Boosting
Productivity:
10 Ways to Eliminate Obstacles to Success
by Adele Sommers
Can you recall ever working in a situation that you'd describe today as the "job from hell"?
If so, even if you knew how to do the job well, you'd probably
say that you lacked the essentials for getting your work done.
 Many people suffer silently while they're really
missing the authority, training, tools, job support, guidance, resources,
information, or incentives to be effective.
On top of these problems, people may encounter other
road blocks to getting things done. Their hurdles might include
tangled communications, non-supportive managers, a lack of cooperation,
unavailable colleagues, and cumbersome procedures.
When people experience these situations, they're
struggling with what I refer to as "burning hassles."
Companies that tackle burning hassles head-on can systematically
remove these frustrating, mind-numbing barriers to success.
This
article explains ten ways to bulldoze obstacles so that you,
too, can get rid of them. The benefits will include a visible increase
in both personal and organizational accomplishment.
What's
Wrong with a Few Obstacles?
Companies that follow what I call a "tough love
policy" perpetually expect personnel to find a way to work
around nearly every problem they encounter. It's the model
in which people are expected to do what they're supposed to
do while maintaining a stiff upper lip. Can't the folks who
complain about hassles or information gaps just "get over it" and be glad they even have a job or contract?
 The problem is, people spend endless hours
of precious time fighting battles they may not win. Even if people
know their jobs inside out, they're usually no match for the
boulders that block their every move. And all the while, morale,
productivity, and potential profitability are simply disappearing down
the drain!
10 Keys to
Conquering Obstacles to Success
If people have skill deficiencies -- a true lack
of job knowledge -- or not enough job practice, you would remedy
those through training and/or more repetition on the job. But if
people already know how to do their jobs and are facing
hurdles, you can start removing those frustrating hassles by being
alert for the opportunities below. (For a downloadable checklist, use this link.)
1. Troubleshoot any clogged communications that delay or distort important broadcasts. These could be dragging
down both productivity and morale.
2. Identify missing information, such as incomplete,
outdated, or inaccurate procedures, standards, schedules, facts,
or data needed to do a job. Supply the information as soon as possible,
and be sure to maintain it regularly.
3. Be alert for poor cooperation from managers,
peers, or suppliers. And by all means, don't "shoot the
messenger" when people report these problems!
4. Investigate any absent or inadequate tools, equipment, space, lighting, or supplies. These conditions can seriously
reduce the ability to do one's job.
5. Uncover overly complex procedures that can
be simplified, automated, or even eliminated. The simpler you can
make your processes, the better!
6. Correct any work environments or conditions that are problematic or unsafe. Do everything possible to avoid
accidents and liability concerns.
 7. Recognize where task support ought to be
coming from supervision, job aids, quick reference guides, or online
assistance. If it's missing, supply it!
8. Look for and reduce extreme work pressure due to unattainable deadlines or workloads. People can't sustain
their productivity under these conditions.
9. Be sure people have regular, complete feedback on performance quality, including timely access to data about customer
desires and concerns.
10. Sort out any conflicting priorities or directions from authority figures. When people work on multiple projects, this
type of confusion is common.
And Here's
a Bonus Tip:
It's important to clear up situations in which
someone has the responsibility to do a job but lacks the authority
to act. Until that's resolved, work is an uphill battle!
In conclusion, are you unsure of where to begin
identifying your burning hassles? Try asking your staff or colleagues
what's impeding their work. Remember to use these ground
rules: No blaming or accusing! Everyone should feel entitled
to speak up without being criticized, and everyone can help
brainstorm the solutions.
Copyright 2007 Adele Sommers
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In these cases, we can easily lose sight of the frustrating problems that are stopping ourselves, our teams, or the entire organization from getting anything done. We might become so accustomed to our own impediments that we take the situation for granted! Only by systematically pulling the weeds out of our withering gardens -- by getting rid of hassles -- can we set the conditions that will allow our positive intentions to flourish. 
In the English language, we make an interesting semantic distinction between the words "customer" and "client." This distinction does not seem to appear in all languages; several use the same term to mean both. 
