The Smartspeed Performance Improvement Blog

When we are looking at improvement opportunities, it is easy to get knocked off course by our long list of existing obligations. And, by obligations, I mean a long list of things that we have to do that we simply haven't had the time to get started with. So, how do you make any progress when you have this situation? One option, and one that I am keen to use when working with my consulting clients, is to be selfish. Figure out which improve opportunity could save you time. If you can save some time then you can start a virtuous cycle to improve not only your working life but the overall results of the business. Let's say that you have identified this opportunity. How do you even start it? This is where the Kaizen approach comes in. Work out what the least amount of effort / time / work you can put into this continuous improvement opportunity. The small size will make it palatable and there is a good chance that you will do a little more than the absolute minimum if you have time...

Dealing with day to day pressures can be hard. One way we can deal with this is to have a to do list. Write it down and do the thing that you wrote down. It is a simple strategy to keep on top of your workload. However, there comes a point where you can become a slave to your to do list. It is a fact for most of us that we cannot fit all of our work into a normal working day / week. Some of us end up working longer hours as a result. A phrase I heard years ago resonates with me here: you can do anything but you can't do everything. So, the next question bubbles to the surface... If you are busy responding to your to do list, what has happened to your key objectives? Where do they fit into the timeline of your day / week / month. It can be too easy to lose track of the big things when you are spending your days fending off the little things. Little things sting when they don't get dealt with. So, we tend to focus on them. But, what about the feeling of missing a major goal? More...

Available from Amazon and other online retailers Why business performance often falls short Many businesses do not struggle because people do not care. They struggle because expectations are unclear. Leaders want better results, but teams are often left to interpret what “better” actually means in day-to-day work. Why clarity matters more than criticism That is where What Does Good Look Like? can make a real difference. The book helps leaders and managers turn vague ambitions into clear, practical standards. Instead of reacting when things go wrong, it encourages a more useful approach: define what good looks like in advance, communicate it clearly, and help people work towards it consistently. How the book improves performance This matters because business performance is shaped by everyday actions. If your team does not know what good planning, good communication, good handovers, or good problem-solving look like, performance will always be inconsistent. You may get ...

Cutting corners can feel like a sensible shortcut when you’re busy. A quick workaround. A step skipped “just this once”. But in most businesses, the real damage isn’t immediate. It shows up later as higher costs, more rework, slower decisions, frustrated customers, and a team that spends more time firefighting than improving. In other words: cutting corners doesn’t just affect today’s task. It quietly undermines overall business performance. Why Shortcuts Become Expensive Most corner-cutting starts with good intentions: “We don’t have time.” “We’ll tidy it up later.” “It’s only a small job.” The problem is that shortcuts create a new normal. Standards drift: The agreed way of working becomes optional. Bad habits form: The shortcut becomes the default, not the exception. Rework increases: Issues that should have been prevented get fixed later at a higher cost. Decisions get weaker: Without the right checks, data, or handovers, you get more guesswork. Trust e...

Running a business is a constant balancing act—juggling priorities, firefighting issues, and trying to keep your team on track. But what if you could achieve meaningful improvements without overhauling your entire operation? The answer lies in quick wins—small, practical changes that create momentum and deliver results fast. Here’s how you can use simple routines to boost your business performance, based on proven methods from ‘ Every Business Needs a Routine ’. Available from Amazon and other online stores 1. Start Your Day with a Team Huddle A brief daily meeting—no more than 10 minutes—sets the tone for the day. Focus on: Yesterday’s wins and lessons Today’s top priorities Any roadblocks needing attention This habit improves communication, surfaces issues early, and keeps everyone aligned. 2. Use RAG Trackers for Clarity A Red-Amber-Green (RAG) tracker is a visual way to monitor key metrics and spot trouble before it escalates. Update it daily or weekly—whichever suits y...

Every business wants to perform at its best, but too often, day-to-day challenges get in the way—missed deadlines, unclear processes, and improvement ideas that never see the light of day. That’s why we created Continuously : a platform designed to help you drive business performance with practical, proven tools for continuous improvement. Why Business Performance Stalls It’s rarely a lack of ambition or effort. More often, performance issues come from inconsistent systems, lack of visibility, and reactive problem-solving. When teams are stuck in a cycle of firefighting, it’s hard to focus on growth, profitability, or customer satisfaction. Continuously helps you break that cycle and build a business that delivers consistent results. How Continuously Drives Performance Clear Process Mapping: Visualise your workflows, find bottlenecks, and optimise operations for smoother, faster results. Structured Problem Solving: Capture issues as they arise, dig into the root causes, and implement...