Continuous Improvement

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”-Michael Jordan

A business leader is responsible for establishing the VISION and the FOCUS of the organization. CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT is a critical focus area.

After satisfying customers and insisting on results, the next focus area should be on continuous improvement. If your company is not improving, it is declining. If you aren’t getting better, your competitors may well be. Therefore, establish a climate where continuous improvement and innovation thrive. Do not let your employees fear failure of making mistakes. Just eliminate repeated mistakes. Failure is not fatal, but failing to change can be. Failure is fertilizer for future success. Failure is an incredible gift if properly viewed and used. If we are moving closer to our goals, we are winning. The quicker we fail and modify our approach, the quicker we get to our desired outcome.

Insist that your employees continually improve what they do and how they do it. Focus them on thinking about how to improve their roles, responsibilities, and contribution to the cause. Have them also improve your systems and processes.

Try facilitating a one-hour business improvement workshop once a week. Release the brainpower of your organization. For every good idea surfaced, assign a champion, due date, and key action steps to take. Good ideas not fully implemented are worthless. Reward employees for successfully implementing ideas that increase revenues, cut costs, improve operations or morale, or improve customer satisfaction.

Encourage healthy debate within your team. Allow everyone, in a constructive manner, to challenge ideas, policies and strategies. Even allow for productive and constructive conflict. When ideas are put to the test, they improve.

Stay committed to the process. Continue to spend time working “ON” your business.

How are you doing keeping yourself and employees focused on continual improvement? Never lose sight of the fact that your primary responsibility as a Strategic Business Owner is LEADING!