Four Times You Really Should Have Listened to Your Mother

Moms are full of great pearls of wisdom, cultivated from years of experience and life lessons. But how many times have you thought ‘I know better than that’ and ignored her sage advice? I know I’ve done it more times than I care to admit, and you know what—it almost always comes back to bite me. I’ve already written about what your mom can teach you about supply chain efficiency, so I thought I’d take a look at those times you really should have listened to your mother, and learned to apply the lessons she taught you early in life to your supply chain.

1. Don’t jump into something blindfolded Sometimes phrased as don’t rush into something without giving it some thought first, this one applies to your supply chain in a big way. If something unexpected arises (and let’s face it, that’s bound to happen), don’t just guess at how to handle it. Run scenario simulations and weigh all of your possible options. There are always tradeoffs in life (more great mom wisdom!) and you want to ensure before you move forward you’re choosing the solution that best balances things like cost, delivery times, demand, and customer satisfaction levels.

2. Play well with others In supply chain terms, that means not working in silos. Forming a collaborative process that accounts for input from all business functions is going to greatly enhance the way your supply chain performs. By working toward a common set of metrics based on the overall business strategy, everyone involved in your supply chain is focused on the big picture, not just the metrics related to their own role.

3. Don’t settle for less Why accept mediocracy from your supply chain, when it’s capable of greatness? If you know your supply chain isn’t functioning at optimal efficiency, consider the reasons why. If it’s at all related to people, process, or technology (and most of the time it is), look at the possible places where you can implement change. But just be aware…

4. True change doesn’t happen overnight If you’re looking at transforming your supply chain practices, pay special attention to this one, because that type of change doesn’t happen quickly, and it doesn’t always happen smoothly. To effect real change in your supply chain operations, you need to get everyone on board—from the CEO down to the end user. That type of change management requires patience, time, and a clear vision that connects everyone and inspires them to work together with a shared goal in mind.

So thanks mom for all your amazing advice, even if I didn’t really appreciate it at the time. Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful women out there!