Operational Bottlenecks – The Everyday Friction That Slows Delivery

Some forms of drag are subtle – not structural, but procedural.

Operational Bottlenecks, the “Skin Friction Drag” of business, appear when daily routines clog progress. They’re not dramatic – just constant. And over time, they slow everything down.

You’ll recognise them as repeated approvals, manual reporting, or meetings that resolve nothing. They waste time, drain energy, and erode morale.

In the LIFT Model, this links to the Process Pillar – specifically the Dynamics of Approach, Alignment, Attitude, and Awareness. These Dynamics define how information flows, how people coordinate, and how consistent delivery feels.

When bottlenecks build, these Dynamics weaken. Information sticks, collaboration stutters, and small tasks take longer than they should. Leaders often interpret it as underperformance, but the issue lies in the process – not the people.

To reduce drag, look for the points where action slows:
• Too many handoffs between teams.
• Delayed decisions due to unclear ownership.
• Repeated work caused by inconsistent formats.

Streamline the process – fewer steps, faster decisions, more autonomy. Empower teams to act within agreed boundaries. Trust built through clarity enables pace.

When operational flow improves, the organisation feels lighter and more coordinated.

Ask yourself:

Where does work consistently slow down – and what’s stopping it from moving faster?

Call to action:

Wingman helps teams build clarity and consistency through the LIFT Process Diagnostics. Together, we’ll simplify how your business works – so every task contributes to lift, not drag.