Q: 4. My visionary CEO values speed above all else. How do I convince them to slow down to simplify?

I said above that Simplicity isn't the opposite of speed; it's the enabler of sustainable speed . Frame it in their language. Say, "This messy process is causing errors and rework, which is secretly slowing us down. If we invest three hours to simplify it now, it will save us 10 hours a month and allow the team to move faster with fewer mistakes." If this is an area you are struggling with, first read The Visionary and Integrator: 3 Conversations to Define Your Partnership , and feel free to schedule a clarity call with me so we can dig into this more.

Question 1

1. How do I get my team to buy into changing a process they are used to?

Accepted Answer

Involve them from the beginning. Don't come down from the mountain with a new, "perfect" process. Instead, bring them into the "Untangle" session and ask them, "What is the most frustrating part of this for you?" When they are part of co-creating the solution, they will be its biggest advocates.

Question 2

2. We simplified a process, but it still feels complicated. What did we do wrong?

Accepted Answer

You probably haven't done anything wrong! Remember, simplicity is on the other side of complexity. Sometimes the first "simplified" version is still messy. That's okay. The goal is continuous improvement, not one-time perfection. Live with the new process for a month, then ask the team: "What's one small thing we could do to make this 10% easier?"

Question 3

3. How often should we be reviewing our core systems?

Accepted Answer

A good rule of thumb is to do a light review of your core systems (like your PACE systems) every quarter and a deeper dive once a year. However, if a system is causing obvious, daily pain, don't wait. Make it the priority for your very next Process Improvement session.

Question 4

4. My visionary CEO values speed above all else. How do I convince them to slow down to simplify?

Accepted Answer

I said above that Simplicity isn't the opposite of speed; it's the enabler of sustainable speed. Frame it in their language. Say, "This messy process is causing errors and rework, which is secretly slowing us down. If we invest three hours to simplify it now, it will save us 10 hours a month and allow the team to move faster with fewer mistakes."

If this is an area you are struggling with, first read The Visionary and Integrator: 3 Conversations to Define Your Partnership, and feel free to schedule a clarity call with me so we can dig into this more.

Question 5

5. What's the difference between a system and a tool?

Accepted Answer

A tool is something you buy (like Asana, Slack, or a spreadsheet). A system is a process you design. A great system can often be run with very simple tools. Never think a new tool will magically fix a broken or non-existent system. Focus on designing a simple process first.

Small Business Systems

Untangling the Spaghetti: A Guide to Business Process Simplification

A Simple Framework for Creating Small Business Systems That Work

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