One of the most important aspects of an effective continuous improvement (CI) program is the communication about the program’s progress. How a company communicates to its employees, customers, and shareholders can have a significant impact on the success of its CI program.
In my role as a CI consultant, I have seen this done very well and very poorly. Some companies only report the anticipated cost savings and potential labor reductions associated with their CI initiatives. While this can yield short-term praise from shareholders, it can also lead to employees feeling demoralized and disenfranchised leading to distrust for all CI practitioners.
An effective CI program should not rely solely on monetary gains to demonstrate its usefulness. Often, a small change can have a large impact, significantly increasing customer and/or employee satisfaction. This can make a greater impression than a monetary savings throughout your company.
How do you tell your employees about your CI achievements? Are you focusing on improvements, or only on the money?
If you have a business process that needs a “check-up,” please email me! I’d love to help you get back to a healthy, productive workplace!
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