P / PC Balance and PM

Almost everyone has heard about Aesop’s fable of the goose that lays the Golden Egg. As an inquisitive young one, I heard the fable and was confused as to how this was possible. In my limited knowledge and inquisitive mind, I was pretty sure birds laid eggs that eventually made baby birds. This was the same me that once asked a priest if Adam and Eve had belly buttons. I digress. All I knew is that birds were supposed to make eggs to make baby birds. However, this bird had the capability of making something more precious – in terms of wealth anyway. As the story progresses, we learn that the farmer/owner becomes wealthy and greedy as the golden eggs keep appearing. Therefore, he becomes so focused on results – the eggs of gold – and eventually mishandles the goose. Sadly, to the point where there are no more golden eggs. A simple story with powerful message.

In the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Covey uses the story as a great analogy for describing effectiveness and the P / PC balance. If we need the golden egg (the Product or P) to continue happening, we need to ensure that the Goose (the Production Capability or PC) to be at its best condition. So, how do you take care of your “goose” such that it will consistently produce what you need? I suppose it depends on what the product is.

From an organizational standpoint, P can be the employees’ work output. How does an organization ensure that their capability, PC is at their best? Interestingly enough, Dr. Covey recommends that the employees be treated in the same manner you want them to treat the best customers – treat them like volunteers. I know what most of us would think… WHAT?! I’m paying good money for this guy to perform. He better do what I say. There is no doubt that treating employees like volunteers may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, his logic is quite sound. The explanation is as follows: you can buy a person’s hand and back, but the most important “parts”, their hearts and minds, are volunteered.

If we shift our attention to the other component of productivity, we would have to look at the non-human component: machinery. In a manufacturing environment, any down-time has an associated cost to it. If the down-time is because of wear, it most definitely can be prevented if preemptively taken care of. Therefore, if you want any machine performing at its optimum, preventative maintenance or PM is what we need to look at. Equipment checks, oil changes, etc. To many, it may seem like unduly costs. However, the cost associated with lost productivity and the costs of repairing the equipment after it has broken down, turns out being more than preventative maintenance costs.

So, is PM to machines as ensuring PC is to us humans? Yes and no. Needless to say we are not machines. However, we do need to be "taken care of". Bottom line: Machines can get oil changes and bolts tightened to give their best output. If we are to give our best output, it means that we volunteer our creative minds and loving hearts. We give them willingly, by our choice - when treated like such: volunteers. From my own personal experience, I was always ready and willing to do my best when approached with kindness. The best managers/leaders I've worked for where those who where kind with there time to explain the goal, and simultaneously ready to listen. It felt like they knew I would "volunteer" my best. That type of trust builds on itself, leads to great teamwork and much productivity.