By Romolo Tavani, via ThinkStock
By Ruth Henderson, President & Co-Founder, Whiteboard Consulting Group Inc.
It's true. Rules are made to be broken. Even in the world of Process Improvement.
"Wait, what?" you ask. "But Ruth, process improvement is all about rules and statistics and doing things the same way every time, yada yada yada. You're contradicting the very foundation of what you teach!"
Ah, nothing is so black and white, grasshopper. Hear me out.
Process Improvement is Changing
In my process career I have witnessed and/or been part of many process improvement initiatives -- big, small, fully funded and supported, done "off the corner of a desk," successful, and unsuccessful.
The two things that made the difference between success and failure -- in addition to the usuals of effective communication, engagement, and senior management commitment -- were:
- Early evidence that the new methods work and are worth the effort, and
The ability to be flexible and change your mind.And this last one, flexibility, seems to be growing in importance. In fact, it also influences the first one - "evidence of success."
Traditional and, dare I say it, soon to become "old school" methodologies like Six Sigma and to some extent Lean, are based on strict methodologies that work really well in some organizations -- usually those in a manufacturing or highly repetitive/operational industry. In other industries, particularly serviced-based, these methods have a more difficult time taking root. It's not impossible, and there are many very successful examples - but it is harder.
It's OK to Change Your Mind - Just Don't Squirrel
When Nicole and I teach The Whiteboard Way to aspiring process-improvement practitioners, we are careful to point out the need to be flexible, and to change things along the way if they aren't working. The ability to do this is refreshing to people who are often nervous about adopting a new method, or taking on "this process stuff."
I recently did some strategic planning with a client -- he was a little nervous about planning tactics for goals that were 12-24 months out. "Things can change, Ruth," he said. And he was right. That's why it's important to have a plan and a process, and then if (when) things change you can make intentional decisions to veer away from or modify the plan. But, the modification is then intentional, not just because you saw a fun-looking squirrel and decided to run after it like the dog in the movie Up (love this clip). Some people do this so frequently, that Nicole and I actually use "squirrelling" as a verb.
In the Four Disciplines of Execution, Sean Covey stresses the importance of using and tracking lead measures -- those which you can influence and which drive the progress towards a goal - in the execution of a goal or strategy. His theory is that a "cadence of accountability" ensures that people develop the habit of reviewing their commitments and assessing whether those tactics (or lead measures) are making the progress they expected. If they're not, then they change the tactics and the things they measure until it has the desired result.
Combining traditional process improvement tools with modern theories about being flexible yet accountable is the new way to facilitate and teach process improvement in organizations. If done right, this approach will generate increased engagement and better results.
Ruth Henderson is one of the Founders of Whiteboard Consulting Group Inc., and an experienced blogger. You can read more blog posts at www.whiteboardconsulting.ca, or follow her on Twitter @whiteboardcons.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.