What we heard
“Quoting is taking
too much of my time.”
We followed it
Quoting → process → estimating → systems → delegation.
What changed
A simpler workflow designed to turn hours into minutes and free senior time.
WHAT’S
GETTING IN
THE WAY?
Scroll to question 01 / A moment of useful friction
I CAN’T KEEP DOING EVERYTHING./ maybe you shouldn’t.
WE NEED MORE CUSTOMERS./ maybe.
DO WE NEED ANOTHER PERSON?/ maybe.
THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY OF DOING THIS./ probably.
HOLD ON.
The problem you can see isn’t always the problem you need to solve.
02 / Follow the problem
SO WE FOLLOW
THE PROBLEM.
People. Process. Customers. Money. Technology. Growth.
Wherever it takes us.
03 / Get on with it
RIGHT.
LET’S GET
ON WITH IT.
Question
What’s actually
getting in the way?Decide
What matters now?
Act
Do the work.
Check
Is it working?
Keep moving / adjust.
04 / Friction in practice
FRICTION /
IN PRACTICE
“Quoting is taking
What we heard
“Should we recruit
another engineer?”
We followed it
Demand → capacity → utilisation → cost → margin → cash.
What changed
A management model that allows the decision to be tested before making it — and checked afterwards.
05 / Useful Friction
We ask questions.
We follow problems.
We make decisions.
Useful Friction works alongside owners and leadership teams of growing businesses.
THEN WE
DO THE WORK.
- Keep it simple.
- Focus on what matters.
- Move quickly.
- Check the direction.
No theatre.
The people you work with are the people doing the work.
06 / Start somewhere
START WITH
ONE
CONVERSATION.
You don’t need to know what the problem is.
That’s rather the point.
Bring the thing that’s frustrating you.
The decision you keep putting off.
The opportunity you’re unsure about.
Or simply:
Something is getting in the way.
We’ll start there.