![075: C is for Curiosity [ABC’s of EYB]](https://shawnwashburn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/075-c-is-for-curiosity-abc-s-of-eyb_thumbnail.png)
by Shawn | Jul 1, 2021 | Podcast
So far, we’ve covered the importance of providing your people Access to what they need and the value of aiming for Better in your organization in incremental ways and how that can often succeed when other things fail.
For all of my fellow fans of the TV show The Office, it took everything I had to not want to title this “C is for suspension”. If you aren’t familiar with the show, just ignore that. But if you are, I’m sure you can see Kevin saying that. Anyway…
Today, with the letter C we’re going to talk about one of my favorite topics: Curiosity.
I’ve always loved the power of Curiosity and the impact it can make on the world around those who are curious.
As skill sets go, being naturally curious is up there because it flows out into so many aspects of business.
And it doesn’t cost anything to learn to be more curious. Just learn to ask more and better questions, to dig deeper, to wonder more about the world and how it works, etc.
When your team members are curious, they will give the extra effort to try to solve problems on their own. They will lift up the rocks in your organization and look underneath them, pull back the curtains and see the inner workings.
Curious people see things that others don’t… simply because they are looking. They are ALWAYS looking.
Their eyes catch the details. They notice why the website is buggy, why the parts aren’t coming out right, why the customer isn’t responding to that email.
They aren’t OK with answers like “that’s how we’ve always done it”, “that’s just what the procedure says” and “that’s not an option”.
They ask the question that we grew up asking: Why.
And they ask it early and often. Why is their constant companion. They need to know the background, collect all the data, talk to all the people.
Curious people may step on toes, ruffle feathers and stir the pot. But it’s usually because they are growth-minded and want to make things better.
Want to help your organization thrive?
Hire naturally curious people. Encourage and empower the people you have to be curious. And learn to be more curious yourself. When people are around others who are more curious, it will often rub off on them. Sometimes they just need someone to model what curious thinking and questions look like.
Well, I could talk about curiosity for hours… but I won’t.
Tomorrow we jump into another great topic in our ABC’s of Engineering Your Business.
Curious? Stop back tomorrow to find out more.
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and haven’t left an Apple Podcasts or iTunes review, I’d love it you’d take a minute to do that. You can head to shawnwashburn.com/apple to take you right there. Thanks for spending some time today to help you and your business thrive.
![074: B is for Better [ABC’s of EYB]](https://shawnwashburn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/074-b-is-for-better-abc-s-of-eyb_thumbnail.png)
by Shawn | Jun 30, 2021 | Podcast
Yesterday we started our new series talking about how important it is to give your people Access to the information, tools and people that they need to complete their task or project.
Today, we’re going to talk about Better
In the manufacturing world there is a concept known as Continuous Improvement. It is often tied to a Japanese word that means the same called kaizen.
I like the concept because it is easy to apply.
Should you have goals? Yes.
Should you set the bar high? Sure.
Will unforseen events come along that will try to highjack your progress? You bet.
And that’s where a lot of projects come to a halt or just end prematurely. Because it’s clear that the goal can’t be achieved and we should cut our losses or there’s a manpower issue or something else has taken priority.
But today isn’t about perfect. Today is about Better.
How can you make that process better today? How can you improve that workspace today?
How can you level-up your customer experience today?
How can you value your people a little more today?
Better looks at incremental change that can build over time. Kind of like interest.
Goals are still good and should be set.
But when everything goes downhill, better is still there and reachable.
And if you can build a culture that knows the value of better, you and your team will begin to look at things differently.
You’ll see opportunities to improve that you didn’t think would make a difference before. Because you’re not looking for perfect. You’re looking for better.
If you have kids, you understand that they change slowly over time. You see them a lot and you may not notice those changes. But when their aunt Helen comes by and hasn’t seen them for months, she just can’t believe how much they’ve grown.
And it’ll be the same when aunt Helen visits your business if you begin to make those incremental changes along the way.
Make aunt Helen proud and begin to establish a culture that values better and continuous improvement. You’ll be glad you did… and hopefully aunt Helen won’t pinch your cheeks this time.
