Do you like meetings? I used to hate meetings; I refused to go to them if they didn't have agendas (and then my bosses would tell me that I had to go anyway!). I thought most of them were pointless.

There are loads of different improvement methods and tools you can use in your business. I speak to many people who are determined to use a specific tool to help their business. Then, I ask them what they are trying to achieve.

Pressing the 'launch' button, on many things in life, can make us draw back with hesitation. Will the improvement work? Will our clients like the newsletter? How will the team respond to the suggestion?

An interesting challenge was put on the table, a need to provide a specific piece of information each week to the Managing Director of a business. The person responsible for the piece of information said that they could provide it. After the meeting I asked the person how they would provide the information, I was unaware of what tools they had to provide the information and I was genuinely curious.

Continuous improvement is a funny thing . One minute you're working on something that you do all of the time, and the next minute you are in a conversation with one of your colleagues that inspires your next idea to improve how your business works.

MRP systems can be brilliant for business. If you are involved with the running of a business' operation then you will be all too aware of the juggling act that needs to take place. ERP systems effectively give you additional pairs of arms to make this an easier task. So why do so many people complain about their MRP system ? Can MRP systems really be our friends? After people have complained about their system they often then consider what other systems are available and wonder whether the new system would be better.

My new online programme 'Making It Happen' is now available to join. Online change management skills course It is designed to help you make change happen more effectively, and more efficiently, in your business. There are 12 modules, one delivered each week to you via the Internet. The modules include worksheets and exercises (so you can put these ideas into practice) as appropriate. For more information, and to sign up, please visit: http://www.smartspeed.co.uk/making-it-happen/ Giles Johnston Author of Business Process Re-Engineering