I get asked a lot where I come up with some of my
ideas. I typically answer that question by saying: “Everywhere.” I look for
ways to improve my areas of responsibility from ideas that I see everywhere else.
It doesn’t matter what type of business you’re in, there are common things that
you do that others do in other industries. For example, if you package products
and ship them via mail, how do other companies that ship products via the mail
handle the same issue? Chances are you aren’t the first person to encounter a
given issue. In fact, someone has probably already figured out how to automate
it. But, unless you know where to look and what to look for, you might not know
it’s out there. Look around when you go into stores, factories,
businesses, etc. Let your curiosity run free. Make note of the things that they
do that are automated or utilize machinery. Evaluate how they do things that
are similar to what you and your team do. Is their way better than your
way? Is it more automated than yours? Ask to speak to the store
manager.
You might want to start with introducing yourself,
explaining what you do and why you want to ask some questions. That way, he or
she won’t think you are competition trying to steal ideas. Ask how they handled
the same task before the automation. Why did they automate? How much has the
automation saved them? Who came up with the idea to automate it?
The bottom line is, you don’t necessarily have to
invent something yourself to become more efficient or to improve. More than
likely, there are already different ways to accomplish the same result.
Consider joining a business group or club that
consists of leaders of other companies and/or industries within your area.
These groups typically meet once a month and have a speaker or a discussion
topic. This is a great way to not only see some fresh ideas from others,
but to network with other leaders who may be looking for fresh and bright ideas
within their own areas. Most industries have something similar to this.
Engineers and automation technicians do this a lot. Automating something isn’t
industry-or business-specific. Almost anything can be automated with time or
money. The Engineers and automation technicians commonly share best ideas among
each other.
Another area that we tend to overlook for ideas on
how to improve is our own front-line employees. They are the ones doing it day
in and day out and trust me; they know what needs to be improved. This is the
best place to start. They might give you a very good idea of what needs to be
improved upon, and possibly the solution to your problem. If that is the case,
make sure the employee gets as much credit as possible for the idea. That will
provide incentive for others to start looking for other ways to improve.