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and haven’t left an Apple Podcasts or iTunes review, I’d love it you’d take a minute to do that. You can head to shawnwashburn.com/apple to take you right there. Thanks for spending some time today to help you and your business thrive.
![073: A is for Access [ABC’s of EYB]](https://shawnwashburn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/073-a-is-for-access-abc-s-of-eyb_thumbnail.png)
by Shawn | Jun 29, 2021 | Podcast
Today, we’re kicking off our ABCs of Engineering Your Business with A is for Access.
There are few things as frustrating as not having access to the tools, people, resources or knowledge needed to accomplish a task.
And yet, often, we put barriers in place to this access without even knowing it.
They may not be permanent barriers, but they can be barriers that will cost time and momentum for sure.
The most common barrier is more one of omission. It’s not making the actual connection to the resource.
It’s telling Susan to see Tom for more info about the project but making her try to figure out who Tom is or the best way to contact him or what his background is, etc.
As well, when we’re talking about access to people, when we can make the personal introduction ourselves, in person or electronically to connect our team member with the resource, we’ve not only saved them time but we’ve jump started their own connection and conversation. Our people don’t have to be intimated or feel like they are imposing on someone who is already really busy.
We have the power to cut that off at the start and give them the confidence and authority to reach out for the info or help they need.
I’ve seen this done poorly, where the person with the task is left just kind of lost out there on their own. And I’ve also seen it done well, where the one making the connection walks the other all the way to the resource, introduces them, tells each about each other and really makes a huge impact there.
Another way we block access is by not showing our people exactly how to get to the file or the software that they need. “You can find it on the network drive” is not a great help and can lead to them either searching all over, or worse, finding an outdated file to use by accident. Give them links or walk them through on a Zoom call.
So, there’s access to people and access to files and information.
One final crucial access that we need to give our people is access to us. With the understanding that we expect them to do all that they can do on their own first. But if they have questions and have already done their research, they can know that we are there to help guide them if need be.
Having that confidence will help them a ton if they get stuck or feel that there was something missing. If they can know that they don’t have to feel bad running something by you and that you’re receptive, you will only help them accomplish their task or finish their project more efficiently.
Give them the access they need.
Check back in tomorrow as we turn our eyes to “B is for
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and haven’t left an Apple Podcasts or iTunes review, I’d love it you’d take a minute to do that. You can head to shawnwashburn.com/apple to take you right there. Thanks for spending some time today to help you and your business thrive.
by Shawn | Jun 28, 2021 | Podcast
So, I was looking back at over 70 episodes so far as we’ve looked at various topics related to both People and Processes in your business.
And I thought it would be good to dig into a new series that can tap back into some of those main themes in a new way.
So, starting tomorrow, we’re going to begin some ABCs of Engineering Your Business. Now, when I say ABCs I don’t mean that if you were starting a business from scratch these are the steps you’d take.
But rather, these are some of the foundational items that will help you, in whatever position you’re in in your company, leverage your people and processes best to eliminate waste, strengthen your culture, improve your efficiency and bottom line so that you can be leaner and meaner and grow your business while wowing your customers.
I’m excited about the series as I think it will allow us to circle back on some of the major themes that I’ve seen pop up over the years as well as dig into some new ones.
And don’t worry, we’ll still be taking a few breaks to make room for new Odes to the Office as well.
I hope you’ll join me tomorrow as we start off with “A is for Access”. If you haven’t yet, hit subscribe so that you’ll get each day’s episode automatically dropped into your podcast player and ready to hit play.
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and haven’t left an Apple Podcasts or iTunes review, I’d love it you’d take a minute to do that. You can head to shawnwashburn.com/apple to take you right there. Thanks for spending some time today to help you and your business thrive.
by Shawn | Jun 25, 2021 | Podcast
I probably don’t have to tell you this, but life can be cruel sometimes.
I’m sure you could roll up the sleeves of your heart and show me scars that you’ve received over the years. Pain, disappointment. Heartache. Loss. Frustration. Dashed dreams. Opportunities that never came your way.
Our world is full of those, though you’d never know it by looking at the outsides of the people around you.
