LEARN
Something Worth SharingThe Empty System I love systems; I spend a lot of time researching system-thinking, and I adore productivity and how to make efficient systems. At heart, I will always be an engineer. However, I’ve noticed recently a number of system failures, and in each case it is for a simple and frustrating reason. Have you ever made a large purchase - something like a car - and then get bombarded with satisfaction surveys? You may have scored the purchase 9 out of 10, but the more they send you surveys, your score starts to dip. You may have even had the sales rep directly tell you that they needed 5 stars for their bonus! (this did happen to me once, as well as recently after a ‘relaxing spa treatment’). The issue here is that the reason behind the system gets lost in the system itself and ends up harming it. My other favourite example is in restaurant restrooms. I’m referring to the forms that are often found on the wall or door where it shows that a member of staff has cleaned and checked the facilities each hour. I’ve lost count of how many of these forms are signed for the whole day - by 11am! The enemy of the system has reared its ugly head again, the one that loses the meaning behind it. Systems, if we don’t stay clear and aligned to a purpose, run away and default to an empty system. Just doing something without reason isn’t a true system, it’s just doing stuff.
|
