Continuous Improvement

[Chris Fultz]

If you are doing multiple events this year, planning to do an off-season event, or just wanting to capture performance information so you can be better in 2013, here are some ideas for Continuous Improvement.

1. Have a team meeting / brainstorming session.
(Put on your thick skin. Be honest but not brutal.)

2. Capture information regarding your performance into a few different categories. Think about everything related to the event (travel, food, hotel, scouting, robot performance, judging, etc.)

Consider

Good: what are things you did well?
Poor: what are things you did poorly at and could improve?
Better: what are the things you know you have to be better at?

3. Think of actions to address these.
Which of the items need some action?
What would it take to correct / improve them?
What are the priorities?

4. Take action to address the items you are able to address.


This process can take a few hours, and the work can take several days, but the effort will be well spent if you are able to perform at a higher level at your next event.

[galewind]

Chris is absolutely correct in this. Our team does this exact activity, except we call it "Roses, Buds, and Thorns". We break our blackboard into three columns and have everyone contribute to the columns, and determine which column they should be in. This also gives student leaders a chance to air out "general" grievances without being specific, and to help set a constructive tone to resolve issues for the next event.

Great post!