Complexity creeps into our businesses and affects our lives without announcing itself. Bit by bit, complexity tempts us with new activities, new markets and less-than-ideal customers. We start doing things are we aren’t good at.
Left unchecked, complexity steals from us. It makes our back office more costly. It distracts us from the real value we bring to our customers so they pay us less. Plus, it keeps us from the quality of life that we seek.
So, this week, think about what you can subtract to achieve the growth you want. How? Get your team together and identify where complexity is sneaking in and getting in the way of the things you seek. Using 80/20 thinking is a great way to start:
- What 20% of our [markets, customers, solutions, sales people, etc.] account for 80% of our profits? (Rough calculations are ok.)
- What 20% of our [activities, processes, customer types, etc.] cause 80% of our problems. (Listen for internal complaining or when you hear “things shouldn’t be this way” or “things should work better”).
Start brainstorming, and let me know what you come up with!
~Tony