ReliabilityX

Category: Mission

  • The Necessity of True Change Management in Maintenance

    The Necessity of True Change Management in Maintenance

    The Necessity of True Change Management in Maintenance 

    Change is an inevitable part of every industry, and maintenance is no exception. Whether it’s the introduction of new technologies, processes, or leadership, how an organization handles change can significantly impact its operational efficiency and overall success. However, when it comes to maintenance, true change management goes beyond simply implementing new systems—it’s about transforming the culture, mindset, and approach of the entire organization to ensure lasting improvement. 

    Understanding Change Management in Maintenance 

    Change management in maintenance involves a structured approach to shifting the way maintenance teams and organizations operate. This includes altering processes, roles, tools, and technologies to enhance performance. It’s not just about adopting a new software tool or updating equipment—it’s about ensuring that everyone in the organization, from leadership to frontline workers, understands and supports the changes being made. 

    For example, when moving from a reactive maintenance strategy to a more proactive approach like predictive maintenance (PdM), the organization must make sure its teams are properly trained and equipped. This transition doesn’t happen overnight—it requires careful planning, communication, and support from all levels of the organization. A lack of strategic change management can lead to resistance, confusion, and a loss of momentum, ultimately compromising the effectiveness of the change. 

    Why True Change Management Is Essential 

    1. Aligning with Strategic Goals Maintenance departments don’t operate in a vacuum—they are an integral part of the overall business strategy. Implementing change without aligning it with the organization’s broader goals can result in wasted resources or conflicting priorities. True change management ensures that the changes made in maintenance support the company’s long-term objectives, whether that’s increasing uptime, improving asset longevity, or reducing costs. Without this alignment, maintenance changes can become disconnected from the company’s vision, undermining their effectiveness. 
    1. Managing Resistance to Change One of the most significant challenges in change management is managing resistance. People are naturally inclined to resist change, especially if it disrupts their routines or introduces uncertainty. In the context of maintenance, this resistance can be particularly pronounced as technicians and operators may be hesitant to adopt new tools or workflows. A robust change management strategy helps address these concerns, creating a clear path forward that allows teams to feel comfortable with the new processes. Providing training, clear communication, and involving key stakeholders early on in the change process can foster buy-in and reduce resistance. 
    1. Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability Maintenance improvements can often be short-lived if they are not sustained through proper change management. Implementing new processes or tools requires ongoing monitoring, training, and adaptation. Without an effective change management plan, organizations risk falling back into old habits or neglecting to update processes as needs evolve. By embedding change into the organization’s culture, true change management ensures that improvements are maintained and continuously built upon. 
    1. Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement True change management in maintenance also fosters a culture of continuous improvement. When employees are empowered to participate in the change process, they become more engaged in identifying potential improvements and innovating within their roles. This culture not only boosts morale but also drives performance by creating an environment where everyone is focused on ongoing optimization. 

    Conclusion 

    In the maintenance field, change is not just a one-off event—it’s an ongoing process that needs to be managed with care and precision. Without true change management, even the most well-planned initiatives can fail to achieve their intended results. By taking a structured approach that aligns with the organization’s strategic goals, addresses resistance, ensures sustainability, and builds a culture of continuous improvement, maintenance leaders can successfully navigate the complexities of change and drive lasting transformation in their operations. 

     

  • How a Mission Statement Drives Behavioral Change in Organizations: A Guide to Aligning Values and Actions

    How a Mission Statement Drives Behavioral Change in Organizations: A Guide to Aligning Values and Actions

    How a Mission Statement Drives Behavioral Change in Organizations: A Guide to Aligning Values and Actions

    A mission statement is more than just a set of words on a company’s website or a framed plaque on the wall. When crafted thoughtfully and embraced by leadership and employees alike, a mission statement can serve as a powerful tool for driving behavioral change within an organization. It’s the foundation upon which culture is built and provides direction for decision-making, aligning team efforts with the broader vision. But perhaps most importantly, a mission statement can be a catalyst for shifting behaviors and guiding individuals and teams toward shared goals.

    Defining the Mission Statement

    A mission statement articulates an organization’s purpose and core values. It explains why the organization exists, who it serves, and how it intends to make a difference. At its best, a mission statement is clear, concise, and inspiring. It’s more than a corporate slogan—it’s a guiding light that directs strategy, shapes company culture, and motivates employees. But for a mission statement to truly drive behavioral change, it must resonate with the people it’s meant to influence.

