|
|
|
|
Here are a few tips from people who remember what it’s like when you first start using CI&I:
1. Use all the steps in the process. Why? It’s like baking a cake – if we leave out a step, like mixing in the self-raising flour, we don’t end up with the result we wanted. We may use one or more steps, but we need to go through the complete set and sequence of steps to achieve success. 2. Use the right types of tools for each step. We wouldn't use a hammer to cut a piece of wood. The right type of tool – a saw – would make it much easier, and be more efficient. 3. Remember the Head, the Heart and the Hand. We need a balance of thinking, feelings and actions. Feelings are often ignored, however we need to keep connected to our motivations and passions and to value the feedback that we can get from our emotions and intuitions. 4. Practice CI&I regularly and frequently, and dedicate 5%-10% of your time to improvement work. This may sound like a lot, but you’ll be amazed how much more effective and efficient your ‘daily work’ becomes if you put time into ‘improvement work’. CI&I is not about doing more work; it’s about getting greater impact from your effort. 5. Seek support from others as you practice CI&I. And be generous – offer support in return. Do CI&I in a team with other partners because you get double the benefit. You get to hear about what other people are thinking and improving and you get their support for what you’re improving. 6. CI&I is meant to be stimulating, satisfying and sociable. Take the time to recognise efforts, celebrate achievements, and enjoy each other’s company. 7. For the first 6 months focus mostly on short-term goals. A small improvement project allows going through the steps, and multiple cycles, quickly while building skills and understanding in using the CI&I process. These quick successes are important and worthwhile. They give us the practice and confidence to do bigger improvements well, like whole of business system improvements. These complex, longer-term changes are often riskier and more resource hungry, so better tackled when you are well-skilled in the process. 8. Have several focuses going at once; always have at least one improvement project on the go. If we don’t keep doing improvement we lose the experience of changing, and "stop doing it". Then when we really need to improve, it is that much harder. 9. Encourage everyone in the team, business or organisation to be involved. Everyone can do it, and get real satisfaction and enjoyment from improving their own parts. 10. It can take 1 to 2 years to get really comfortable and confident with using CI&I and the tools. We know it sounds a long time, but you can get improvements from Day 1 and a lot of payoff in 2 years. |
|