Continuous Improvement Begins with You!

One of the things that drives me batty is how hard some people make continuous improvement. Some think you have to go to 2 or 4 weeks of training to make something better. Some think if you don’t have a green or black belt you are not worthy to come up with ideas for making your job better.

It’s as if people feel like they need to whip themselves with chains before making anything better.

Rather than ramble about why these problems exist let me just offer some ideas for getting over the hump.

1. Make something, anything, better today. Yes you. I don’t care what it is or how small it is. Just make something better than it was yesterday.
2. After you are done with step 1 tell someone about it. Just say, “Hey Chuck, ever notice how me and you are the only one’s to use that printer over there? Chuck responds, “Yeah.” You then say, “Well I moved the stupid thing closer to our desks so we don’t have to walk so far when we print something.” Chuck will likely respond, “Cool. Hey, wanna go to lunch?”
3. While at lunch speak to Chuck about how it would be cool to make something better every day. Even something as simple as moving a printer closer to your desk.
4. If he agrees to it challenge Chuck to making something better every day. Make a competition out of it – the loser buys the first round Friday night or coffee Monday morning.

The morale of the story is continuous improvement starts with you and it starts today. You up for it?

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