    Aligning Behavior with Organizational Values

    A well-crafted mission statement acts as a compass that helps align behavior with the organization’s core values. In any organization, employees’ actions are driven by a combination of personal motivations and external influences. A mission statement brings those influences into harmony by clearly outlining the behaviors that are valued and expected.

    For example, consider a company with a mission statement focused on sustainability and innovation. This mission statement doesn’t just communicate the company’s goal—it encourages employees to adopt behaviors that reflect those values. It may inspire individuals to seek out new, innovative solutions that reduce waste, develop sustainable practices, or push the boundaries of traditional thinking. By clearly defining the organization’s priorities, the mission statement sets the tone for how employees should act on a day-to-day basis.

    Providing a Framework for Decision-Making

    Behavioral change often begins with improved decision-making, and a mission statement provides a framework for making choices that align with organizational values. When faced with difficult decisions, employees and leaders can refer to the mission statement as a guide for what to prioritize. It helps individuals make decisions that are not only in the best interest of the company but also consistent with the desired culture.

    For instance, in a maintenance organization, if the mission statement emphasizes reliability, safety, and continuous improvement, employees will be more likely to take proactive measures to prevent breakdowns, focus on long-term asset care, and work collaboratively to address issues. This alignment ensures that behaviors reflect the company’s core mission and values, driving the organization forward in a unified direction.

    Creating Accountability and Ownership

    When employees understand how their roles contribute to the broader mission of the organization, they are more likely to take ownership of their actions and hold themselves accountable. A mission statement that resonates with employees creates a sense of purpose and pride, motivating them to act in ways that contribute to the company’s success.

    In practical terms, if a leader is clear about how their team’s efforts support the organization’s mission, it encourages accountability. For example, a leader in maintenance might reinforce the company’s mission by reminding their team that their work ensures the reliability of critical assets, contributing directly to the company’s goals of reducing downtime and increasing productivity. This sense of purpose makes it easier for employees to recognize the value of their work and take ownership of their responsibilities.

    Reinforcing the Desired Culture

    Behavioral change doesn’t happen overnight, but a strong mission statement can be the first step in fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Leaders can use the mission statement as a tool for reinforcing the desired culture through consistent messaging, recognition, and behavior modeling. By regularly referring to the mission statement in meetings, communications, and decision-making processes, leaders show employees that the organization’s values are more than just words—they are actionable principles that guide everyday behaviors.

    Conclusion

    A mission statement is far more than a statement of intent—it’s a powerful tool for driving behavioral change within an organization. By aligning behavior with core values, providing a framework for decision-making, creating accountability, and reinforcing a strong organizational culture, a mission statement can shape the actions and attitudes of employees at every level. When embraced and lived by leadership and staff alike, the mission statement becomes a catalyst for positive behavioral change, guiding the organization toward greater success and a more cohesive, purpose-driven culture.

  • The Power of Vision in Leadership and Organizational Success

    The Power of Vision in Leadership and Organizational Success

    All Things Rise and Fall on Vision—or the Lack Thereof 

    In leadership, vision is everything. It’s the guiding star that directs decision-making, inspires action, and shapes the future of an organization. Whether in business, maintenance, or any other field, a clear and compelling vision can determine the trajectory of success or failure. Without it, even the most well-intentioned efforts can flounder. The power of vision in leadership and organizational success cannot be overstated. In essence, all things rise and fall on vision—or the lack thereof. 

    Vision as the Blueprint for Success 

    At its core, vision provides a sense of direction. It answers the fundamental question: “Where are we going?” A well-defined vision gives teams and organizations a destination to strive toward, which can significantly influence their day-to-day actions and long-term strategies. This sense of purpose helps everyone align their efforts, fostering a culture of focus and cohesion. 

    For example, in maintenance operations, a company with a clear vision might aim to become the leader in asset reliability, achieving minimal downtime through predictive maintenance and continuous improvement. This vision not only defines the end goal but also outlines the path the team will take to reach it—adopting best practices, investing in technology, and building a culture of accountability. 

    A leader’s vision serves as the foundation for everything that happens within the organization. It sets expectations, motivates teams, and communicates the values and priorities of the business. Without a vision, there is no direction, and without direction, there is no cohesion or sustainable growth. 

