Oh great, another email about the upcoming week’s meeting agenda. The heads of our team want to meet next week to discuss how we can cut costs and become more efficient and effective at our respective positions. A scan through the time required to not only have these meetings but also the time needed for preparation and travel to and from is astonishing. So what do we do? Like blind sheep we follow the herd begrudgingly following the orders from the heads of our respective departments never having the courage to speak up and ask the question, is there not a better use of our time and energy? Time, energy, and money are misused in many ways, more than just these sleepy weekly team meetings. A smart business professional is open to change, open to not staying comfortable and complacent.
Weekly payroll at many a company is a tedious process that involves countless hours of data entry and follow up, especially with small businesses, franchises, and remote staff. It could be that your business is manually processing payroll each week or bi-weekly as it may be. Free yourself up to use this time in a more productive fashion by looking into the use of on line time sheets. If you are a small business owner, you understand the value of time and how precious it is. Use it more wisely and reduce these needless hours spent processing payroll when you could be working to increase your customer base.
For decades now, businesses have spent needless energy and resources in areas overlooked by upper management. Truly effective leaders know the value in not leaving any stones unturned as is proved through time. Many times the suggestions on ways to cut costs come from the frontline employees, for example, the janitorial staff, drivers, and secretaries. The unsung heroes on a daily basis that keep the wheels moving. Listen to them. The same suggestions of 40, 50, and 60 years ago still hold true today. Is it really necessary to purchase paper plates and plastic silverware for the weekly meetings? Ask the tough questions, get out of your comfort zone, and inventory the shortcomings of your organization.
So, in a given 52-week year, let’s assume that on average a particular department (which employs 5 people) holds 2 meetings a week, each meeting averaging an hour. On that basis alone, not including the time that is spent in preparation for these meetings and travel to the meeting place, 520 hours a year is dedicated to these meetings. Now, let us take this a step further. Assuming that the average hourly wage of the meeting attendees is $14, this adds up to a $7,280 a year expense.
Certainly, strikes a chord when we start to think of our bottom line and use of our human capital does it not? Inventory your meetings. Are they necessary? What can be done to empower your staff to be the efficient and effective team members that you know they are capable of? Change is inevitable, and the true leaders who rise above the mindless sheep embrace change and help the comfortable transition to the uncomfortable so they may reap the rewards of their labor.
