Employee Archives - Launch Point Co.

Welcome back everyone! It’s been a while since we published our last LinkedIn newsletter, but we are back with a new name [The Process Perspective] and ready to give you the inside scope on everything Process.

Without further ado, here is the first edition of The Process Perspective.

In the first quarter of the year we always have a large influx of inquiries to document processes. It’s a new year, new priorities (or old priorities that didn’t get completed resurfacing) sort of situation.

What we see too often with these inquiries is companies wanting to document their processes just the way they are. What do I mean by that? They don’t want to take the time to go through the process improvement component and simply document their current state.

The problem? What you have been doing for the past 10, 20, 30, sometimes 50+ years is not always (read: almost never) the best way to do things.

In other words, don’t spend money documenting the mess you’re doing right now.

I mean, why immortalize inefficiency? And can you really tell me that what you are doing right now is the most efficient way of doing things if they aren’t documented? In our experience, if you haven’t taken the time to put things on paper (even at a high level) it is almost impossible to improve them, because you don’t know what you are improving.

The process we find works the best:

Document your current processes at a high level (think workflows and process maps)
Identify areas for improvement
Create a plan to implement said improvements
Document the new process with the implemented improvements
Roll-out and train the team

Yes, this is a very simplified version and projects like this take time and effort, but in the end you will be much, much better off then if you simply document what you are doing today. That is a step in the right direction, but it won’t take you all the way to where you want to go.

So in 2025, let’s forget mind-numbing “how-to” manuals. Let’s not document mediocrity or immortalize inefficiency. This year, let’s do process right.

19 JulBusinessStrategy

by Dafne0 Comments

So, you’ve manifested a new vision and have created a strategic plan to lift your organization toward its next level programming, scale-up, or expansion. The possibilities for the future seem endless (and the energy buzzing in the office matches that enthusiasm). But as you start to implement the plan, something happens. The buzz gets quieter, energy starts to stagnate and that once-future-forward enthusiasm seems to go retrograde. Before you know it, your strategic plan is on the back burner; a burned up piece of a “nice to do” activity versus a “mission critical” plan for advancement.

What happened? This graphic helps explain…

Too often, companies think that because a strategic plan failed to launch, the problem is with the plan. The temptation then is to change the plan. But 74% of the time, the plan is solid…it’s the execution that lacks luster. Even more shocking is that just 4% of good plans experience good execution. Why?

Execution requires attention. And the attention it needs is aligned with the people and the process, not the planning and presentation.

Planning exists in the vision–the direction we’re headed and where we want to be. Execution and action exist in the day-to-day. So, when implementing a strategic plan, shift, or new initiative, you’re basically asking the organization to do double-duty on their tasks. First, in the normal execution of routine for the business in addition to the smaller, more bite-sized execution of the strategic plan. Failure to move a strategic plan from the big vision to actionable steps is where 74% of companies fail.

Here are some steps to stay on track:

Executing on any plan is change management at its finest. And the core of successful change management is good communication.

You’re asking your team to step outside their comfort zone. You’re asking them to bring life to a new version of your business. There will be a million little details that pop up to indicate whether the plan is working as expected, or if it needs to be adjusted. Open and honest communication for all persons and departments involved is critical to ensure you’re capturing what needs fine tuning. (Also good communication is helping your team understand the plan won’t go right the first time, and that’s not only expected, it’s ok!)

Be very comfortable with making adjustments as implementation moves forward.

Again, too often teams expect the perfect strategic plan to execute itself straight out of the box. This is wildly unrealistic. Be sure you’re managing your own expectations and that of your team.

You’ll need a way to measure your progress.

Consistent measurement is a barometer of performance. What does success look like at each milestone? Who is doing what? Which activities are wholly dependent on each other? And which activities have the potential to sink the entire project? Which activities are critical for success?

Accountability, accountability, accountability

The most surefire way to burn out your team is to hand them a strategic plan and then walk away. Your leadership will be needed now more than ever during this process. Determine how you intend to hold everyone accountable to the goals and milestones you’ve created, and most importantly, hold yourself accountable for the success (or failure) in executing.

If this seems intimidating, you’re not alone. But the good news is, we can help. Launch Point helps countless businesses not only create the vision for their best strategic plan, but works to implement each step A to Z right alongside you and your team. We’re the experts in change management and implementation so you don’t have to be. And, we think we make the process as much fun as possible, too.

For more information, contact us today.

02 MarBusinessNewsTwo Minute Tip on Tuesday

by Dafne0 Comments

Does Your Business Need a Reboot?

If you have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to streamline your business and increase your profits, this is it.

01 MarBusinessStrategy

by Dafne0 Comments

How many times have you longed for increased productivity, for yourself or for your team? The most common loss-of-productivity complaints come with subjects like ‘too many emails,’ ‘endless meetings,’ and the dreaded to-do list that never seems to reach its finish line. At the end of the day, we’re slammed, buried and overwhelmed, and optimizing productivity seems like a rather far-out “nice to do” instead of a reality.

Solving for lost productivity would be an easy thing to do if we were only focusing on our own plate of responsibilities, right? But, we live in a networked and highly complex world. Therefore, our productivity problems rarely ever exist just on our plate, they’re being dished out from a buffet of other sources, too. So, how can we apply simple fixes to a complex issue?

Consider setting some structure around your meetings. Are they currently operating as an informational all-you-can-eat? If so, consider a tiered approach, consistent with how information flows within your organization: first meet with your front-line staff to hear of their most pressing needs and issues, then your management staff, etc. That way you have a clear picture of the week, according to your hierarchy. Issues get escalated and can be reviewed in subsequent meetings. (And, do be sure to create a brief agenda for all meetings…to keep the team and yourself on track of what you’re actually trying to achieve by meeting together.)

Too many emails and tasks tend to bury your team in their own respective to-do lists. Consider a joint project management tool, like Asana or Monday.com. This solution creates an environment where all tasks are kept visible to your teammates, and to yourself. This will open up team accountability by leaps and bounds and should help to solve for some pesky missed deadlines.

Define communication channels appropriate to various situations. How many times has your workday been interrupted by a message from a teammate that turned out to be not-so-critical? And, have you ever missed an important message because it got buried in your inbox?

Some teams opt to create a la carte communication channels appropriate to the situation, rather than having only one channel for all communication. For example, Slack can be used as an instant messaging solution for your teammates to communicate in the moment. This is especially helpful for frontline employees who may need quick answers while working with your clients. With this in place, less urgent or timely communication can be rerouted to your inbox so you can respond as it’s feasible.

If productivity woes are weighing you down, contact us for an assessment on what can be done. Issues common to most small businesses can be mitigated with a few streamlining tips and tools. Our team at Launch Point can help identify and implement solutions quickly and efficiently after just a few discovery sessions. Book your consultation today.