By Debbie Nicholson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-nicholson-24a53627/
The Cause!
I have often felt like printing sucked the life out of me! However, after many quiet conversations with myself, I finally realized that the issue wasn't with printing; the real problem was the daily pressure I felt. Did I contribute to some of that pressure? Absolutely! Over time, I understood that I couldn't and shouldn’t be all things to all people anymore. I needed to delegate more and trust the outcomes.
We will always lose customers. We'll have employees who don’t show up. Equipment will inevitably fail, costing us more money and time we don’t have. We will continuously need to pivot and reassess our processes and procedures. Cash flow will keep us awake at night, and we will blame ourselves for bad decisions, particularly when they involve regret and missed opportunities.
Naturally, we don't love the stresses and pressures of print [duh], but we endure them because, down deep, we know that it is just part of owning a business [it’s not supposed to be easy]. On the bright side, we take great pride in seeing a project come together and hearing our customers say, "Wow, that turned out better than I thought it would—great job!" While those moments don’t happen as often as we’d like, they do provide us with the emotional fuel we need to keep going, to push forward, and to persevere.
The Impact of the Cause!
When we walk around our facility filled with various emotions, we often express them through responses to employees. We may even hover around the production department, looking for something to criticize. We interrupt employees trying to discuss more cost-effective ways to produce a project, dismissing their ideas simply because they are not our own, which can make them feel belittled. We avoid engaging with our employees, thinking we don’t have time for that.
As a result, when we walk away, we leave them wondering, "What’s wrong with them?" The situation has become so strained that employees must tiptoe around us. In other words, the culture of our workplace has severely deteriorated. We caused that!
The Solution (in no particular order)
Ask for help; don’t try to handle everything alone. Contact family members, business partners, print associations, mentors, subject matter experts, and accountants.
Effective delegation involves identifying tasks, selecting the right person for each task, communicating clear and concise expectations, and providing the necessary resources.
Ensure you have the right management team and be willing to make changes if needed.
Demand that accounts receivable (AR) management is a daily priority (not weekly, not monthly…)
Address employee issues directly and promptly; delaying action will only worsen matters.
Collaborate with distributors to secure the best pricing for large and monthly projects.
Assemble a Leadership Team to share the responsibilities. Clearly define each member’s role to foster personal and professional growth and encourage truthful communication and practical accountability. Meeting regularly is the key here!
Encourage and practice an open-door policy and maintain open communication with supervisors and upper management. This approach fosters a culture of accountability and positivity.
Regularly share successes, challenges, and growth opportunities with your employees to improve honesty and loyalty.
Why It Matters: Taking the time to step back and observe our employees as they collaborate and create something they can take pride in allows us to witness their growth and maturity in the industry. These moments are a source of pride, encouraging a sense of accomplishment and potentially nurturing your company's next generation of talent.
Celebrate those successes!
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