    The Power of Vision in Decision-Making 

    Vision plays a critical role in decision-making at all levels of the organization. Leaders who have a clear vision are able to make choices that are aligned with long-term goals, even when faced with difficult challenges or short-term pressures. A company with a strong vision will weigh every decision against that vision, ensuring that actions taken today contribute to the overall strategy. 

    On the flip side, when an organization lacks a clear vision, decision-making becomes reactive rather than proactive. Leaders may make choices based on immediate concerns, without considering how those decisions will affect the broader future of the company. In maintenance, for example, this could mean prioritizing short-term fixes over long-term asset care strategies, resulting in increased costs and unscheduled downtime in the future. 

    A compelling vision ensures that every decision made within the organization moves it closer to its desired future. Whether it’s investing in new technology, refining processes, or hiring new talent, every choice becomes an opportunity to reinforce the company’s mission and strengthen its position for the future. 

    The Lack of Vision: A Recipe for Stagnation 

    When vision is lacking or unclear, the opposite happens—organizations struggle to make meaningful progress. Teams may become disillusioned, morale can decline, and people may lose sight of their roles and responsibilities. A lack of vision creates confusion about priorities and what the organization is trying to achieve. It can lead to wasted time, fragmented efforts, and missed opportunities. 

    In the maintenance world, for instance, a company without a vision may fail to implement essential improvements, resulting in inefficiencies, increased costs, and higher rates of unplanned downtime. Without a long-term strategy or a clear picture of where the organization wants to go, employees may struggle to find purpose in their work, which can undermine productivity and engagement. 

    A lack of vision can also lead to internal conflict, as team members and leaders have different interpretations of the company’s goals or lack a shared sense of purpose. This fragmentation can stall progress and prevent the team from achieving its potential. 

    The Role of Leadership in Shaping Vision 

    Leaders play an essential role in not only establishing a clear vision but also in ensuring that it is communicated effectively and embraced across the organization. A strong vision needs to be continuously reinforced through conversations, actions, and decisions. It’s not enough to simply set a vision and expect it to take root—leaders must live it, model it, and inspire others to align with it. 

    Moreover, leaders need to be adaptable. While vision provides direction, leaders must be willing to pivot or refine their vision when necessary to account for new challenges or opportunities. A static vision can become irrelevant, while a dynamic vision evolves with the times, ensuring that the organization remains agile and forward focused. 

    Conclusion 

    Vision is the cornerstone of organizational success. It shapes decisions, drives actions, and keeps teams aligned with a common purpose. Without a clear vision, organizations risk stagnation, confusion, and missed opportunities. The power of vision in leadership and organizational success is evident in how it propels a team forward, gives it purpose, and ensures it stays on course. In maintenance and beyond, vision is what propels a team forward, gives it purpose, and ensures it stays on course. All things rise and fall on vision—or the lack thereof. As a leader, cultivating and living a clear vision is essential to driving success and achieving long-term goals. 

    Ready to turn your vision into actionable results? Explore the MRBP Framework at www.reliabilityx.com/mrbpframework to discover how you can align your team, streamline processes, and achieve lasting success. Have questions? Reach out to us at ask@reliabilityx.com—we’re here to help!

  • The Execution Gap: Why People Don’t Follow Through on Work

    The Execution Gap: Why People Don’t Follow Through on Work

    In the world of work, execution is key. It’s not just about having great ideas or making ambitious plans; it’s about turning those ideas into action and seeing plans through to completion. However, despite our best intentions, many of us struggle to execute work effectively. So, why is this? What causes the execution gap? Let’s explore some common reasons why people fail to execute work and how we can overcome these challenges. 

    Lack of Clarity and Direction 

    One of the main reasons why people fail to execute work is a lack of clarity and direction. When tasks or goals are vague or poorly defined, it’s easy to get lost or feel overwhelmed, leading to procrastination or abandonment of the work altogether. To overcome this, it’s important to clearly define goals, break them down into manageable tasks, and create a roadmap for execution. 

    Fear of Failure 

    Fear of failure can be a significant barrier to execution. When people are afraid of making mistakes or falling short of expectations, they may hesitate to take action or avoid challenging tasks altogether. To overcome this, it’s important to cultivate a growth mindset, where failure is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. Encouraging experimentation and providing support and feedback can help alleviate fear of failure. 

