Focus on one thing when you are trying to make improvement projects happen.

We have so many pressures on us at times to improve. Trying to make progress becomes one of the most important things we have to do.

There can be so many opportunities too. A myriad of ideas that we could get our teeth into.

So, why do many of us get limited results?

In many cases that answer is a lack of focus. Our time dissipates, our energies diffuse and our results are left lacking.

And if that is the case, for many of us, then the solution can be straightforward:

Pick one. List out your opportunities and rank them. Do it by whatever makes sense to you and your business, but rank them. There can only be one number one!
Put the other options on the shelf. Make sure that there is nothing that you need to do now with any of your other options before you focus on job #1. If there is something you need to do, do it so that your attention can be focused on completing your chosen task. Make notes if you need to, so that you can pick up the project quickly later.
Apply your focus. Get rid of the other distractions surrounding your delivery of this project, to the best of your ability.

Discover simple change management strategies - click here.

Deliver. Every day, move your project forward.
Gain momentum. As you make progress, and hopefully enjoy the journey, embrace the natural increase in momentum as you start to see results.
Complete. Check your results, plan your follow up and ensure that you have done a top job.
Repeat. Go back to the start of this list and choose what your next project will be.

If you're feeling a little lost with your projects then trying the above for a week or two, to prove it to yourself, might be the right thing to do.

What do you think?

Giles Johnston
Author of Business Process Re-Engineering and creator of the 'Making It Happen' online course for discovering simple change management strategies.

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