21st July,2023
Benjamin Franklin said, “Little strokes fell great oaks.”
The Japanese have talked for centuries about Kaizen, which means ‘small continuous improvements.’
Instead of trying to make radical changes in a short amount of time, if you can just make small improvements – just 1% better – every day, that will gradually lead to the change you want in your life.
What does 1% a day mean? It just means get a little better each day – as simple as that.
One percent better each day, compounded, is almost 3800% better each year.
Big change indeed, with just one percent.
How does change happen in your organization?
Is it through major initiatives, or is it part of the ongoing way you work?
Some types of change inevitably need a major project, meaning months of hard work, big budgets, and upheaval.
But an alternative or complementary approach to improving systems and processes involves more subtle, ongoing changes. This approach is often undervalued.
One way to do this kind of continuous, incremental improvement is ‘Kaizen.’
It originated in Japan, and the word translates as “change (kai) for the good (zen).”
Kaizen is based on the philosophical belief that everything can be improved. With this approach, incremental changes add up to substantial changes over the longer term, without the need for radical innovation. It can be much gentler and more friendly way to institute the changes that must occur as a business grows and adapts to its changing environment.
Kaizen was first practiced in Japanese businesses after World War II, influenced in part by American business and quality-management teachers, and most notably as part of The Toyota Way.
With kaizen, everyone is responsible for identifying gaps and inefficiencies.
And everyone, at every level in the organization, suggests where improvements can take place.
To improve, adopt kaizen, make those little changes & stay blessed forever.