    Lack of Motivation 

    Motivation plays a crucial role in execution. When people lack motivation or enthusiasm for a task, they are less likely to put in the effort required to see it through. To overcome this, it’s important to align tasks with personal or organizational goals, provide incentives or rewards for completion, and create a supportive and motivating work environment. 

    Poor Time Management 

    Effective execution requires good time management skills. When people struggle to prioritize tasks, manage their time effectively, or avoid distractions, they may find it difficult to execute work efficiently. To overcome this, it’s important to set clear priorities, establish a routine, and eliminate or minimize distractions. 

    Lack of Resources or Support 

    Sometimes, people fail to execute work because they lack the necessary resources or support. Whether it’s access to information, tools, or expertise, inadequate resources can hinder execution. To overcome this, it’s important to identify and address resource gaps, provide training or support where needed, and ensure that people have the tools and resources they need to succeed. 

    Overcoming the Execution Gap 

    To overcome the execution gap and improve work execution, it’s important to address these common challenges. By providing clarity and direction, fostering a growth mindset, enhancing motivation, improving time management skills, and ensuring access to resources and support, organizations can create an environment where people are empowered to execute work effectively. Through a combination of these strategies, individuals and organizations can bridge the execution gap and achieve greater success in their work. 

  • Creating a Departmental Plan: Your Roadmap to Success

    Creating a Departmental Plan: Your Roadmap to Success

    In any organization, departmental success is key to overall success. To achieve this, it’s essential to have a clear roadmap that outlines your department’s goals, priorities, and strategies. A departmental plan serves as this roadmap, guiding your team towards success and ensuring alignment with the organization’s objectives. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of creating a departmental plan and provide a step-by-step guide to help you create one for your team. 

    Why You Need a Departmental Plan 

    A departmental plan is essential for several reasons: 

    • Clarity of Purpose: It provides clarity on your department’s purpose, goals, and priorities, ensuring that everyone is aligned and working towards the same objectives. 
    • Alignment with Organizational Goals: It ensures that your department’s goals and strategies are aligned with the broader goals of the organization, contributing to overall success. 
    • Resource Allocation: It helps you allocate resources, such as budget, personnel, and time, effectively to achieve your goals. 
    • Performance Monitoring: It provides a framework for monitoring and evaluating your department’s performance, allowing you to make adjustments as needed. 

    How to Create a Departmental Plan 

    Creating a departmental plan involves several key steps: 

    • Define Your Goals: Start by clearly defining your department’s goals. These should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). 
    • Assess Your Current Situation: Conduct a thorough assessment of your department’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis). This will help you identify areas for improvement and potential challenges. 
    • Develop Strategies: Based on your goals and SWOT analysis, develop strategies to achieve your goals. These should outline the actions you will take to address your department’s weaknesses, leverage its strengths, and capitalize on opportunities. 
    • Allocate Resources: Determine what resources you will need to execute your strategies, including budget, personnel, and technology. 
    • Create an Action Plan: Break down your strategies into actionable steps, assigning responsibilities and setting timelines for each task. 
    • Monitor and Evaluate Progress: Regularly monitor and evaluate your department’s progress towards its goals. This will help you identify any issues early on and make necessary adjustments. 
    • Review and Update Your Plan: Your departmental plan should be a living document that is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in your department or the broader organization. 

    Tips for Success 

    • Communicate Your Plan: Ensure that your team is aware of and understands the departmental plan. This will help create buy-in and alignment towards common goals. 
    • Stay Flexible: While it’s important to have a plan, it’s also important to remain flexible and adapt to changes as needed. 
    • Celebrate Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate achievements along the way to keep morale high and motivation strong. 
    • Seek Feedback: Regularly seek feedback from your team and stakeholders to ensure that your plan remains relevant and effective. 

    Conclusion 

    A departmental plan is a powerful tool that can guide your team towards success. By defining clear goals, developing strategies, allocating resources, and regularly monitoring progress, you can create a roadmap that leads to departmental excellence. Use the steps outlined in this blog to create a departmental plan that sets your team up for success. 

  • A Guide to Developing a Supervisory Skill Set in Maintenance

    A Guide to Developing a Supervisory Skill Set in Maintenance

    Supervisors in maintenance play a crucial role in ensuring the efficient operation of equipment and facilities. To be effective in this role, they need a combination of technical knowledge and management skills. Some key management skills necessary for a supervisor in maintenance include: 

    Technical Proficiency: A strong understanding of maintenance principles, practices, and techniques is essential for effectively supervising maintenance operations. This includes knowledge of equipment, systems, and processes relevant to the organization. 

