Everybody’s Opinion Matters

It has often been said that you'll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, and though it is a little crude, the fundamental truth of it when pertaining to your coworkers is also true. People want to feel needed, however what’s more is that they want to feel as if their opinion matters. And if you are going to make any kind of change to a procedure or any kind of change to a process that has been going on the same way for some time, then it pays to ask the opinions and for the help of the people involved.

This consists of the individuals that are using the process at the moment and even individuals that came up with the process to begin with. Yes, you try to correct or tune something that somebody has already put a lot of work into, so you do need to do it in a careful and respectable manner. That is to say you need to use some courtesy and some common sense in the way you approach them.

If you simply come right out and tell them what is wrong and why their process is struggling, they may not be willing to help you make the alterations or give you the insight that you're looking for. Maybe there's a reason that is difficult to see or difficult to explain and that is why one choice was made over another. It would be nice to have these ideas and insights ahead of time, before changes are made and a process is modified beyond repair.

You're looking to streamline a process, to make it function better, so it may be helpful to get the reasoning behind why it's the way it is now. Then, with a new set of eyes and some various perspectives, you may have a better chance at coming up with something new that works better. Once again, forcing the issue and being disrespectful may not help you achieve the goals that you're looking for.

With a little bit of consideration and tact, you will be able to gain a helpful hand in beginning the project and you may have more willing participants. The more willing the individuals are involved in adopting the changes and making them their own, the better chance you'll have in seeing the alterations take hold permanently and do real good.