On Monday we presented the idea that consistency within your organization and across your company is a key in fashioning and strengthening your organizational culture, and enabling business growth and improved results.
Lack of consistency by you and between your management and departments will have an insidious and harmful impact on your organization. So, there are two elements to consider here: consistency with yourself (your words and behaviors in actions you take with others); and, consistency across your company/organization, which begins or ends with your management.
Let’s start with some quick tips for you as an individual leader and while basic; unfortunately, these are often not practiced regularly, resulting in waning consistency.
1. Do what you agreed to—do what you said you will do, on time.
A. if you can’t meet the agreement/expectation – as soon as you are aware of it, surface it and renegotiate. And apologize if appropriate!
2. Choose wisely what you commit to do – over-committing equals not being able to keep your word, which smacks “inconsistent”.
3. As a leader/manager- be fair and equitable to your underlings, as inconsistency in treatment/behaviors/actions resonates as favoritism and not caring.
4. Ask for feedback from someone you trust on how well you are matching what you say with what you do. It’s your actions that trump your words.
Next, quick tips for consistency in and across your organization:
1. This begins with you individually and one-to-one with your employees, as defined above.
2. Establish clear standards and practices, polices, systems and protocols to guide sameness across divisions and departments.
3. Train and reinforce with your management team, identified organizational standards and practices to align for a consistency across the organization. (Be especially careful to ensure new managers are grounded in your organizational standards and practices, before they start to lead and manage.)
4. Communicate in multiple ways – verbally and in writing – the company’s standards and practices so employees are clear about what to expect. (Help them get an “A”). Communication needs to be constant; look for opportunities to reinforce your message.
Consistency is an intangible that when practiced leads to a stronger, more vibrant and more successful organization. It is difficult for anyone to perform well if they see inconsistency in behavior, performance and expectations.
Copyright 2010 Kubica and LaForest
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