20 Improvement-Actions
That Inspire
Outstanding Performance
By Barbara Brown, Ph.D.

If you want improved performance, you must uncover the root causes and gain buy-in for improvement strategies.  Use these actions to inspire the kind of performance that leads to continued outstanding performance.

1. Identify what you believe are the reasons for unsatisfactory performance.
    
2. Identify what the individual(s) believes are the reasons for unsatisfactory performance.
    
3. Identify the connection between what you believe and what they believe are the reasons for unsatisfactory performance.  For instance, you may view the problem as "poor priority management" while the other person might believe the problem is "unclear priorities."
    
4. Discuss the problem causes with the individual and link your need for improvement to big picture factors such as your organization's vision, mission, and values.
    
5. Discuss the problem causes with the individual and link your need for improvement to organizational goals such as priorities, profits, or service.
    
6. Discuss the problem causes with the individual and link your need for improvement to individual goals such as development, recognition, or assignments.
    
7. Explore solutions by using the C-H-A-N-G-E model:  C-CHANGE, H-HAMPER, A-ALLOW, N-NECESSARY, G-GROW, E-ELIMINATE. 
    
8. Explore solutions by asking CHANGE questions such as "What can I adjust, mend, or modify"?
    
9. Explore solutions by asking HAMPER questions such as "What is impeding, blocking, or preventing me from implementing this solution"?
    
10. Explore solutions by asking ALLOW questions such as "What can I permit, make available, or agree to"?
     
11. Explore solutions by asking NECESSARY questions such as "What is essential, vital, or required"?
     
12. Explore solutions by asking ELIMINATE questions such as "What can be stopped, removed, or terminated"?
     
13. Explore solutions by asking GROW questions such as "What will produce positive outcomes, long-term success, or productivity"?
     
14. Discuss solutions with the individual and link your need for improvement to big picture factors such as your organization's vision, mission, and values.
     
15. Discuss solutions with the individual and link your need for improvement to organizational goals such as priorities, profits, or service.
     
16. Discuss solutions with the individual and link your need for improvement to individual goals such as development, recognition, or assignments.
     
17. Whenever individuals discuss tasks or responsibilities, use the CHANGE model to emphasize high-performance.
     
18. Whenever individuals make presentations, create links to the CHANGE model.
     
19. When individuals present information, have them create links to the CHANGE model.
     
20. At the beginning of each month, use the CHANGE model to examine potential obstacles to performance improvement.
     

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PERMISSION TO REPRINT: Articles, Tips, and Tools can be reprinted in company newsletters or magazines. If placed electronically, a Live Link to Dr. Brown's website must be included. Please use the following credit for every item: Dr. Barbara Brown shows organizations how to use High-Performance Leadership to create the kind of links among people, goals & performance that produce positive results. For more tips, visit: www.DrBarbaraBrown.com or email: Barbara@DrBarbaraBrown.com.