Step 2: Where to Start Guide
It’s hard to know where to start sometimes. The environment is a big mess and navigating how to play your part to fix it (no matter how small) is a big question. Don’t spend a moment longer pondering, I’ve got your back.
Here is an easy guide on what to do first.
Time to audit. It might not be the most exciting word but the task can be fun. It can be a formal affair with spreadsheets and graphs (damn I love those) or this can be a much less formal arrangement. Either way it is an opportunity to connect with your business and the people within it.
Your purpose is to paint a picture of your organisation's current operating practices.
1. Open your eyes and observe how your business operates
What is the current tone around change within the organisation?
What stakeholders does your organisation engage?
What behaviours do you and your colleagues have?
How does your organisation connect with their consumers/audience/clients?
Often there is context that needs to be understood, existing relationships, organisation traditions and relationship back stories. Be inquisitive. Once you have had a good look around and have a good understanding of the state of play, you are ready for the next step.
2. Ask all the questions.
Why is that company engaged for that service?
Why do we order our xxx from yyy?
Have we ever thought of comparing the services of xxx?
Who owns that relationship or negotiated that contract?
Have we always completed the task that way? Why?
With context you get clarity. Sometimes there is a bigger plan at play and that will help you to understand where you can realistically succeed in implementing new ways of working. What we are looking for are easy wins. Lets start grabbing at that low hanging fruit!
And now…. GOOD LUCK! Now you’re all fired up and keen to learn more, head back to the Library and you will find “Step 3: Make a plan”.
May you make many small changes that have big and lasting impacts.
You‘ve got this!