A Japanese management strategy called Kaizen (改善) means "improvement"—kai" (改) means change/make better, and "zen" (善) means "good"—but as the term is used as a business process it roughly translates to "continuous slow improvement."
Though Kaizen is a tool used by corporations to achieve greater innovation, productivity and general excellence, it’s also an approach that we can learn from and apply to our own lives as we strive for continuous improvement on a more personal level.
The foundation for the Kaizen Method consists of five elements:
- teamwork
- personal discipline
- improved morale
- quality circles
- suggestions for improvement
Elimination of waste and inefficiency, good housekeeping and standardization are the three key factors when addressing the foundation. Consider incorporating Kaizen to improve your mindfulness, knowledge and skill slowly over time.
To start your own personal Kaizen, sit down and make a list of the areas you want to improve. Take on the "low-hanging fruit first"—start with the easiest change to make. The momentum of getting benefits right away will sustain you while you conquer the more difficult problems in future.
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