Creating a Continuous Improvement Culture

Rarely a day goes by that I am not reading something uplifting about the direction of global markets and the impact on local economies. For example, this morning I read that yesterday the U.S. investment bank JP Morgan (Marko Kolanovic, Chief Global Markets Strategist & Co-Head of Global Research) predicts 2022 will mark the end of the coronavirus pandemic along with a full global economic recovery. Local business papers are shouting from the rooftops that it is time to return to in-person events. The wheels of momentum are slowly turning.

For some of you, what is approaching on the horizon will be your first (of several) moments in “business time” that you will want to capture “where you were when.” We are entering our third year of the pandemic, and while we read we will return to our normal pre-pandemic level, I hope not. During these past pandemic years, businesses have been catapulted to heights and demands once thought unimaginable. It is hard for me to comprehend that any business has not been significantly changed by the last two years. For my business, clients were acquired leaving the pain and suffering to someone else while the majority jumped on the roller coaster and found their way. One word for it: opportunity.

Reflecting through my “several moments in business time,” the existence and commitment to a continuous improvement culture has been the dominant factor. A continuous improvement culture is a key success factor for a successful organization. It is the key way that an organization can adapt during continuous change.

The starting point for creating a continuous improvement culture is ensuring that you have CEO commitment. Are you the CEO of your organization? Are you the CEO of your part of your organization? If you are in charge, then you can start today. If not, take the time to plan how you will get the CEO’s commitment to your plan. What would he/she need to see? Your plan? A case study where it worked? Cost benefits? If you do not know you need to find out.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • What are the benefits of successfully implementing a continuous improvement culture in your business?
  • What are the costs of implementing a continuous improvement program in your business?
  • What is the return on investment (ROI) of a continuous improvement program for your business?

Check out the seven steps below for creating a continuous improvement process. By following these steps, you will be certain of achieving a continuous improvement culture in your business.

  1. CEO Commitment: Absolutely required, otherwise the continuous improvement program is at risk. Quality must be top of mind and woven into the fabric of the business.
  2. Training the Team: Every team member needs training in the continuous improvement basic tools and processes, otherwise the team outcomes suffer.
  3. Make it Visible: Communicate, reinforce and reward – the outcomes of all processes must be visible for all to see.
  4. Measure the Change: The change must be measurable; at the end you know whether you were successful or not. Measure the process variables as well as the process outcomes.
  5. Build the Team: The team will not just happen; build it with their input. This process starts from the top. Invest in developing a learning and development program to prepare the team for the future. Know what is on the horizon for your business.
  6. Reward the Result: People perform best when rewarded. Keep it simple and look for unique ways to reward and recognize results.
  7. Never Give Up: Tenacity is the key. The difference between a successful person and a failure is that the successful person never gives up. A business is comprised of people, and if those people are tenacious, the organization has a high probability of success. It can take years to develop your organization’s current culture, undoing it or modifying it will not happen overnight.