Ever have trouble getting what you need done because someone else doesn't get you what you need to get started? Or for that matter to deliver what you need to a client. In other words someone is stopping you from "delivering" and your reputation and possibly your wallet is at risk. Well of course that happens. It happens to everyone. That's life. What I'm talking about here is when this happens enough to be considered chronic. That's when you might want to seriously consider working on improving things by putting some automation in place.

A lot of folks feel that commercial real estate doesn't lend itself to "automation". But to be frank, that's just not true. Nor is it true that automation is something that only larger firms need to figure out or that it's just plain boring. Automation is really all about helping people connect better so that the results they're hoping to achieve come easier. Really. Here's why I say that.

You can design software that helps. You can make better use of tools you've been using for years - email is probably the biggest one. You can articulate a better project management flow. All of these things will help you do a better job getting on top of projects, but in my mind there's another answer that is much more simple. Deadlines aren't so much about the "how" things get done as they are about respect. Yep, respect. You and your company have to create a culture where people respect each other's need to get things done. A culture where it's not only a sense of urgency that moves things forward, but one where people hold each other in high respect and generally "feel" bad if they miss a deadline that impacts someone they work with or heaven forbid a client. That's I guess why I really enjoy my job working on how to streamline things through the use of technology! It helps me be respectful.

I like to define culture as the beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company's employees and management interact and handle outside business transactions. I strongly believe that culture always begins with the owner or CEO no matter how large or small the company. And that's where the focus on the person and on respect has to happen. I was raised to believe that "On time is late, and early is on time." I used to hate it when my parents said it, but funny how it's always ringing in my head. I lost it for a few years early in my career (I was young and stupid), when somehow it seemed corporately fashionable to be a few minutes late depending on your rank - like that should ever enter into things! It's not ok to be late. Yes it happens, but it should be the exception, not the rule. 

Now one last tip. No matter how many systems you put in place, make sure you help people gain and apply the wisdom to know when good enough is good enough, or when a project requires more time to get it right. Heart surgery requires perfection - brochures do not. When people work in teams or with clients it is vital that the parties agree on the definition of success before target dates are ever pushed back. Continuing to tweak something is the most common excuse for "being late". The excuse of making sure something is perfect is the hardest one to both recognize and deal with because it sounds so "legit". It's hard not to have "respect" for that excuse. Beware. So whether on time is acceptable or on time is late, early is always on time and so very appreciated...except when showing up at my house for dinner.