Small Efforts, Big Changes

As business owners and managers, it's a daily challenge to encourage trainees and employees to understand how important small, sustained improvements can contribute to their professional development. As a means of simplifying this perspective, author James Clear shared his approach 1% daily improvement in his book Atomic Habits. A recent guest on The DYOJO Podcast, Zac, who manages a team of water damage technicians in Tumwater, Washington, shared how he uses the 1% improvement concepts to help team members focus on the right things that will help them and the team grow. 

As Zac puts it, "Team, how can we be 1% better today?" 

It turns out, the concept of the aggregation of marginal gains may have been introduced by Dave Brailsford in his capacity as director of British Cycling performance. While the 1% focus is helpful to team members and organizations, Brailsford took a holistic approach to improvement. Teams under his direction would look for any incremental advantage they could muster. For example, lighter tires for the cycles, more ergonomic seating, electrically heated over shorts, and down to details including handwashing techniques. 

Both men explain how small, consistent improvements will lead to positive results that compound over time. The more an individual and a team can structure their mindsets and habits towards sustainable increases in performance the better all entities will be poised for success. As growth-minded professionals, we don't have to make leaps and bounds to create better outcomes; often we just need to dial down to the essentials and improve intentionally. 

Hear more about this topic of small improvements leading to big impacts, as well as other habits for success in property restoration, construction, and the workplace on Episode 126 of The DYOJO Podcast.