Effective versus Efficient - Ghost Writer's 4 a.m. Perspective

A few weeks ago Marti wrote a 4 a.m. Blog from a hotel bed where she couldn't sleep. In her sleepless state, Marti questioned why we all come to work at all. Why not find something that felt less like work? Or maybe, more appropriately, less like sword-falling, useless rock pushing (ala Sisyphus), and general waste of intellect?

Well, here is her Ghost Writer pal joining her on the 4 a.m. and second night with bad sleep rant with a new slant. Why don't we consider effectiveness AND efficiency when we make decisions regarding employees and work structures?

My case in point. Here I lie in a third world city's hotel bed. The better of the two I've had in this country, but I can't sleep. Too hot. But why am I in this bed at all? Efficient use of company funds. It was "cheaper" to use this city's airport than that city's. However, after spending 8+ hours in cars driven by people rolling down windows and asking directions and watching my Google Map app save the day (again), I can definitely say it was an ineffective use of my time. This is a tale most business travelers know well.

But there is a bigger lesson for us HR Leaders than the Ghost Writer whining uselessly about travel budgets. How often do we construct jobs based on efficient use of money but leave or employees in ineffective positions as a result? How often do we let effective management get in the may of maximum efficiency for our employees? Or the biggest crime of all -- how often do we let our perceptions of company infrastructure and/or policy lead us to hamstring either our employees or our own efficiency and effectiveness altogether?

When making decisions about how something is going to get done, consider these questions. And best yet, consider these questions with a group of people, including employees.
1. What is the most efficient use of all resources involved?
2. What assumptions am I making in statement 1? Question these! Even if the answer seems obvious.
3. Questions 1 and 2 with effective instead of efficient.
4. Document and enact the best option.
5. Communicate! Use the answers to questions 1 and 2 to help people understand this was a thought-out decision, and while it makes some effectiveness versus efficiency trade-offs, it's the best currently available option.

Having a process for questioning effectiveness and efficiency certainly beats lying in bed blogging about it. My best to you in finding a more effective and efficient process -- and a good night's rest.