12/21/2020
Plan the Work and Work the Plan
-Ray Langlois
Have you ever worked on a collaborative program, project, partnership, or initiative and wondered...
• Where are we going with this?
• How will we get there?
• What will tell us that we have arrived?
This really is the work we do when we are creating initiatives to solve problems. But does it always work out this way? Are there times when the work seems to move to slow? You lose focus? Or feel disheveled? How about the group you are working with? Are they sharing these same feelings?
Continuous Improvement and Quality Management are all process-driven systems that allow us to get the big things right. These questions are those organizational touchpoints that need to be addressed because they are at the very core of what you do. But what about the little things? How do you manage those daily decisions that impact your organizations, culture, tempo, productivity and effectiveness? You answer the same questions!
Where are we going with this? What is the overall goal of an idea or initiatives? People usually get in trouble when the base changes on assumptions. Have a purpose, goal or a least an idea of what you are trying to accomplish and why.
How will we get there? Could you imagine planning a vacation to a destination and not consider how you were going to get there? It’s pretty unimaginable. But how often do we attempt in our organization to solve problems and not consider the journey. This is where continuous improvement tools can really help you tell a story. They will give you a chance to consider all of the ideas, thoughts, plans and theories and a way to test them and study the results.
What will tell us that we arrived? Knowing how you have reached the goal is as important as setting the goal itself.
What will be used to measure success? Data? Criteria? To create a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound) plan is to make sure the results are measurable. Remember, anything not measured is optional.
When considering a continuous improvement journey, develop a PDSA cycle (Plan, Do, Study, Act) at the beginning of the process. Gather stakeholders so that you can get input, buy-in and to get feedback. This will ensure that you get the answers to your questions and feel more effective:
• Where are we going with this?
• How will we get there?
• What will tell us that we have arrived?
Ray Langlois, is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the WILCO Insitute. He owns Langlois Consultant Services, LLC and Founder of Everyone Thrives where he advises nonprofits and community leaders on how to systemic addresses their needs. [email protected] or www.langloisconsultantservices.com
