Don’t look for the quick, big improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens–and when it happens, it lasts,” writes John Wooden. In my educational career, I’ve spent time researching and writing about school and organizational improvement. Throughout reading, researching, and writing, common themes develop for the process of organizational change. Those characteristics seem relatively simple, but the common steps must be implemented each day. Here are the three initial steps for organizational improvement:
- Develop Focus and Intentionality: The first step in organizational improvement is creating focus and intention around the right areas. Developing areas of focus happens only after assessing the current reality and the data in the organization. Analyzing this particular information allows leaders to identify the areas of high need and narrow their focus on those areas. How strategically do you assess and narrow the focus?
- Create Systems for Intervention: The second step in organizational improvement is to create systems of intervention and support for areas of highest need. In schools, those interventions focus on the students and teachers that need the most support. In businesses, the interventions focus on the employees or departments that are the lowest performing and developing a plan for them to improve. Organizations are only as good as their lowest performing groups, so it’s critical for leaders to help those individuals continually improve through strategic systems. How strategically do you develop systems for intervention?
- Assess and Analyze Data: The third step in organizational improvement is assessing and analyzing specific data for improvement. Once the leadership team develops focus areas based on initial analysis, then it’s critical to continue tracking data to show improvement. The data that’s tracked and analyzed should align with the areas needed for improvement, and the data should be transparent and shared with everyone in the organization. Organizing and tracking this data allows others to see gradually improvement based on their work. How consistently do you analyze, assess, and share critical data?
The process of organizational change requires focus and intention, creating systems for intervention, and assessing and analyzing data. Organizations who consistently improve develop strategies around these three areas. It’s critical for leaders to remember, however, that change and improvement is a slow, methodical process that takes time. The best leaders manage the combination between pushing for change and understanding the time it actually takes.
What is your process for creating organizational change?