When you own a business it is easy to get into a rut. How many times do you hear yourself or one of your employees say, “but this is the way we have always done it.”
Recently my son came to work for me after he graduated college with a 4 year degree from Nazareth College in Business Management. Danlee also recently hired another employee, shall I say, from the younger generation. Being from a different generation they sometimes have a totally different perspective and outlook on certain situations, processes and procedures.
I think as we go day to day in our busy, task oriented days we get so caught up in just getting it done rather than are we doing it in the most efficient way possible. As the President, I have always prided myself on continually looking at our processes to insure we are doing things in the most cost effective and efficient way. However, you would be amazed at how a “new set of eyes” can sometimes take you by surprise and actually have a totally different outlook. It is hard sometimes to listen, because you immediately feel as though that can’t possibly work. These employees are new, very young and have no experience with my company. But when you really listen and hear what they are saying their ideas make sense and they really can save time and money.
My point is this. Listen to your employees, be open to their suggestions. Whether they are young and inexperienced or more mature with more experience, employees have good ideas and when they come to you with suggestions and new ideas don’t be so quick to say it won’t work. And if you do, make sure it is for another reason besides “this is the way we have always done it.”
Joni Walton
President
“When you are through changing, you are through.” – Bruce Barton