Workarounds Create Drag
One phrase we hear surprisingly often when talking with businesses is:
"We've learned to live with it."
Sometimes it's an unreliable Wi-Fi connection.
Sometimes it's a recurring software issue.
Sometimes it's a manual process that should have been automated years ago.
Rarely are these problems serious enough to stop the business.
But over time, they create something that's much harder to see:
Operational drag. It's the hidden cost of technology workarounds.
Every workaround costs a little time.
Every recurring frustration interrupts productivity.
Every technology issue employees have accepted as "normal" chips away at efficiency.
The challenge is that these costs are usually spread across many people and many small moments.
Ten minutes here. Five minutes there. A recurring support issue. A process that takes three extra steps.
Individually, they don't seem like much.
Collectively, they can have a meaningful impact on operations.
That's why one of the most valuable questions a business can ask is:
What has our team learned to live with?
The answer often reveals opportunities to reduce frustration, improve productivity, and strengthen operations without major disruption.
Technology should support the business, not create additional workarounds.
If your team has accumulated a few "that's just the way it is" technology frustrations over the years, it may be worth taking a fresh look.
What has your team learned to live with?
