Well we all know that in the above case, no one actually wins. It’s actually pretty painful.
In a sign shop, all departments must work together seamlessly. When departments are disconnected, the work can become disjointed, leading to errors, delays, and continued frustrations.
We’ve all heard the following:
“Well if salespeople knew how to use a measuring tape”
“If the graphics department knew how to use a level”
“If the truck crews knew how to communicate they are headed to the next job site”
“The management team just barks orders and makes all the money”
I mean this list could go on and on. The magic happens when your team starts taking ownership, stops the blame game, and communicates efficiently across departments. Here are five tips to help get you there!
- Create a Clear Chain of Command ( aka accountability chart )
One of the first steps to connecting all departments is to create a clear chain of command. This will ensure that everyone knows who to report to and who to go to with questions. It will also help to prevent confusion and miscommunication.
This should be posted in locations that everyone is able to easily access.
- Hold Regular Meetings
Holding regular meetings can help to keep everyone on the same page. This is a great opportunity to share updates, discuss any issues, and make plans for the future. Meetings can also help to build camaraderie and a sense of teamwork among employees.
In our shop at Bismarck Sign Co, we meet once a month. Every single team member from CEO to Installer is required to be there. We cater in lunch ( Whoop whoop! Free lunch is the best lunch) We have the team sit around a couple of large tables so that everyone can make eye contact. We pull out the white boards and the fun begins.
What’s working:
The funnies seem to always come out first, and help to lighten the mood. “Sam is showing up on time.” “Jake isn’t destroying the bathroom as often.” “Tina stopped yelling at me every morning”
Then come the serious: “The new survey books.” ” The new application table” “The new bucket trucks” “The software updates”
What’s not working:
“Sam” ( poor Sam – always taking the heat ) “The salespeople and their survey skills” “The boom truck – it is all rusted out and a maintenance nightmare” “The communication coming from management”
What this leads to is super conversation. The different departments can express their beef with each other face to face. This helps to work through the issues and understand that we are all trying our hardest to do our best every day. We like a big marker board that we can work through some of the issues on.
We plan a follow-up for the next months meeting to touch on the subjects and see what improvements have been working and what might need to be tweaked.
This meeting has been a GAME CHANGER within our organization.
- Implement a Project Management System
Implementing a project management system can help to keep everyone organized and on track. This can include assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress. It can also help to ensure that everyone has access to the same information and that nothing falls through the cracks. The options in the sign world continue to get better and better. I plan to have a post comparing them all in the near future.
A few to check out:
Squarecoil
Mothernode
Sign Tracker
ShopVox
- Encourage Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Encouraging cross-departmental collaboration can help to foster a sense of teamwork and break down barriers. This can include having employees from different departments work together on projects or simply encouraging them to share ideas and best practices.
A fun idea that we love:
The Sign Olympics
Pairing up individuals of all different departments and having them compete in department specific activities.
I.E. Team one ( Accountant, Salesperson, Graphics Installer, Sign Installer)
Task one: Survey a wall, trim materials to correct size, wrap the wall.
Ready… Set.. GO! Every person on the team must have a specific roll that doesn’t include front row seats with popcorn.
No matter if we are doing the sign olympics, bowling, golf or any other activities, we always mix the departments. It is really important to understand each other at a deeper level.
- Invest in Training and Development
Investing in training and development can help to ensure that everyone has the skills and knowledge they need to do their job effectively. This can include training on new software or equipment, as well as leadership and communication training.
Often times upper management are the only ones that get to be involved with training. This is a no-no. Get your whole team involved any chance you can. More ownership and empowerment leads to better communication and overall better results.
If the above are all things you would like to implement but are still not sure where to start, The Sticker Lady would love to come in and help get the ball rolling. Fill out the contact form for a free consult!
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