The people closest to the work that is being done should know it the best – knowing the redundancies that can be eliminated and recognizing what can be improved upon. Leaders (at the top of the hierarchy) need to give the employees doing the work the ability to take ownership and make suggestions.
Instead of forcing employees to abide by rules just for rules’ sake, be results-oriented. Let those doing the work present alternative ways of doing something to make whatever they’re doing better. If they can be more effective (getting better results), more efficient (doing it in a more timely manner), and can wrap what they’re doing into a standard operating procedure that is sustainable and repeatable, why would leaders not listen to employees? Just because an idea didn’t come from the leadership team does not mean that it is wrong. Leaders need to empower others (put them in a position to improve the work that they will be doing) by making suggestions on whatever task can be done better.