    Problem-Solving Skills: Maintenance supervisors must be able to identify and solve complex problems related to equipment breakdowns, maintenance processes, and safety issues. This requires critical thinking and analytical skills. 

    Leadership Abilities: Effective leadership is crucial for motivating and guiding maintenance teams. Supervisors should be able to inspire team members, delegate tasks effectively, and provide guidance and support when needed. 

    Communication Skills: Clear and effective communication is essential for a maintenance supervisor. They must be able to communicate with team members, other departments, and management to ensure that maintenance objectives are understood and met. 

    Organizational Skills: Maintenance supervisors are responsible for planning and organizing maintenance activities, scheduling work orders, and ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently. Strong organizational skills are essential for managing these tasks effectively. 

    Decision-Making Skills: Maintenance supervisors often need to make quick and informed decisions, such as prioritizing maintenance tasks, allocating resources, and responding to emergencies. Good decision-making skills are essential for this role. 

    Time Management: Maintenance supervisors must be able to prioritize tasks and manage their time effectively to ensure that maintenance activities are completed on schedule and within budget. 

    Team Building and Conflict Resolution: Supervisors must be able to build and maintain a strong team, resolve conflicts, and foster a positive work environment. This includes promoting collaboration, providing feedback, and addressing performance issues. 

    Safety Awareness: Safety is paramount in maintenance operations. Supervisors must be well-versed in safety regulations and practices, and ensure that all maintenance activities are conducted safely. 

    Adaptability: Maintenance supervisors must be able to adapt to changing circumstances, such as equipment failures, staffing issues, or changes in priorities. Being flexible and adaptable is essential for effectively managing maintenance operations. 

    By developing these management skills, supervisors in maintenance can effectively lead their teams, optimize maintenance processes, and ensure the reliable operation of equipment and facilities. 

  • Cultivating Excellence: The Art of Building a Reliability Culture

    Cultivating Excellence: The Art of Building a Reliability Culture

    In the realm of industrial operations, a culture of reliability isn’t just a preference; it’s a necessity. It’s the bedrock of efficiency, safety, and sustainability, providing the fertile ground for organizations to thrive and adapt in an ever-evolving world. In this blog, we will explore the methods and principles that guide the development of a reliability culture, the essence of operational excellence.

    Understanding the Reliability Culture

    A reliability culture is a shared commitment within an organization to consistently deliver on promises and expectations. It’s about instilling a mindset where everyone, from top management to front-line employees, values reliability as a core principle.

    1. Leadership Commitment

    Building a reliability culture begins at the top. Leaders must set the tone by demonstrating unwavering commitment to reliability. Their actions and decisions should align with the organization’s reliability goals.

    1. Clear Vision and Values

    An organization’s reliability vision and values must be articulated and communicated clearly. This clarity provides a roadmap for all employees to understand the importance of reliability in achieving the organization’s goals.

    1. Education and Training

    Invest in education and training programs to equip employees with the skills and knowledge needed to promote reliability. These programs can cover areas like preventive maintenance, safety, and best practices.

    1. Employee Involvement

    In a reliability culture, employees are not just the recipients of policies; they actively contribute to their development. Encourage feedback and involvement in decision-making processes to empower and engage your workforce.

    1. Accountability and Measurement

    Reliability must be measurable. Set clear, quantifiable targets and hold individuals and teams accountable for meeting them. This fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership.

    1. Preventive Maintenance

    Preventive maintenance is a cornerstone of a reliability culture. Regular equipment inspections, maintenance schedules, and condition monitoring are essential to keep machinery in peak condition.

    1. Data-Driven Decision-Making

    Leverage data analytics and condition monitoring systems to make informed decisions. Real-time data provides insights for predictive maintenance and helps optimize schedules.

    1. Safety Protocols

    A culture of reliability goes hand-in-hand with safety. Safety protocols ensure that employees and assets are protected. A safe work environment is crucial for operational reliability.

    1. Continuous Improvement

    A reliability culture is not static; it’s dynamic. Encourage a culture of continuous improvement where employees are empowered to suggest changes and innovations. Regularly review and refine processes.

