It doesn't have to be perfect on day one!

A common issue that stifles continuous improvement, one that I have already witnessed in 2024, is perfection.

I can understand how this comes about. In the workplace it is common for people to be yelled at for making mistakes. Over time, this becomes normal and we associate not achieving perfection with being told off.

When it comes to continuous improvement we have an issue here. Very rarely will an improvement be perfect the first time around. Usually it will need to be refined and tweaked a few times in order to work as intended.

But, as we embark on a new year, we have the opportunity to change our approach to continuous improvement.

We can replace perfection with effectiveness. We can make something better and do it again and again. We can iterate our way to high levels of performance; we don't have to be perfect on day one.

Trying to be perfect on day one stifles us. It can overwhelm us.

So, if this rings a bell with you, perhaps you can change your attitude to improvement too. Share this approach with your teams. Practice making things better, bit by bit. Allow the natural increase in motivation that comes from making improvements, propel you and your team.

Today we can become better. Tomorrow can be perfect.

Discover practical continuous improvement strategies with Making It Happen

About the author:

Giles Johnston is a Chartered Engineer who specialises in helping businesses to grow and improve through better business processes and embracing Kaizen.

Giles is also the author of Effective Root Cause Analysis and 'What Does Good Look Like?'.

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