It’s not always easy to know what to do to help your business especially in times of change, but The PDCA Method can definitely help.
There’s no shame in admitting that sometimes you don’t know what you have to do to get the wheels of your business in motion. The unsettling events of 2020 have left many business owners and managers feeling unsure of how to move forward, and what changes should be made to get there.
The PDCA Method is an improvement model that can provide the framework to get your business to where you want it to be, and fast.
The improvement model: The PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) Method is a four-step management method that can help you gain more control, accelerate productivity, and continuously improve your business processes. It involves systematic and continuous steps to deal with the ups and downs of running your business. There is no better time to get organised, feel more confident, and move your business forward in a positive way.
1. Plan – This is where you “analyse” and use process mapping to plan your
desired outcomes. Process mapping is when you use visuals to show tasks and decisions that are necessary to reach your goals. During the planning process, it can be helpful to ask yourself questions that will encourage you to look at what you want to achieve. Some questions you could ask:
- What are my business goals?
- What are some problems I am facing?
- What resources do I have and what do I still need?
- How can I use the available resources to fix my problems?
- What do my successes look like?
Having some clear answers to these questions will help you develop a core understanding of the work your business requires and the tasks that will help you reach your goals.
2. Do – Now that you have a plan, you can take action! During the implementation stage, it helps to divide goals into multiple stages so you can easily measure the results. Having smaller short term goals that work towards your bigger long term plan can make it easier to feel like you are continually achieving successes.
Keep your plan open to change, and know that unforeseen problems could arise. A plan should always be evolving depending on results. Be flexible with your solutions to problems and make sure everyone knows their tasks and responsibilities. This will make the implementation process easier to employ.
3. Check – There is absolutely no point in having a plan if you don’t know how to thoroughly check your results! When you measure the efficiency and effectiveness of your results in depth, you will gain valuable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your business plan. If changes need to be made to improve the functioning of your business, this is the time to discuss solutions and come up with new ideas.
4. Act – When the outcomes are successful you can continue to employ those processes time and time again. It’s important to understand that The PDCA Method is a cycle that has no end date. It continues as a process of action and reflection that can help you to continuously improve your business.
Actions that generate good results can become a part of your standard baseline processes. If plans do not generate the desired outcomes then you can work through the cycle again, address the changes to be made, and optimise your decisions.
Positive results do not happen overnight, so it’s important to be patient. The PDCA Method will help you aim at long-term returns and not just temporary quick-fixes and can help you out of a slump. Developing a detailed plan and putting it into action takes commitment, but the results will be worth it.
Do you need some help in your business?
If you are feeling stressed about your business or you aren’t sure what you should do next, then book a call with us! We can help you streamline your current project by improving and systematising your business operations. This will eliminate stress in your professional and personal life leaving more room for fun. If you have started reviewing your processes but haven’t enough time to finish it, then let’s have a chat! We can pick up where you left off and finish it for
you.
Join our mastermind & co-working sessions
Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day … Our Online Co-working Sessions are designed for business owners to provide them with advice on how to implement their systems and processes successfully.
We meet weekly, every Thursday afternoon at 1pm (Melbourne time), to discuss a particular topic and work on that area of your business together. You will still be able to ask questions and have them answered by an expert. If you would like to join us, it’s free and easy. Just click here and sign up.
