What's Your Error Rate?
Sure, we all get busy. We get distracted. We find ourselves juggling 100 tasks at once. And when that happens we can start to make mistakes.
But it begs the question, what do you have in place within your workflow, business and team to minimise your error rate and reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes?
Mistakes happen
As the saying goes ‘to err is human’, and indeed it is. Mistakes are part and parcel of everyday life. They happen. Often despite the best intentions and professional skill.
But while it’s human and forgivable to make a mistake, what is unacceptable is not having a process that can catch and minimise mistakes before they happen.
It’s also critical to recognise when a mistake occurs and take appropriate action to reduce the risk of that same error occurring again.
The importance of processes
Processes may not be the most glamorous topic to discuss but they are incredibly effective.
They are the failsafe mechanisms that you can employ within your business whenever there is the potential for something to go other than right.
They also need not be that complicated.
It could be as simple as a checklist. It could be a follow-up phone call. It could be getting a colleague to check your work. It could be saying ‘no’ more often to distractions.
Whatever the process is, its purpose is to minimise risks within your business. Its job is to keep people on the same page ensuring a consistent outcome and a positive client experience.
The right attitude
As important as processes are and as essential as they might be to business, there is a caveat for all of the above.
Process or no process, it all starts with having the right attitude.
It begins with professionalism and the foundation that you value the quality of your work - that you value the client experience, that you value the responsibility of your position; be it in sales, property management or administration.
This pride in your work serves as a great incentive to reduce the risk of errors.
It also makes it more likely that you will implement the necessary procedures to ensure you do not make the same mistake more than once.
It’s good for business
A commitment to reducing mistakes is not only good for business, it’s a great motivator to use best practice techniques to create raving fans.
And let’s be honest, mistakes create distractions. They tie up mental energy and time, while diminishing the client experience and at worst, damaging your reputation.
When you reduce the risk of errors, you free your business up to embrace best practices.
How? The processes that allow you to eliminate mistakes are the same tools that enable you to go above and beyond in a bid to truly excite and delight the clients you serve.
About the Author
Manos Findikakis is the CEO of Agents’Agency, Australia’s first multi-brand real estate network, ‘the only fully integrated solution for you and your people to create an unforgettable experience.’
For all enquiries and more information on how the Agents’Agency can help you take your career to the next level, click here to get in touch.
