Continuous improvement concept originated in Japan and has since been adopted by both individuals and western corporations. The first step towards establishing a culture of continuous improvement is to adopt planning and patience. Keep reading to learn more.

As mentioned earlier, planning is one of the key components in developing a culture of continuous improvement. And, planning will require the following measures;

Have a Vision for the Future

You need to look beyond the present and create long term goals in order to make meaningful steps towards improvement. So, where do you see yourself and your business in the near future – let’s say five or ten years from now? You also need to figure out what is required to attain the level you envisage in the future.

For instance, if your competitor tends to be attracting more customers than you, sit back and thoroughly brainstorm on what the problem is and the best possible solution out of the dilemma. One of the solutions, for instance, could be to outsource marketing or get more aggressive with online marketing.

Consider Your Past

It is possible that some actions, steps or decisions you made in the past hindered your development and the continuous growth of your business. So, you should sit back and analyze your actions in the past, including your goals. You may have to make your goals more realistic and time-bound, and/or change actions and behaviors in order to take a meaningful leap forward.

Pen Down a True North Statement

This statement clearly points out a change in direction. Take a look at the goals you set for your business and let your true north statement target those business goals. You should also write a statement especially for the long term plan that you have for your business. A typical example of such a statement is “quality customer service.”

Start Small

Often, we tend to have a big dream for our businesses or lives and would want to start big in trying to make the dream come true. This often results in getting overwhelmed along the line and possibly giving up.

It’s always better and more practical to start small, whatever our big plans or dreams are. You should begin with small improvements instead of humongous changes. This is a more realistic thing to do. Besides, it’s a great way to guarantee quality in our improvements and not just quantity. Making small improvements per time enables you to accomplish results quicker.

Finally, be consistent. Even when it seems the result is not coming quickly, be patient and stay consistent. Sooner or later, the result you desire will start pouring in.

Daven Michaels is a New York Times Best Selling Author and CEO of premiere global outsourcing company, 123Employee. The company employs hundreds of young bright individuals on three continents. His International event, Beyond Marketing Live! Inspires entrepreneurs to build & grow their business with revolutionary new theories and systems allowing them to design the business and personal lifestyle of their dreams