After the team discussion, I’ve narrowed it down to the two areas that I feel we need to focus on strategizing the most:
1. ORDER:
Rush = disorganization, and disorganization is visual. I was in charge of observing costumer reactions on Thursday and the great majority—almost confident it was over 90%-- responded that our stand did not look professional. Ok, and while it could be noted that we don’t have a place yet, and we where using a school toldo, the main reason for this, is because we are untidy. Untidy with where we set the utensils, in the way we prepare the smoothies, and how we serve them. We have to be careful to misconceive transparency in the making of the product and forget that we do have to maintain a top-notch, clean process for our clients to trust us. A step we urgently need to take, aside from slowing down, is re-designing the way we serve, creating almost something alike a "choreography" for the cashier and the smoothie maker.
But I’m a bit of a mess myself: I constantly forget where I leave things, I am clumsy, I forgot the name of the teacher when delivering a gift-smoothie, I forgot to clean the cooler--I’ve got to pivot. I have to bring my media oriented attention to detail to the physical work place. It’s about having a step-by-step plan, which includes cleaning after yourself, and making it a hobby. We all have to.
2. INITIATIVE
“Where can I help out next drew?!” “Do you need me to deliver a smoothie?”
But here’s the trouble, why should we be asking what to do next? Shouldn’t we know? Time flies by while we ask questions, and 15 people bugging the event planner can drive him or her nuts; we are not only giving them the responsibility of that sale, but the one of delegating roles at the spot and distracting them from their individual task. We need defined roles, just like our directorships, for days like Thursday. Smaller scale positions such as looking over the inventory prior to the sale, managing the money and change for delivery could save us from inaccuracy when doing finance, improve our relationship with our costumers and make us as a whole, maybe, less active, but more productive :) |