EVERYONE LOOKS LIKE ANTS FROM THIS 30,000 FT. VIEW

We’ve heard the phrase “from a 30,000 ft. view” from time-to-time. Often this is uttered when the company is making some big decision or change. It’s to indicate that things are being looked at from a big picture perspective. But how often have decisions been made from this perspective and they caused financial and personnel losses simply because management never bothered to look at the functionality, processes, and relationships from the ground level? As “ground level” suggests, it is the foundation which the company is built. So why would you start hacking away at it without first figuring out how it’s holding you up?

As managers, it’s important that either you or those in your circle of trust have a clear understanding of every employee’s job function and knowledge, skillset, and workplace dynamic. Making decisions without truly taking the time to learn about the aforementioned can leave your business without subject matter experts, stress and hardship for those that remain, and overall poor morale. You also have to set aside your ego. If you’re thinking “How difficult can it be? We’ll just have so-and-so take over these responsibilities” or “Let’s dismantle this and we’ll figure it out later” without taking a deeper dive, then you’re probably setting yourself up for failure. Does the person(s) currently performing certain functions at the workplace have the knowledge and field experience to effectively troubleshoot at a moment’s notice? Will letting employees go or eliminating certain software lead to additional work and overtime for other employees who now have to research resolutions and don’t have the realistic understanding of these additional responsibilities or functionalities? Here is the one that many managers underestimate: Do the current employees or potential employees performing these tasks have the right personality for the job? Are they willing to roll up their sleeves? Are they able to keep a level head when they are approached with an obstacle? Will they make excuses and try to get out of doing tasks?

There’s a real difference when you take the effort to learn and understand, then make decisions. And let’s face it, managers do have to make tough decisions, even from a 30,000 ft. view. The goal here is to minimize the risk to your business whenever possible and to understand the value of your employees- your greatest assets.