Corporate achievement calls for a change in individual mindset

An individual should also look from the total company perspective to understand better the real achievement of any action. Without this mindset, it is possible that the company will have several internal wins but with external losses. This is evident in several situations.

In one example, the company is going to launch a new product at an event organised at a department store. The goal is to have new products ready for demonstration to customers before the opening date. There can be a number of activities concerning several functions such as shipping clearance, warehouse management, and transport. The success of the event depends on the success of every individual function. 

The shipping department may solely concentrate on completing the main job under its scope of work. This may imply that the most important thing is meeting the cycle time of product delivery from the port to the warehouse. However, the care with which products are handled should also be taken into account. For example, products requiring temperature control should be kept in a safe place while waiting for the clearing process. Otherwise, their quality can be damaged. 

The warehouse department may focus on picking and packing transactions according to the queue of incoming orders. Flexibility for an urgent order for delivery may need to be provided depending on the situation. This can involve additional cost incurred by working overtime. How can the warehouse operation be improved to enhance cost efficiency?

The above example shows that when there is no awareness of the end result and impact on the total performance of the company, each person may not be serious about the next target level. Even though such achievement can be a bit far-looking from an individual perspective, it is interesting to promote the mindset that can lead to improved success of the company. 

To improve the mindset of employees by linking the individual target to the company’s target, the following are some key elements for consideration.

Sense of urgency. The employee should understand when to treat an assignment at a higher priority level. Concerned parties should maintain effective communication and share the target of work to be done. The sense of urgency should be maintained and demonstrated by the team members as appropriate.

Flexibility. Should be cultivated as part of the organisation’s culture. Sometimes being flexible can result in certain exceptions to rules and regulations. But knowing how to exploit it to the company’s benefit is a challenge for decision-makers. It may not be easy but it can be done with proper justification. 

It’s also my business. At work, some people tend to be cautious in jumping into others’ fields of business. It is possible that people can have different ideas on the same issue. Thus showing a different opinion at work should be considered a constructive act rather than being discouraged. 

To institute a good culture in a company is not only challenging but also worthwhile for sustaining the long-term success and strength of a company. An effective way to develop a good mindset is by showing examples. The most influential group of people is at the supervisory level. With their leadership, the total company can achieve the ultimate goal of company-wide culture change of mindset. 

 

Yanyong Thammatucharee is senior vice president for accounting and finance at Central Marketing Group. He can be reached at [email protected].