    1. Collaboration and Communication

    Foster collaboration and open communication across departments. Silos can lead to inefficiencies and breakdowns in reliability.

    1. Recognition and Rewards

    Recognize and reward reliability excellence. Acknowledging and celebrating achievements in reliability reinforces the importance of this culture.

    1. Resilience and Adaptation

    In a rapidly changing world, adaptability is crucial for reliability. Organizations must be resilient and ready to adapt to new technologies, regulations, and market conditions.

    1. Training Programs

    Offer training programs and resources to enhance the skills and knowledge of your employees. Knowledgeable and well-trained teams are more reliable.

    1. Ethics and Integrity

    Reliability goes beyond machinery; it’s also about ethical behavior. Uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethics within your organization to reinforce the reliability culture.

    In conclusion, a reliability culture isn’t just about machinery; it’s about fostering a mindset that values trust, responsibility, and continuous improvement. It’s an investment in long-term success, efficiency, and operational excellence. Organizations that embrace a reliability culture are better prepared to navigate the challenges of the modern business landscape and ensure that they deliver on their promises consistently. Reliability isn’t just a goal; it’s a culture that permeates every aspect of an organization, from leadership to daily operations.

     

  • Self-Ownership Part 5

    Self-Ownership Part 5

    This mindset I have and bring to my client’s struggling businesses did not get built overnight. It took years of conscious concentration to develop the discipline that says basically, if something goes wrong, it was probably my fault. Either I didn’t plan or predict a problem, or I didn’t solve the problem before it happened a second time; but now the burden is on me to solve it.

    Luckily I have a few tips on how to develop a self-ownership mindset.

    First is to change your inner dialog, how you speak to yourself. If you wake up every day and look in the mirror and tell yourself that it’s going to be a great day, you’ll find reasons to have the day be great. If you choose look in the mirror and hang your head because it’s “another day of this job…” you’re going to find every downside to the objective reality that happens to you.

    Two people can go through the same exact day and have totally different quality of life just by changing that small interpretation of how they talk to themselves.

    One guy can get cut off in traffic by a car going 20 miles an hour over the speed limit and think: “What an asshole! He thinks none of us want to drive faster?” Another can have the same car go by and think “Man, I hope his kid isn’t hurt in the back seat to get to the ER!”

    It costs nothing to start approaching a problem from a positive perspective, but it can cost opportunities in business, your personal life and your social life to start an interaction with a negative viewpoint.

    As you face problems, you’ll say you can’t do something due to a lack of time or skill or circumstance, which then you fail, you are able to turn around and point at whatever you saw as the weak spot and say “That’s why I failed!”.

    The good thing about that is that it works in the other direction as well. When you’re able to face a problem with a better mindset, a more empowering point of view like: “I don’t like my situation right now, but I’m still going to find a way around it.”

    When you start looking at the opportunities possible, the start to show themselves to you. When you start looking for the seemingly unbeatable odds, you’ll find them.

    Earlier I mentioned how difficult getting this mindset can be.

    The reason for this is that once you have momentum, nothing can stop you. But getting that momentum is the difficult part.

    If you have spent 40 years of your life searching out and inevitably finding the problems with a situation, you’ve got 40 years of negative momentum working against you. You’re a cruise ship at full speed going south and you’re looking to get to the North Pole.

    It takes time and effort to turn that massive momentum around, and at the start of it, it doesn’t feel like much. It’s like the first time getting back in the gym after a long time off, you think about how hard the next few months are going to be.

    With discipline and commitment to the task, you’ll find out it’s six months later and you can’t stop going to the gym. The difficulty is pushing through that dip that starts at the beginning of any serious task, until you start getting results, and what you’ve done is redirected the negative into positive momentum.

    One of the most addictive things in the world is winning.

    When you start stacking up the positive momentum, you’ll look back and laugh at actually how little effort it took to get to a place where you know you wanted to be. It just took some faith, discipline, and believing in yourself.

    Next thing I would recommend is taking some time to focus on your plan. We talked about that previously, but you need to develop a vision for where you want to go. This is done with three main things: setting specific goals, setting objectives to complete and setting the tasks to get you there.

    The trouble with predicting the future is that even if you think you have mapped out where you’re going, it’s not going to be perfect, but anyone can tell you that a map that’s 90% accurate is a whole lot better than having no map at all.

