I am often surprised at how accepting we are of bureaucratic measures that often creates stumbling blocks in our path, if it doesn’t stop us altogether from getting results. When it comes to what we refer to as the delivery systems for getting things done–People, Place, Process and Product–it is usually Process that frustrates the most. Processes can be policies, procedures, guidelines, rules and even laws that conflict with what we do. Innocently, they are often put in place by well-intentioned people trying to keep people out of trouble or harms way. But too often they are the result of a mistake made by 1% that ends up inflicting the remaining 99%.
Remember that the etymology for the word bureaucracy comes from the following:
Remember! Bureaucratic processes uncontested are seen as effective measures! Don’t just “live with it!” Say something! Do something! Don’t be stuck by something! How do you remove the red tape? How do you break through the barriers. Let me suggest the following:
Know It!
Know why the rule or policy is there. Find the reason and context behind. Find the positive therein. Network proactively, and see where you can yield some influence on how that process is implemented.
Address It!
This is your opportunity to anticipate and be agile on your end–remove the road blocks you can move out of the way. If you’re a manager, provide air cover to your employees so they aren’t impacted by it.
Prevent It!
Most importantly, make sure you don’t create them yourself. That leads us to creating a culture where mistakes can be learned from, rather than being bandaged by red tape so heavily that no one can be healed.
I quite like the quote by Anand Mahindra:
To me, every decision needn’t be a ‘big-bang’ reform but a signal of proactive decision-making and removal of red tape and bureaucracy.
Some of the best progress that can be made organizationally is through the small steps that gets rid of the bricks in our path. Know It! Address It! Prevent It!
