Episode 487 - The Kaizen Challenge: 1% Better Every Day

almost nothing. If I told you to increase your sales by fifty percent this week, that would feel impossible. If I told you to change your entire leadership style overnight, you'd probably laugh and walk away. But one percent better, that's doable, and over time that adds up. Here's the math. One percent improvement compounded every day for a year equals thirty seven times better, not thirty seven percent thirty seven times.

That's the difference between an average leader and an unforgettable one. But here's where Kaysen becomes more than just numbers. It's about humility. It's about understanding that no matter how long you've been a leader, no matter how many titles or trophies you have, there's still a tiny bit of room for improvement every single day. And that tiny bit is where greatness lives. So let me give you an example.

Let's say you're a manager who struggle with communication. Maybe you talk too much in meetings, or maybe you don't talk enough. Kaisen doesn't say become a world class communicator overnight. Kaisen says, today, ask one better question than you did yesterday. That's it. One better question, and tomorrow ask another, and over time, you'll notice people leaning in when you speak, they'll trust your voice more. That's Kaisen in action. Or let's look at how this plays out in your team.

What if your culture isn't where you want it to be. You don't flip a switch and fix it, but you could celebrate one small win today that you might have ignored yesterday. You could thank one person a little more specifically, you could catch one person doing something right day after day. Those small one percent changes build the kind of culture that can carry an organization for years. That challenge with Kaisen, though, is patience. We live in a world where everything has

to be fast. Leaders want results now, but Kaisen asks you to think long term. If you're in it just for the quick win, this philosophy will frustrate you. But if you have the courage to stick with it, the results will sneak up on you. One day, you'll look back and realize you've completely transformed, not by leaps, but because of steps. And here's where I want to challenge you. For the next thirty days. Take the Kais and challenge pick one area of your leadership, just one. Maybe it's listening,

maybe it's delegating, maybe it's accountability. And every day for the next month, get one percent better in that area. Track it, write it down. It doesn't matter if you use a notebook, your phone, or sticky notes at your desk. At the end of thirty days, I promise you you'll see the difference. And let me make this clear. It's not about perfection. It's about progress. If you mess up one day, it doesn't erase the other days. Kaisen isn't about being flawless.

It's about showing up. Improvement is not a straight line, it's a climb. With bumps and plateaus, but if you stay consistent, you will climb. So what's your one percent? That's the question I want to leave you with today. Don't overthink it. Pick one area, commit to the kais and challenge and start tomorrow. Because here's the truth. Leaders who get one percent better every day will eventually become

the leaders everyone else wishes they could be. And if you haven't done so, please five star review the show, share it with a colleague. This has been this seven minute leadership podcast and I thank you for listening.