As we head into 2025, businesses are focusing on improving processes to stay competitive and grow. This is the first blog in our series, “Preparing Your Business for 2025: Mastering Process Improvement.” We’ll explore practical tips to fine-tune operations, boost morale, and align improvements with your goals. By the end, you’ll have what you need to drive long-term success.
Now, let’s look at some common mistakes businesses make during process improvement. Avoiding these pitfalls is key to creating real change, efficiency, and better customer experiences. Here are some of the most common missteps—and how to avoid them:
#1 Not understanding the problem
Before you can start improving a process, you need to understand what the problem is. Organizations make the common mistake of saying something’s a problem because it’s happening right now and it’s the most urgent thing on their plate. However, if a problem only happens once, can it be considered a real problem?
In process improvement, we have to be clear on what qualifies as a problem. To identify problems in your processes, you have to understand what we call the gap scenario, which refers to the gap between the ideal state and the current state.
First, you must document your current operation across the entire customer experience as it is. Next, you must come up with your ideal situation statement. This is important because if you are not in agreement with what your ideal state is in the organization, then you don’t know that you have the same problems identified.
Once you have documented your current operation and defined your ideal state, you can now identify the gap between the two. You can agree that the current state is not ideal, and thus, you have a problem.
#2 Heavily depending on technology
While technology can help you improve your process, it is important not to depend heavily on it. Relying heavily, if not solely, on technology solutions is a common misstep. As I often say, design the operation first. You should focus on improving your processes first and use technology if needed to support them.
Technology is not a solution, as I have also mentioned in the blog about identifying countermeasures. Organizations must first identify what their key operational changes are before implementing technology to support those improvements effectively.
#3 Ignoring Employee Feedback
Employees are on the frontlines of your operations and often have valuable insights into areas that need improvement. Failing to seek and consider their feedback is a grave mistake that can lead to resistance, low morale, and ultimately the failure of improvement initiatives. Regularly engaging with employees and creating an open feedback culture fosters a sense of empowerment and helps identify potential improvement opportunities.
#4 Implementing Too Many Changes at Once
Rushing to implement numerous changes simultaneously is a common trap in process improvement. While enthusiasm for change is commendable, attempting to do too much at once can overwhelm employees, disrupt operations, and even lead to failure. To prevent this, focus on making small, incremental changes. This allows for better evaluation, adjustment, and integration of improvements into the workflow.
#5 Neglecting Continuous Improvement
Process improvement is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing journey toward excellence. You can’t say, “I’ve improved my processes, and I’m done.” Operations are designed to be indefinite. Some organizations make the mistake of considering process improvement as a box-checking exercise rather than a continuous effort. Embracing a culture of continuous improvement encourages teams to consistently seek ways to enhance processes, innovate, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Create an engine to improve your processes
To avoid these common mistakes, it’s crucial to follow a structured process for process improvement. While there are many methodologies available, most are tailored for large-scale manufacturing and often don’t meet the unique needs of service-based businesses.
This is where I come in.
With my proven method, I can help any company solve up to 20% of its problems within just 48 hours. Through my latest offering, the Flowstate Workshop, I guide senior leaders in mapping out their flow of goods and information over time.
During our session, we’ll achieve a 100% accurate understanding of your business’s current state. This clarity is crucial because most companies jump into creating processes without first identifying what is truly needed. We’ll also align all your departments, ensuring everyone moves toward your future goals together.
Stop making assumptions about what’s happening behind the scenes—gain clear insights instead, so you can feel confident and in control of your daily operations. By the end of our work together, you’ll have a flow so streamlined and effective, you’ll be eager to showcase it.
Book a call or visit hilarycorna.com/workshop for more details.
In your service,
Hilary Corna
