Think About It… the e-book version

by Todd Youngblood

All too often, good ideas get stuck in the “talking” phase. Their real value can only be realized after implementation and measurement of effectiveness.

Continuous improvement methodologies like Business Process Management, Six Sigma, etc. have become so widely endorsed because they are based on common sense and produce results. While very few executives will debate the value of such practices, not many have been able to instill their spirit throughout the organization. If only there were a way to harvest at least part of the benefit without all the up-front education, disruption and cost…

Well, there is a way. And when you come right down to it, it’s one that is surprisingly painless to implement. Relentlessly document, implement and measure your best practices.

Start by asking each first line manager in your organization to collect three “personal best practices” from each of their professionals. Define personal best practice as a habit, skill or technique that each individual feels is most responsible for his or her own career success to date. Insist that each is well-written and no more than two or three sentences.

You’ll find that it’s easy to get one of your managers to volunteer to compile and organize the ideas. (Typically, it’s an individual anxious to learn and interested in career advancement.) Publish the organized list internally and then follow it up with visible action to broadly implement at least two or three of them.
Repeat the process every six months. Establish a few easily trackable metrics and begin to determine just how effective – quantitatively – these best practices really are.

The key is to stick with it. Discipline! Over time, the ideas with real staying power will emerge. In addition, you’ll build an extensive collection of best practices, a team of people with the habit of thinking about better ways to accomplish tasks and an excellent base for implementing one of the more formal methodologies when the timing is right.