It might be the most important question you ask

While working with a client last month, she looked stressed and said she had to find savings, now. We began looking at a number of things, no stone unturned and all that, one of those was her staff structure and costs.

We did some evaluation of roles, responsibilities and salaries. It transpired that some team members were focusing on tasks well below their pay grade, let me expand on that.  Skill-sets were not matched correctly with jobs or pay. Some high-level salaries performed low-level tasks, especially in the accounts team. Now, as you know we all have muck in from time to time, but if you are paying a significant premium to employ someone, you want to get the value for money. Ask yourself, "Are my team performing tasks relevant to their pay grade, really?"

When we dug deeper we heard, “it was quicker to do myself” a number of times, as well as “well no one else will do it” and “I haven’t got time to show someone else” and other phrases that make businesses go bust and chant 'can the last person to leave turn off the light?', it was not good. Some admitted to doing work they used to do when they started their career because they enjoyed it, rather than tackle more senior and challenging tasks they were now paid to do.

We spoke about delegation and training junior team members, fulfilling roles and responsibility of senior positions.

People get paid salaries to do things commensurate to that level of pay. That may mean dipping into all sorts of areas but the focus and time must be at the right level for their salary, role and the needs of the organisations.

It was clear during my client meetings that the structure and development of the some of the team was being overlooked. The attitude was get the job done somehow, but efficiencies and process were being forgotten. The cost of labour was not sustainable and it was fixable with a little thought, cooperation and discussions. They were taking things for granted and had failed to notice the obvious. The ‘fix’ had to start with the leaders of the business.

Points to think about:

1. Think about what you are doing with your time

2. Be critical about how you spend your day

3. Question the need for you to do them

4. Is what you do up to your pay grade?

Once you're happy with yourself, get everyone sorted!

Demonstrate, Delegate and Inspire.