Connecting People

Today I want to refer to how the environment plays a decisive role in facilitating or hindering the connection between people.

When we talk about "Connecting individuals or workgroups", many companies focus their energy on the individuals, the type of vocabulary they use, body language, management of emotions, etc. They never stop to think about the environment, conformation or distribution of offices, entrances, warehouses, yards, workshops, policies, regulations, and contracts, it can become a barrier to this connection.

Here is an example:

A group of Production Operators was extremely frustrated, because every time they approached the warehouse of raw materials, they were surprised that it was challenging to receive quality service, there was no service desk in sight, and everything was metal structures full of materials, but what happened to the warehouse service personnel? They were in the back of the warehouse and very well covered by piles of material and it was extremely complex to have an answer that was requested aloud or by whistling.

It is clear that physical distribution in that area is a great barrier to connecting, and it will continue to be if someone does not decide to change this conformation.

So, what do I conclude with this little example? It is important to work hard on the managerial skills that our staff needs to connect, but let's not stop observing the environment that promotes or slows down the connection between people.

Here is how the environment fuels the connection between people:

Offices.

How are they physically distributed? How accessible are they? Are there barriers that prevent us from connecting? Is there privacy? Are there distractors?

Physical accommodation is crucial to promote interaction between areas and people.

Production Areas.

The distribution of machines and other equipment should respect flows that encourage productivity (parts produced per hour) and, in turn, promote connections between people, these connections make us react to unforeseen events and allow us to adjust or control the process immediately.

Warehouses

Depending on the type of warehouse, it must be the distribution and the contact points within it. As I pointed out at the beginning, by respecting the flows and processes of attention, we will have guaranteed good service to clients. A finished product warehouse must have contact points that promote communication with the production area when receiving the product and with the docks when loading a product. Of course, its internal distribution should promote dynamic communication among the Collaborators in that area.

Yards

In the yard area, you must mark authorized aisles, congregation areas, loading and unloading, the flow of dangerous equipment such as forklifts, etc. In this way, the environment will communicate in a very visual way how the operation should be and will promote the effective connection between Collaborators.

Workshops

Corrective and preventive maintenance, tool handling, protection of certain materials, and high-risk processes are all experienced in a workshop. Like the areas already mentioned, a correct flow of machines and equipment is required to make human contact more effective.

Policies, Regulations, Contracts

Unfortunately, there is no practice of continually updating these documents, therefore, these types of guidelines often act as straitjackets that do not unleash the true potential of the staff. The above sometimes contrasts with the culture we want to install, etc.

Surely there are many elements in the environment that we will have to question to promote the connection between people.

The important thing is to consider the environment to achieve a successful connection between collaborators, this will align and add them for a common purpose.

I hope you enjoyed this reading, and that it leads you to reflect and move into action. Let's not lose the connection and remember that I am at your service on my social networks, by email, and by phone.

See you soon.

Pablo Gerardo Zayas Blanco

https://linkd.in/1AkVwDh

[email protected]

Cel 656 2375686