Systematic Continuous Improvement (SCI) Insights

better again

The biggest missed opportunities.

March 17, 20251 min read

The online publication Game Changer, has posted an intriguing article titled “21 Questions to Improve Any Business.”

One curious question is … What’s working so well that we’ve stopped paying attention to it?

The article goes on to make a case for the value of “highlighting successful areas that might be taken for granted and may need protection or investment to maintain their performance.”

Makes sense, but there’s an even more compelling reason to ask that question. It goes to the heart of my mantra that “great is the enemy of better.” Sometimes the biggest missed opportunities for getting better are improvements in the things that are already kicking butt – the ones that are running so great that companies rarely consider how they could take it up a notch and make it work better than before.

Contrary to the point in the Game Changer article, businesses need to do more than just “protect” and “maintain” successful areas. They need to think instead about amplifying their performance. And after they do that once, they need to do it again … and again … and again.

That’s the limitless power of systematic continuous improvement. Fix what’s not working? Sure. Weed out the crap that’s dragging you down? Of course.

But don’t let those flagrant flaws distract you from the big gains that can come from making what’s already great better than before – over and over again.

6-Week Program for Systematic Continuous Improvement

“Great is the enemy of better”

Systematic Continuous Improvement 6-Week Program

Tell Us Your Stories!

If you have a story that illustrates the power and potential of employees engaged in continuous improvement, we’d love to hear it – and share it with our readers.

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Les Landes

Founder and president of Landes & Associates, Les Landes is the former head of communications for one of the world’s largest food companies. Speaking at conferences and seminars across the country, he is well known for his trademark message about the perils of the quality “program trap.” Author of numerous articles, his areas of expertise range from communication to marketing to organizational development to employee engagement and more. Most importantly, he brings a unique perspective on how to ensure that those elements are aligned in a way that brings out the best in all of them.

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Les Landes


Les Landes

314-664-6497

leslandes@landesassociates.com


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