, just hasn’t been trained properly, or maybe they would blossom in a different role, or maybe they’ve been doing something quietly, behind the scenes, adding value to your business and just not making a song and dance about it. Perhaps this person will never be a bee but they make a very effective wasp! Have you ever employed anyone like this; someone who you doubted who turned out to be a revelation for all the right reasons? (Think of Richard Branson at school and where he is now.) Do one thing: Think about your people and for each of them write down what you believe their main strength to be: then ask them what they think. Finally ask yourself, am I playing to and challenging their strengths?(Okay; that's three things...but do it anyway) For more information on how MPL can help you visit www.mariannepage.co.uk or contact me on hello@mariannepage.co.uk |
AuthorMarianne is the author of three books, and is currently working on her fourth, whilst regularly writing her blog, we hope you enjoy it :-) Archives
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