More powerful tools are coming at you this week in the blog. Leadership is all about learning. Learning how to work with people better, learning tools to do better work, etc.
My friend taught me the 5 Whys and What Does Good Look Like Analysis and both have helped me communicate my vision with my team at fit-flavors. They’re even starting to adopt the tools themselves! It’s so cool.
Last week we talked about setting standards. Now that you know why setting standards is so important, how do you do it?
When it comes to setting standards, it can be helpful to use tools such as the 5 Whys and What Does Good Look Like Analysis to ensure that you are thoroughly considering all of the factors involved and setting clear, achievable goals.
The 5 Whys is a simple problem-solving tool that involves asking "why" five times to get to the root cause of a problem. It can be used to help identify the underlying issues that need to be addressed in order to set effective standards.
For example, if you are trying to improve the efficiency of a process in your business, you might ask:
Why is the process currently inefficient?
Why is that causing problems?
Why is that happening?
Why is that a problem?
Why is that a problem?
By asking "why" multiple times, you can drill down to the root cause of the issue and identify the specific steps that need to be taken to address it.
Another tool that can be helpful when setting standards is the What Does Good Look Like Analysis. This involves defining exactly what "good" looks like in a specific context, and setting standards based on that definition.
For example, if you are trying to improve customer service at your business, you might ask:
What does good customer service look like?
What specific actions or behaviors would demonstrate good customer service?
How can we measure and track progress towards meeting those standards?
By defining what good looks like and setting specific, measurable standards based on that definition, you can ensure that your team is working towards clear, achievable goals.
Here is an example of how these tools might be used in a business setting:
Let's say that you own a restaurant and want to improve the quality of your meals. You might use the 5 Whys to identify the root cause of any issues with meal quality. For example, you might ask:
Why are some of our meals not meeting the standards we set for quality?
Why is that happening?
Why is that a problem?
Why is that a problem?
Why is that a problem?
By asking these questions, you might identify that the root cause of the issue is that your chefs are not consistently following the recipes and procedures that you have established. This information can help you determine the specific steps that need to be taken in order to improve meal quality.
You might then use the What Does Good Look Like Analysis to define exactly what good looks like in terms of meal quality, and set specific standards based on that definition. For example, you might determine that good looks like meals that are prepared according to the specified recipes and procedures, use fresh and high-quality ingredients, and are presented in an attractive and appealing manner. You might also set standards for how quickly meals should be prepared and served, and how customer complaints or concerns should be handled.
A good leader will take the time to learn tools like the 5 Whys and What Does Good Look Like Analysis. These tools can help you set clear, achievable standards that will ensure your organization is operating at its best and working towards its goals. Plus, by using these tools to set standards and effectively communicate them with your team, you can create a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. It might require some effort upfront, but it's worth it for any leader who wants to drive success and encourage growth within their organization.
Do you guys have some other tools you use to communicate your vision and needs as leaders in your organization and in your life? I’d love to know and learn them myself!
Yours,
Jillian Tedesco
You can also download the What Does Good Look Like? and The 5 Whys worksheets.
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