They are in every organization. They look at your process, workflow, or procedures and wonder why you are doing things that way.
They scan the world and see what you cannot see: wasted time, wasted effort, wasted energy.
They may be perceived as complaining, but they are not. They are trying to maximize the return for their own time and others.
They are the ones close enough to the action, the actual work, to understand where it can improve.
You may feel threatened, especially if you created the original way or process.
You may not be doing the work anymore, and are not close enough to find better ways.
You may need to listen, and let them help you.
I have my own personal Efficiency Expert.
She is the youngest of four.
Sometimes I misinterpret her motives as complaining or procrastination, but she doesn’t want to waste time or energy.
She finds better ways of doing routine tasks.
She challenges the old way, my way, and many times finds a better way.
“You need to unload the dishwasher.”
“Ok, but this takes so much time.”
“Unload the dishwasher.”
“Ok, but this takes so much time…and I have an idea for next time. Why don’t we all put the silverware together in the same little bin instead of just dumping it in all mixed up.”
“Why would we want to do that?”
“Because just putting it in randomly seems like no big deal until you have to unload and put the silverware away. If we all spent a little more time loading the dishwasher, unloading becomes so much easier and faster. The silverware is already pre-sorted and you just have to pick it up and put it away.”
“You are amazing!”
“I know.”
The Efficiency Expert is in your home, office, or workplace. They can help you and the whole organization when you learn to listen.
Carl Weber Consulting 