But, we've always done it that way...

As a graduate entrant to a major bank, many, many years ago I was told by my first Manager not to ask "why?" but to just get things done quickly.

Was I always disobedient?  My Mum says not, but I failed, magnificently, to follow the Manager's orders on this occasion.

£1,000 IN 1984 WOULD BE WORTH £2,715 IN 2019 - BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A SHARP STICK!

Asking why we did things in a particular way often generated the response:

"But, we have always done it like that..."

Today, that phrase is still a provocation.

Everything can be done differently - and some of those different ways can be:

•  More Efficient
• Cheaper
• Quicker
• or simply better for achieving our goals.
  (but not always)

The £1,000 prize was awarded for an innovative submission to the Staff suggestion scheme.  It changed bank practice in taking second mortgages over domestic property in a small way and saved annual fees of up to £20,000 p.a. (est.) but after about 15 - 20 years was redundant as technology, outsourcing, business models and centralisation had found even better solutions.

So, ask yourself - why are you still doing things the way you do?