During a recent client engagement, leadership expressed the desire to improve efficiency. They felt the work could get done faster. We emphasized the importance of leaders regularly visiting the Gemba (the place the actual work is done) to identify issues and uphold standards.
"We are doing Gemba walks." they countered.
I observed a few leaders visiting the Gemba and quickly had to redirect. The leadership visits were an hour plus long, meandering through the site, with a litany of issues identified for remediation. We needed to generate more support for hte workers and actionable, feasible tasks resulting from these visits.
To facilitate this new practice, we provided leaders with short scripts and precise instructions. One key directive was to offer only one suggestion for improvement during each visit.
Initially met with skepticism, the concept of providing just one suggestion seemed simplistic. However, the impact of this approach became evident when considering the cumulative effect across the organization. By encouraging the top 300 leaders to go to the Gemba once per week, that would be a staggering of 1,500 improvements annually.
... now it actually seemed like A LOT of work.
Incremental improvements are often underestimated but can lead to significant advancements over time. By focusing on making small, manageable changes consistently, organizations can experience continuous growth and development. These incremental shifts not only drive progress but also foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Benefits of Incremental Improvements:
Encourages consistent progress
Fosters a culture of continuous improvement
Allows for manageable changes
Drives innovation and creativity
Leads to significant long-term advancements
Embracing the philosophy of incremental improvements can transform how leaders approach problem-solving and drive positive change throughout the organization. By recognizing the power of small, consistent steps, companies can achieve remarkable results and stay ahead in today's competitive landscape. It's how you can #improveLESS ... and get better results.
Let me know your experience with incremental gains, or contact me if you want to learn how to make this a reality for your organization.
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