Don't let paperwork shuffle priorities
"Too much paperwork!" A burden? A disclaimer? An excuse?
A decade ago, the computer techs promised us "paperless offices?" But
technology, quality improvement, re-engineering -- even the superhighway
-- have not reduced the deluge of paper.
Why so much paperwork? Government -- federal, state, local --
regulations require paperwork by the tonnage.
While computers carry a lot of the paperwork burden, they have not
cured the malady.
Paperwork is important. To test this, fail to turn in a report on some
federal regulation or even a routine report to your controller's office.
Bureaucrats mount instant pressure, and you will cancel your dental
appointment to do the paperwork.
Paperwork is also tangible. And we are skilled at doing it. We come in
early, close our doors, fail to make sales calls and put off creative
thinking. Why? So that we can do our paperwork!
The bad secret is, as shocking as it sounds, many people do a lot of
paperwork because they like to do paperwork. Paperwork is fulfilling. It
is also comfortable. "I admit," sighed a manager, "I get a sense of
accomplishment when I'm caught up on my paperwork."
Further, paperwork shields us from risks of failure on sales calls,
decision making, new ideas, dealing with upset employees and other
discomforts.
Management quiz
Respond "mostly agree" or "mostly disagree" with each of the following.
In my organization, paperwork . . .
- 1. Has increased in the past five years.
- 2. Is very important.
- 3. For the most part, is turned in on time.
- 4. Is too burdensome.
- 5. Takes too much of my time.
- 6. Requires that I come in early.
- 7. Prevents me from doing some very important things.
- 8. Significantly reduces the time I have for other functions.
- 9. Requires that I close my office door.
- 10. Sometimes delays my response to customers.
Three or more checks suggests that you are not effectively handling the paperwork burden.
Source:The Tampa Tribune - November 27, 1995 - GERALD GRAHAM of Knight-Ridder Newspapers
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