When we start out on a continuous improvement project it is easy to be humble about our objectives. It is easy to shy away and aim for modest gains.
The simple approach I am going to share with you in this article takes some of the pressure away but also delivers better results.
Don’t lower the bar
When we have an improvement goal, lowering the bar makes us feel comfortable.
We’re all busy, so having an easier project feels better. But, what if you had a secret project?
This method will give you an extra gear to play with… let me explain.
10x your challenge
The 10x (ten times) approach has been around for ages. It pops up in my reading lists from time to time, because it is a great method.
Simply, take your continuous improvement target and amplify the results required by a factor of ten.
If you need to reduce your lead time by two days, aim for twenty (even if that gives you a negative number!).
If you need to improve your on time delivery by 20%, aim for 200% (which makes no sense unless you call it absolutely guaranteed).
If you need to improve your team’s productivity by 30%, aim for 300%. I think you get the idea. Aim for ten times greater a result than what you need.
Brainstorm
Now, when you are generating options to achieve your new goal you’re doing it for far greater impact. You’re not looking for ideas that will give you a small improvement, your looking for the smart ideas that will radically change the situation.
Generate ideas in abundance. Then, once the brain has run dry, consider their impact. If you’ve read my book Effective Continuous Improvement, you’ll know about the BCS approach. This stands for Benefit, Cost and Speed. It is a ranking system to make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck (so to speak).
Either way determine which items on your list will give you the greatest results for the least amount of effort / cost. This becomes your action plan, designed to take you way past your original CI goal.
Moderation
It might be that you don’t have the time, resources or priorities (let alone authority) to go the whole hog with your 10x plan. If this is the case, you can keep some of your plan in reserve for when the time is right.
Keep your plan somewhere secure for later, for when you are able to deliver the rest of it.
Keeping it up your sleeve
By having a 10x plan you have the opportunity to throttle back if required.
The biggest benefit for using this approach is to over power your plan so that you have the best chance of hitting your original improvement target. Very few of us can guarantee the results of an improvement project, so aiming higher is a very good strategy.
You don’t have to tell everyone about your plan to over achieve. You can keep it up your sleeve and just let people admire you when you over deliver!
If you feel nervous about your improvement projects, try out this 10x approach today and see what amazing results you can produce for your organisation.
