Improvement Barriers

As I work with businesses, their management, their staff and even individuals, there is two classic problems for when to improve (and this includes the self-employed).

When times are good, TIME for improvement is usually not seen as available.

When times are not so good, MONEY for improvement is usually not seen as available.

Of course, this raises two questions.  What is meant by “not available?”  And what do we mean by “improvement?” 

To me, “improvement” can be investing in training and/or technology, developing better processes and the supporting documentation, increasing marketing efforts and a host of other efforts.   Things that will help a business grow, survive, service and/or thrive.

So when should you as an individual or a company work to improve? 

I submit that THE most successful businesses and business people make improvement continually, not just periodically.  Now that may or may not mean a huge project every day or even every month.  But it means that improvement is part of the ongoing business operation regardless of the cycle of the economy.

To do this, you have to plan for improvement as part of your business plan.  And you have to budget for it with time and money.  Naturally, there is some ebb-and-flow based on many external factors and we always want to stay customer focused.  But I contend that being a better business is, in the long term, exceptionally customer focused.

Now I know there are those that are saying, “I don’t have time or money to work on improvements, I’m just trying to survive!”   My thoughts when I hear this are typically, “By not improving earlier, you are in a bigger “hole” for survival now… and you may have waited too long,” or “If you survive, will you then work to improve to avoid this problem in the future?  Promises made in storms are often forgotten in the calm seas.”

I also contend that if you do not include business improvement as part of your business philosophy, then you will eventually be left behind those that do.  

We all know of success stories that burst on to the scene locally and nationally, only to crash and burn a few short years later.  Many of these stories were centered on those that believed they had found success, so no need to improve.  Eventually, the smart competitors adapted, improved and survived.

So, what are you doing to improve?   And is it random shots in the dark or part of an ongoing, strategic plan?