    It’s important to remember that you’re the only one who can change your life. Your Mom or Dad or kids or your boss, no one can actually change your life besides you. You can complain, and kick and scream about how it’s someone else’s fault, and people frequently do.

    We take our jealousy, envy, and more negative emotions, and direct them at people who have more or better of what we want, because we only see the end product. We don’t see the years working late nights in a laboratory, or library and are envious of a brilliant discovery, or becoming valedictorian because we don’t see the effort that was put in.

    A good example of this is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Before he was in movies and politics, he was known for bodybuilding. When he was in his 20’s, still on the rise in the industry, he was getting ready for a January contest and training four hours per day.

    When it was Christmas Day, he didn’t know that the gym was closed until he got there. Most people would turn around and go home, but Arnold needed the heavy weights the gym had and with just weeks to go, couldn’t afford to skip a day of training.

    So what did he do?

    He broke a window in the gym, crawled through it and went over to the weights and started lifting. The problem was, the gym had no heat on because it was closed, so the subfreezing temperatures in the gym made the weights stick to his hands like a flagpole.

    So what did he do?

    He tore his shirt in half, wrapped one half around each hand, and used the cloth to prevent the weights from sticking. He hit his four hours and crawled back out the window, having not missed a day of work.

    The same massive self-ownership displayed there brought him to great heights in multiple highly competitive industries, ending up the Governor of California. Everyone else at that competition in January likely took Christmas off, which is why he beat them: there was zero excuse for not doing the work in his mind.

    For what it’s worth, he did replace that window.

  • Self Ownership Part 4

    Self Ownership Part 4

    The focus on attention to detail is one of the most critical portions of self-ownership. Everyone can walk by trash, but when the leader does it, it’s sending a message. The focus on attention to detail, especially in contracts, is best illustrated by the famous rock group, Van Halen.

    Rock stars are able to put seemingly insane requests into what they need from the venues they perform at, and Van Halen was no different. After all, they’re the reason venues can charge hundreds of dollars per seat, they can choose to be picky.

    They had a giant contract for whenever they’d play at a venue, which they were known for having a very specific and odd request.

    They demanded that there was a bowl of M&M’s (the chocolate candy) with ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN M&M’s in the bowl. Their contract actually had it in all capital letters.

    For years, venue managers mocked the request, thinking it was just another case of rock stars being demanding. Van Halen’s road team had a different point of view.

    Van Halen was using the largest lighting equipment that any touring group had ever used. They were so heavy, and required such support, that the road crew knew there could be deadly consequences if a light that weighed 300 pounds fell on the audience. When the road crew would get to a new venue, they could either start the day-long process of having a dozen men going through every single portion of the stage to confirm that the venue had prepared properly, or they could have one intern go check the bowl of M&M’s.

    Their insight was that if someone went through the trouble of picking the brown M&M’s out of the bowl, the owners of the venue definitely went through the prep work required to have a safe show. The road crew would do a shortened version of their prep and know the risks were handled.

    But if someone didn’t pick out all of the brown M&M’s in the bowl, then they definitely missed something else in the contract, and that something else could get people hurt or killed. If there was a brown M&M in the bowl, they went through every single item on the checklist because they knew that the owners of the venue hadn’t taken the ownership of the event as seriously as they should have.

    When the venue owner’s failed to own the task, the road crew took that responsibility over, because it might have been the venue’s fault, but the road crew would be the ones responsible if someone was hurt.

    The amount of self-ownership demonstrated by the road crew of Van Halen was impressive, which is why it’s still talked about today. The lessons from a rock band in the 80’s can still be implemented today, and you can use a similar mindset to the same effect today.

    When I consult with a company, one thing I always need to do is to bring attention to the company and the reality of their situation. The reality is most problems are downstream from a total lack of self-ownership.

    Within the company, each level of management down to individual contributors are partially or totally lacking in self-ownership. There’s usually a few frustrated, exhausted people who are trying to overcompensate for the failure of the rest of the team.

    To help bring this reality check into effect, I like to have a difficult conversation. I’ll be in a meeting with a dozen or more people across the whole company and after understanding the general landscape of where the company is, and outlining where the company should be I’ll say:

    “These are my expectations, and I know my bar is high. But how low does my bar need to be set to meet your expectations?”

    It’s always total silence after I ask.

