May 14th, 2025
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh
I’m always excited to hear a team recognize how a mindset of continuous improvement can help them. One senior executive recently said it this way: “Our goal is to establish a consistent way of working that enables us to achieve our objectives, driven by a culture of continuous improvement.”
Starting a continuous improvement journey is similar in a way to building up savings. Investments grow through the reinforcing power of compound interest, and so can the skills, efficiency, and productivity of a team through consistent, incremental improvements.
No Investment? No Savings.
Without making any deposits, your account will remain at its current balance – with no increases. Similarly, if a team takes no time to focus on improvement, their efficiency and effectiveness will remain unchanged, and they will continue to operate at the same level, missing opportunities for growth and innovation. Just as you need to start saving to build wealth, a team must begin investing in their development to see any progress. Likewise, other people aren’t likely to be putting money into savings for you, and other teams aren’t likely to be proactively making improvements for you.
Small Starts Lead to Big Impacts
When you first start saving, the growth of your account may seem slow. You won’t become a millionaire overnight. The same is true for a team. Initial efforts to improve may not begin with dramatic results. It takes time to see the benefits of new processes, training, and strategies. However, these early investments are crucial. They lay the foundation for future growth. Starting to invest by opening channels for feedback from the team is the key first step.
My own story of a continuous improvement journey took us from a team that struggled to release software quarterly to one which released nearly twice a week – on time, with quality. It didn’t happen overnight, but it shows what’s possible when small changes build momentum
Small Wins Multiply
Over time, the interest earned on your savings in turn generates interest, leading to exponential growth. On a team, a virtuous cycle of improvement works in much the same way. Small, consistent enhancements accumulate and build upon each other. A slight increase in efficiency today can lead to greater productivity tomorrow. Over time, these incremental gains compound, resulting in significant improvements – not just in the efficiency and predictability of your work, but in the morale of the people.
Reaching Your Goals
Where compound interest can help you achieve your financial goals, continuous improvement can help a work team reach their long term objectives. The key is consistency and patience. Regularly investing in training, refining processes or reducing technical debt, and encouraging innovation will pay off in the long run. The journey may be slow at first, but with persistence, the team will see substantial progress. The culture of continuous improvement will soon establish a way of working that leads to consistently meeting objectives.
Conclusion
In both savings and team development, the principle is clear: no investment means no growth. A team dedicated to regularly reflecting and improving on how they work together can achieve remarkable results. It requires dedication and a long-term perspective, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Just as a small savings account can grow into a substantial nest egg, a team’s commitment to continuous improvement can lead to exceptional performance and success.
If you need an investment advisor for continuous improvement, contact me at al@melecoaching.com and let’s talk.
P.S. Your virtuous cycle will be much more powerful on a team with Psychological Safety. Stay tuned for a blog post dedicated to that topic.
Tell Me More (Additional Reading)
- “Rapid Results” (Schaffer, Ashkenas)
- “Right Kind of Wrong” (Edmondson)
- “Flawless Execution” (Murphy)
