Creating moments in business

In a book written by Chip & Dan Heath – “The Power of Moments” – the reader is rewarded by so many practical opportunities to be a better business, person and life.

Business expectations, employee satisfaction and compliance are daily terminologies most of us are confronted with frequently.

Businesses are expected to perform like robots, deliver on the promise without compromise and function with the same effort, quality and vigour.

Employee’s demand, negotiate, want more for less.

The world became obsessive about risks or perceived risks. Business and individuals get confronted with “Are you doing what is expected of you and can you proof this?” – Are you compliant? Can you proof that there is no risk or that you are managing a risk perceived to be present in the workplace?

What is the solution to this? How can we as a business change the norm to answer the above statements?

CREATE MOMENTS.

The foundation of a good business is a well structured, comprehensive and detailed management system. Key factors we are looking for in a management system to address the topics mentioned is to create moments in your business. Those single highlights in a day, month, quarter or year that is so important and impressive it will never be forgotten. The moments that reward your management system requirements.

Think about an employee’s first day at work – what story will they tell when they get back home. Did you create a moment the first day to allow the employee to experience you or your business values? To be in the moment. Was a WOW factor created? A day worth remembering – A moment making it worthwhile to invest their time in your business.

When you are negotiating a new sales contract and your buyer is visiting you for the first time, how did that meeting go? When they left your premises, what was the moment you created for them? Are you constantly thinking of how you can up the ante, to give the experience more challenge and value and stretch yourself to a place of discomfort in order to grow the experience for your customer?

Compliance is another expectation. All the legislative requirements, demands from buyers and standards requirements. More and more standards are creating an environment where your business practices are managed by the standards instead of you, as the owner or manager managing the business in line with your management system. This is a key factor that we should consider when creating moments. Moments in compliance should be celebrated. It can be a result of an audit, small achievement in behaviour of your staff or even a thank-you note to the admin clerk. A sense of achievement. Previous article worth reading – Culture in Business – Skyvines

How can we get there?

• Build Peaks – no we are not talking production. PEAKS that is intentional to achieve a moment. This could be an event for staff, moment in a day where someone or something is celebrated. But there is an intentional build-up to this peak. A sense of expectation and anticipation over a period that when the PEAK is reached it will have a moment. Eliminate the negative and elevate the positives in this period
• Take risk – A risk is a risk otherwise it would be a risk. Strange but true. Sometimes we need to create moments where employees can take risks – and if the risk paid off, it is worth a celebration. That moment will have an impact on person and business.
• Multiply milestones – what this creates is an opportunity for us to keep on building on success. But normally this has a pre-determined “SET UP’ moment. Slow progress and then that sudden jump to higher quality, challenge or demand. That sudden level-up demand will be the moment of realization – that we are serious. But without the required preparation and time leading up to this moment, it will be damaging to either business or person.
• Practice Courage – “Courage (also called bravery or valour) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation”. There should be a moment that is intentional where courage or bravery can be practiced. It is easier to be brave when you feel protected. So, ensure that your systems allow for employees to be brave, where they can practice to be brave without the consequence of discipline.

MAKE MOMENTS MATTER. Ensure that you are intentional in creating moments for your business or employees, and when we achieve the moment – make a thing out of it. Reward bravery, encourage growth and develop management systems with intention to create peaks worth celebrating.

Skyvines Greetings