The Dirty Truth Of Cutting Corners

On a regular basis, I receive requests for assistance in areas that should be obvious to most experienced workers. Does anyone really need a SME (subject matter expert) to tell them that when they fail to follow best practices consistently, they will get less than best outcomes?

One of the regular observations has to do with my formula that D + D + D = D. A Dirty floor (or surface) + a Dirty mop (or cloth) + a Dirty [chemical] solution will ALWAYS result in a Dirty outcome. Why is this concept so hard to accept and understand?

I think part of the problem is that we all get involved in the day to day crush of work and start cutting corners just to get through the day. It is my position that any floor can accept one or two days of poor service and still survive. However when the exception becomes the rule, it is only a matter of time before the floor (or surface) becomes so soiled that it needs remedial work.

All of us have experienced days/nights when we were short handed and had to cut corners just to get through the shift. That may be acceptable for one day but once it becomes the norm, we lower our standards and expectations so that it fails to meet specifications.

Please understand I am not excusing poor work EVER, but also accept the reality that we can only do so much in a given period of time if we are short staffed. The problem comes when a very observant staff member notes that we did not say anything when they failed to change the water/solution or continued to use a mop/cloth that needed cleaning/replacing. Of course, they were granted that one time waiver to work faster. Once this new “standard” becomes the norm, it is only a matter of time before the results start showing up in poor outcomes.

Remember that D + D + D = D, every time.

Your comments and feedback are always appreciated. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean…

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.