Most of what we see is smiling pictures with everything as it should be and none of that nasty stuff.
But it’s there. And we all know it. We’ve experienced it. Our coworkers have experienced it. Our customers and clients have experienced it.
Life is tough.
But what can you do about it?
For one, as a leader, you can approach others with grace. Always assumed that you don’t know all that’s going on in their life. When they’re not themselves or they made a mistake or the flew off the handle or they’re late or whatever. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Understand that they have a life and maybe their life is cruel right now. Maybe they’re dealing with a lot. Maybe they’re just trying to hold it together today.
Let them know that they matter. With words. And actions.
Don’t just assume that they know you feel that way. Over and over, look for opportunities to build into them, to value them, to let them know you care and they are not alone.
Listen to them if they are willing to share. Don’t push them. But if they’re open to sharing what’s going on, listen… and don’t talk. Be someone that is for them, that is in their corner, that they can trust.
Life can be cruel sometimes.
Be a source of strength for others in the midst of their storms.
It’s not just business. You are connected with others you work with for a reason.
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. If you’ve been enjoying these one of the best thing you can do is tell a fellow entrepreneur or business leader. You spreading the word helps me help more people. Thanks so much.
by Shawn | Jun 24, 2021 | Podcast
Welcome back to the Engineering Your Business podcast, helping entrepreneurs and business leaders like you leverage your people and processes to thrive in your business.
I’m your host Shawn Washburn.
Have you ever gotten frustrated when a project at work went off course or a coworker or team member poured their heart into something but the end result wasn’t what you were hoping for?
I think a super important question we have to continue to ask is “what is the goal?”
Sometimes we think we’re on the right path. We’re working hard, making progress, etc. But we’re actually not focused on the right goal or the goal wasn’t defined well enough.
I was thinking about this recently one night in the midst of a run.
I am a sprinter. I am not a mid or long distance runner.
But I’ve been training to run a 5K. It would only be my second… ever.
I could run 110 hurdles and a lap around the track all day. But 3.1 miles? Not my strong suit.
But I’ve been training and my goal is to run one with my youngest son Ben. I watched him scorch a race several weeks ago and he is a really good cross country length runner.
My oldest son Eli has been helping train me. He is an exercise science major who learned more before he went to college than I had any idea when it comes to strength and athletic training, nutrition, how the bodies skeletal and muscular systems work together. It really is amazing to me every time.
In fact, my achilles had been hurting me and was stalling my running. He analyzed me on video and walked me through what he thought was happening and how to fix it. I did what he said and it worked.
He’s also been giving me specific workouts through the week to build me up for the race.
The other nights workout was to run for 30 minutes at a decent pace. Not too fast, not too slow. Just keep running for 30 minutes at as fast a pace as I could keep up.
I was a little nervous because I just don’t do that… at least without a basketball. I could play basketball for 3 hours running up and down the court. But running for 30 minutes around the neighborhood. Seemed like an eternity to me.
But I got my earbuds cued up and ready to go and I set off. 5 minutes went by. Then 10. 15. Once I got to 15 I turned around. I knew how far I’d gone and I wanted to try to go farther on the back 15. But I also wanted to make sure I kept running.
And it was that tension there that I kept pondering. My original goal and task was just to run for 30 minutes. But once I was out there, especially on the back half, I wanted to push myself. But what if I did that and did really well on the back 15 minutes except I had to stop with 3 minutes left because I was wiped out.
On one hand I would have finished sort of strong. But I would have fallen short of the goal… which was to run for 30 minutes.
I think it’s the same for us with our work and assignments we may be giving out. We need to make sure it is clear to both parties what the actual goal is so that no one is surprised or disappointed at the end. And so that time isn’t wasted or people frustrated unnecessarily just because there were two different goals in two different minds.
Help those in your organization to daily keep refocusing and asking “but what was the goal?”
If you can do that, you’ll get more of the right work done and end up with more happy people.
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. If you’ve been enjoying these one of the best thing you can do is tell a fellow entrepreneur or business leader. You spreading the word helps me help more people. Thanks so much.
