Using teamwork to accelerate continuous improvement

Do you try to make improvements on your own?

It can be very natural for many of us to go about making changes in isolation, the fear of failure lessens and ideas aren't shouted down.

But, there can be a limitation to this approach.

Firstly, your colleagues are a rich source of additional ideas. They may have the missing piece to one of your improvement ideas. And, the opposite is true - they may have an incomplete idea that you can help to mould into a brilliant finished idea.

Secondly, they can help you to put ideas into action. They can buy you time to make your own changes, or provide their own resource to help get the job done.

These are just two ideas, I'm sure that you can think of many other benefits of properly working with your colleagues with regards to continuous improvement, just make sure that you don't end up in a 'management by committee' situation!

So, my question to you today:

Do you effectively work with your colleagues to make change happen in your business?

If the answer is 'no', what could you do today to change this?

Giles Johnston
Author of Business Process Re-Engineering and creator of the 'Making It Happen' online course for improving continuous improvement skills.

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