    Everyone in the room is at first stunned because they can’t believe I actually said something like that. Next, they have to do the mental math on how much lower their standards of the processes, people and outcomes they’re supposed to be the person in charge of owning them.

    After a long enough pause to make sure it’s finally sunk in to these people that they’ve been the ones who have let the standards fall far enough that I have to come in, I follow up with the next quote.

    “If you want friends, buy a puppy. We’re here to run a business and you brought me in to do a job because it’s not getting done right now. If you want to exceed my expectations, I’m on board. But first we’re going to get to my level.”

    To quote The Departed: “I’m the guy who does his job, you must be the other guy.”

    This intense concentration on seriously owning everything you do has made me well known in my field as the go-to man for turning businesses around. Self-ownership is the foundation. If you’re not willing to totally commit to owning the process, it doesn’t matter how smart you are or how well you know the business because something will always fall through the cracks.

  • Self Ownership Part 3

    Self Ownership Part 3

    Think back to the restaurant mess we talked about a few pages back, who was responsible?

    The lesson for grown-ups (and more importantly executives and business leaders) from The Boy Who Cried Wolf is that the boy was at fault when he lied the first time, but the person who was really responsible for the sheep being lost was the shepherd who left his flock with a boy who he knew couldn’t be trusted.

    After the first false claim of a wolf, the boy should have been told the consequences of lying about a wolf. After the second false claim, he should have immediately been removed from his position as “wolf-holler-er”.

    The responsibility of the flock’s safety was on the shepherd, and his failure of judgement on the people he delegated that task to resulted in the loss of his flock. In the shepherd’s period of zero self-ownership, the shepherd lost his business, the boy lost all respect and the townsfolk lost their food. At least the wolf made out well though!

    One of the interesting things about self-ownership is that it doesn’t have to be as impressive as saving the town’s sheep from a wolf. It frequently is demonstrated through seemingly meaningless changes that snowball into big wins, which is something I know about first-hand.

    I was working with a consulting client years ago, we were hired to fix one of their production lines. Long story short, after six months of our effort the line was producing 40% more than when we got there. This is a huge win, something that can be the difference between keeping a factory open and everyone losing their jobs, so I was very proud of that turnaround.

    Once the problems were solved, we went on to help other clients until a few months later I received a phone call from the man responsible for the line. He asked “What can I do to turn this line around in the next five days?” In the world of manufacturing, that short of a timeline is code for “I’m drowning as we speak.”

    We flew out there immediately and started walking the production floor, and within seconds I’d diagnosed the problem.

    Walking around, there was trash on the floor. There was a forklift who’s fork was high enough to hit your shins on (or trip and fall, while carrying material). The rejected product bins were overfilling, which stopped the line from moving forward. I saw maintenance issues that anyone off the street would know were wrong, much less someone with his experience.

    He was more than happy to brag about the good things they were doing, what his strategy is and a dozen other topics that realistically didn’t even matter. Finally he asked me what my opinion was.

    I told him the truth: the leadership he needed wasn’t insightful strategy, complex formulas or sophisticated diagrams.

    It was to actually claim ownership of the line.

    He walked passed trash on the floor, and didn’t pick it up. He didn’t say hello to a single machine operator. He didn’t help the employees struggling with their work. He didn’t tell any employees to empty the reject bin so the line could get started again.

    He saw the line as a machine of X goes in, Y comes out, instead of a series of connected people, machines, and processes that he is responsible for.

    When a leader walks past trash and doesn’t pick it up, it’s sending a clear message to the other employees that trash on the floor is acceptable. When a leader doesn’t acknowledge the production staff, not even saying hello, they understand that they’re replaceable cogs in a machine, not someone who might have profitable ideas for the company. As anyone in business knows, the most important and honest conversations start with “Oh, by the way…” By not starting those conversations yourself, you never give your coworkers and the people who report to you a chance to add that little phrase in.

    The massive drop-off in production after we left was that the new man in charge refused to claim ownership over the line, and it fell into the state that you’d expect.

    Instead of engaged employees hoping to bring the next big idea to the table, he got the mindless cogs that he treated them like and the resulting levels of production that mindless cogs produce.

    He didn’t take my response well, to say the least. In his mind, those dozens of small details that meant nothing to him, were somehow actually my fault. It may come as no surprise, but he’s no longer running that facility.