Painful Workplace Problems Are Solved First
What gets put into the budget? What has the best chance of being removed? Painful workplace problems have a way of creeping in, or sliding out of the budget. How will you get or keep the resources you need?
Data Evaluation
Even in the smallest departments or companies there is a budget. Some number that says this is our tolerance, this is what we have, and this is the maximum we will pay.
Many budget items are evaluated by the flow of the income statement. Keep expenses low is the mindset. That has a certain amount of value, but it doesn’t always tell the whole story.
For example, salaries, wages, and benefits are a huge expense on any P/L statement. Yet, when you manage your workforce as an expense, expect your culture to align. This is not a good idea. Think human capital instead.
What painful workplace problems do you need budget support to solve? What was chopped from the budget last year that you need now more than ever?
Painful Workplace Problems
Budgets are typically set by the evaluation of need. Need is often quantifiable, yet when it comes to budget it is sometimes qualitative. That is, it is based on the evaluation of non-numerical data.
Getting what you want or need in the budget may be determined by several important factors.
Have you considered:
- Reputation: What items or actions are going to be connected to your brand.
- Visibility: Can the problem or need be hidden, or is it not noticeable to most people? Visible problems get action.
- Expensive: Sometimes smaller items slip-by the review committee easier than larger items.
- ROI: Items that seem to directly connect to increasing revenue or profit are easier to get or keep.
- Accelerating: Any problematic need that seems to be accelerating feels more urgent or necessary for action now.
The biggest problem you may have with what gets in, or stays in the budget, is going to be associated with the narrative. It is the story you tell, or the story that appears to be unfolding.
Painful workplace problems are solved first.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
