Eliminate the know-it-all

We say it often: eliminate the know-it-all in your warehouse. But why do we say this, and who exactly is the know-it-all?

In every warehouse, there is that one person who knows everything and can do everything. The person everyone turns to first when they have a question. Maybe that person is you, or maybe it's a colleague who has worked in the warehouse for years.

Where are the fragile-item boxes stored? How does the label printer work? Where should I place the parcels for the bike courier? How do I fill in a customs form? As soon as someone doesn’t know the answer, the process slows down. Luckily, there’s the know-it-all. You rely on them.

And that’s exactly the problem. The work becomes slower, more complicated, and more mistakes are made. As a result, the warehouse feels chaotic. If the know-it-all goes on vacation or calls in sick, or if your webshop is growing and you need to onboard new staff quickly, it’s a problem when vital information lives only in one person’s head.

That’s why we say, eliminate the know-it-all. Make sure everyone knows how processes work, how to use tools, and where everything is. The simpler you make it, the more independently everyone can work. Here are 4 tips:

• Keep processes and tools (both hardware and software) simple.
• Document every process and hang it somewhere visible, so everyone can see the steps and responsibilities.
• Make sure everyone has the same knowledge. Avoid exceptions.
• Keep everyone informed about changes.

This helps your warehouse run smoothly and feel more calm, because everyone knows what to do. Busy times or staff shortages can be handled more flexibly. A colleague from customer service or marketing helping out for a morning isn’t just convenient and fun, it also gives them a better understanding of warehouse operations.

If you’re the know-it-all, this might not sound appealing at first. But with fewer simple, repetitive questions, you’ll have more time to put your valuable knowledge to better use. For example, by creating a strong onboarding checklist or mapping out improvements for the entire warehouse.

This way, you go from one know-it-all to a strong team where everyone knows what’s going on.