“People do what you inspect, not what you expect.”
– Pearl Zhu

During our weekly publications of Prescriptive Profits, we talk a lot about inspecting what you expect for your business. This includes all the different processes, tools and people needed to perform the different tasks throughout your organization.

So what is the best way to make sure that you inspect what you expect?

Hire a film crew and get ready for the next episode of Undercover Boss.

Roll up those sleeves and get into the nitty gritty of what life looks like on a day-to-day basis out in the field or on the frontlines of your business. By participating in some of the processes firsthand and immersing yourself within the business, you get to see the operations from a different perspective, feel the pain points and see the areas for improvement.

Here are some of the potential positives from the “Ultimate Inspection.”

#1 – Deeper Understanding

When trying to best understand a process or some of the pitfalls that come with it, there is no better way to fully understand it than to do it. See one, do one, teach one.

Example: Buying a house.

No matter how much research, information or advice that you gather when you first buy a home there is still a learning curve that you go through.

Whether it is fees that you didn’t know about (talking about your mortgage broker), the timeline of the process or just how quickly things can escalate or unravel, the purchase of #2 is going to be a much more prepared experience than #1.

#2 – Perspective 

Sometimes in life all one needs is a different perspective to help bubble ideas to the top. With experience comes a different way of doing things. Bringing in an additional set of eyes to analyze a process a different way is a great way to brainstorm.

While certain tasks might seem simple on the surface to an executive, they aren’t faced with the potential issues and inefficiencies outside of their control that the employees face daily and are still expected to complete their tasks on time.

Vice versa for frontline employees’ perspectives of executives. Oftentimes employees feel as if they aren’t heard and that their issues never appear to be a priority for the leaders of the business.

It’s likely because they aren’t exposed to the level of accountability and decision making required to maintain a profitable business, with limited amount of resources and time to spend.

A great way to avoid this is by communicating to the business and providing them a perspective of where the business from a leader’s view. Do so by consistently updating employees on the business plan and priorities, while providing constant updates against them.

#3 – Validation

During most war movies, at some point the leader puts themselves right into the heat of the battle. Not only because they are experts in their craft, but also to inspire and motivate the soldiers to follow them.

Now, I dont think you will get the same reaction that William Wallace receives in Braveheart when he is pumping his comrades up for battle, but by performing the same tasks as your direct reports, it builds a bond that only this action can construct.

Put yourself in their shoes. Empathize with their position and see what it does for you.

Inspect what you expect is the core ethos of Prescriptive Profits. If you haven’t done so, you are failing at your job of overseeing your business.

We challenge you to go undercover on the “Ultimate Inspection” and would love to hear how it goes. Tell a business unit of yours that you’re going to live a day in the life and see what comes of it.

Trust us, it’ll be worth it. #InspectWhatYouExpect

Let’s get to work.

Prescriptive Profits #28