Workplace Wait and the Consequences that Follow
Have you experienced workplace wait? It’s when someone or everyone wants to follow a plan but they are waiting for something else to happen first.
We’re going to improve sales, as soon as we get a new sales manager.
Our quality is off, but next year we’re getting some new equipment.
We need to fix this, but let’s wait until the meeting next week to discuss how.
It happens all the time. You often forget that the period of wait has a price. And like it or not, the organization, the employees, and the customers are paying.
When the organization pays, everyone loses.
Perhaps in some cases, the cost is pushed to the customer. When the customer pays and the value is not recognized, eventually, the organization loses.
Enough pressure on the organization and the employees lose.
What are you waiting for?
Workplace Wait
Opportunity cost matters, everyone gets it. There are also costs associated with trust and value for the customer.
Are there team trust issues?
Join our team, next year you’ll get a promotion.
As soon as we close two more deals, we’re going to buy everyone a new laptop to improve productivity.
We know the shipping department is in shambles but there is nothing we can do until sales improve.
The wait is sometimes really just a stall. It puts a blanket over the problem, covers things up, and creates a future based largely on hope.
Hope often has a timeline. Left unchecked and the people begin to lose trust.
What are your plans?
Future Plans
Planning for the future matters. Forecasting future revenue, customers, and growth help build energy and excitement.
The future comes fast. There are expectations. Missed goals or shifting timelines can delay the forecast.
Sometimes people begin to feel like they’re waiting for nothing. It is a balancing act. A tight rope. Navigation is tricky. Trust and belief wane.
What is the cost of now?
The cost of now is sometimes less expensive than the cost waiting.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer. 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.
