TAKING BACK CONTROL: BUILD MOMENTUM THROUGH INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
Written by Jessica Murray
A business growth dilemma
I often encounter business owners who aspire to take their operations to the next level but struggle with where to begin. The sheer number of tasks, decisions and interactions they manage each day can often delay crucial operational improvements that may hold them back from achieving their goals. While delaying may be OK short-term, the long-term implications of sustained inaction could be painful.
When presented with a broad challenge like “improving how my business runs on a day-to-day basis,” it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the potential breadth and depth of what needs to be assessed and addressed. Rather than letting the overwhelm get the best of you, take a step back to re-assess, break things down and simplify the complexity. These are principles I’ve also introduced in Edition 002 (the featured post) and Edition 005 (weekly dose of empowerment).
Stephen Duneier also strongly reinforces this message in a TED Talk and provides a persuasive argument for why getting started today, even in a small way, is better than the alternative:
Even marginal improvement in our process can have a huge impact on our end results.
Get results from marginal improvement
Duneier provides a roadmap and practical examples throughout the talk that speak to how small adjustments impact people’s ability to achieve their objectives.
Here are three key themes he highlights:
Take control of tiny decisions to move the probability of achievement in your favor: You can’t control everything, no matter how much you try. Focus on what you can control. Start making small decisions that will steer you on the ideal path.
Change your approach to see change: It’s easy to fall into the trap of going through the motions of each day and assuming that nothing can change because you don’t have the time to fix everything. Duneier applied this technique to transform from a C student to making the dean's list. He needed a new technique to help him stay focused, so he adjusted to work in shorter bursts, and it paid off. He employed the same approach to life after college and attributes his success to it.
Be an active participant, not a spectator: Actively intervene in your trajectory to enhance your chance of success. Develop systems to improve outcomes instead of passively accepting the status quo.
Guided questions to help you take action
If you’re at a phase of your business where you have so much going on and also feel blocked, reflect on the tools that can help you break things down and start to make incremental improvements.
Use these questions as a guide:
Where can you take control?
How can you play a more active role in your chance of success?
What daunting goal can you break down into more manageable steps?
Where do you need help?
Remember, change doesn't happen overnight. You know that expression: Rome wasn’t built in a day? Start with small decisions that move you closer to your business goals. Embrace marginal improvement and watch the flywheel effect take hold.