Recently, Google Inc. cofounder Larry Page reclaimed the role of chief executive at the Internet company. I really wasn’t surprised when I read that one of Page’s priorities was to cut through the bureaucracy at Google. I’ve worked with and for enough entrepreneurs to know that they prize a nimble and fast-moving approach to business where new ideas can take hold quickly and be tested.
But one must keep in mind that Google has 24,000 employees. So while Page’s goal is a noble undertaking, it won’t be easy. Here are some of the things he is trying in an effort to make Google act more like a start-up. They might be things you can do in your organization or department to increase the pace.
Convince top executives to sit and work together in a public area at the company’s headquarters. Page has his top leaders sitting in full view of the other employees instead of hiding behind closed doors. This sends the message that what the top people are working on isn’t a secret. It also makes the senior executives more accessible to the other employees. It makes the company feel more open and flatter, which will likely help Google cut through some of the bureaucracy.
Reduce the number of projects that managers are working on. Page has asked his product and engineering managers to update him on all of their projects in an effort to cut the number down. This move allows staff to focus on the projects that possess the most potential and puts them on the fast track. Sometimes people can get sidetracked with duties or pet projects that don’t possess a lot of opportunity or carry inordinate amount of risk. Reviewing all the projects in process and evaluating them on their merits will undoubtedly result in killing some of the dogs and give people more time to spend on the stars.
Ask managers about the problems they face. Page has been visiting managers where they work in order to hear about their projects and their frustrations. He wants to know about the problems they face and what’s keeping them from getting more accomplished. It’s a simple but effective technique — ask the people who are doing the work. Simple questions such as, “What do you need to do your job better?” and “How can I help you be even more effective?” can reveal answers that lead to greater productivity and job satisfaction. Just the act of asking lets people know that you care about what they think. Of course, you need to follow up if you want to maintain your credibility.
Change the way meetings are being run. Page has asked employees to create new procedures for meetings, which include designating a decisionmaker and banning people from working on their laptops. I consider meetings a necessary evil. Finding ways to make them more efficient can go a long way in making any organization more efficient. Checking cell phones at the door and prohibiting people from checking email can help get the group focused and keep meetings on track.
Page wants an organization that moves with a sense of urgency. He’s looking to speed up decisionmaking at all levels of the organization. To do so, he’s attempting to make executives more accessible, focus the company on top priorities, eliminate issues that impede progress, and improve the efficiency of meetings. Each of these is something you can do in your organization. The method you choose for accomplishing each of these goals might vary from those Page has chosen, but if you can achieve those results your employees and your business will be better for it.
Take a few minutes right now to jot down some ideas on how you can make your organization or department run more efficiently. You’ll be glad you did.
I really like the idea of checking the electronic gadgets at the door for meetings. It is more and more common to have people focused on their e-mail than the topic at hand and you spend too much time back-tracking and keeping people caught up.