Always good to learn something

Always good to learn something

I have just finished with my lectures on ratio analysis and the act of benchmarking. One of the points I made was that in benchmarking, there is an aspect that is refered to as internal benchmarking. this is where we compare activities within the orgnisation; say comparing one department against another witnin the same organisation.

This comparison will enable the organisation to identify some strengths within one department which may be used by other departments to bring about improvement in its activities.

It is often commented that, using internal bench marking, may bring about inter departmental rivalry. Some managers in a particular department may be unwilling to learn from other departments. They may think it is interferance and may close their mind to any form of learning from other departments. Some of the reasons for which such people may be unwilling to learn from other departments may be due to arrogance, pride, feeling superiority or thinking of knowing too much and that no input from any other person is goo enough.

I have this this saying that there is no end to learning and nobody is too good to refuse contributions and suggestions, no matter how little it may seem. You may have several years of experience in whatever you are doing, you may have won international awards on your field of specialisation. You may even be an authority or an expert in what you do, but it is still true that you dont know everything and may be, say may be, just that little suggestion, or contribution from the person who you think can not be compared to you is all that you need to take you to a higher (another) level.

We are not perfect, we all need input from people from time to time; this may bring new meaning and direction to us. This will make us better and successful in whatever we are doing. We should not be too known and refuse or challenge any form of objective feeback (or even criticisms). No one is bigger, better, brighter than a little bit of feedback and suggestion.