A continuous improvement mindset is essential for growth and ongoing success. The more one can improve and change, the better positioned they will be not just to survive but thrive in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace. If you are looking for the next job opportunity, you need to stand out and be different. The same applies to organizations looking to take it to the next level. The act of continually improving creates a moving target, making it tougher for the competition to replicate what you do. Continuous improvement is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Competitive Advantage
Change and continuous improvement are a source of advantage, setting people and organizations apart from the competition. The consistent strategy and execution of continuously improving is a competitive advantage that few realize. Getting better every day helps to raise standards. Higher standards, coupled with having the right goals, can make all the difference.
What Competitive Advantage Should You Want To Achieve?
Goal setting is vital for individuals and organizations seeking to leverage the power of continuous improvement. You can only improve what you measure. All goals need to be measurable. Choosing the right goals that you want to achieve is a critical first step in moving forward. Once the goal is set, leverage small wins and make incremental improvements to help individuals and organizations raise their game.
How To Drive Continuous Improvement As An Individual?
Personal development is important. Having the right mindset and desire to improve is critical. Try, fail, and learn is the preferred method to take instead of hitting a plateau. Couple that with a willingness to leverage resources (people, processes, and tools) to their full potential, even re-thinking how that should be done by working smarter, not harder too. We are judged by our ability to stand out and be different, not our similarities. Living a continuous improvement mindset will provide you with a competitive advantage in your career.
How To Drive Continuous Improvement As An Organization?
Formalize continuous improvement as a competency you hire for and promote based on. Make continuous improvement a defining characteristic of the culture that embodies the organization. Celebrate and recognize when your team demonstrates the competitive advantage of continuous improvement with driving innovation. Never take your foot off the gas, but continue to drive change that produces value. The effort isn’t worth doing if there is no additional value for the customer or employee experience. Always aim to improve processes, products, and services via employee feedback.
Final Thoughts
I believe that everyone goes through a cycle of a crawl, walk, run, and leap when it comes to their performance and experiences. Once an individual or an organization leaps to that next level, the cycle begins again, just like continuous improvement. To avoid stagnating and hitting a plateau, it is essential to improve and keep moving continually by producing more value. Embrace the continuous improvement advantage to be more successful. The act of continuous improvement is a competitive advantage that will propel you and your organization to unparalleled levels of success.
