Action without measurement leaves no opportunity for improvement. In order for us to see how well our planning and execution are helping us achieve our goals we must be able to quantify our actions by studying our results. Results are the window to improvement, they let you see what really has happened.

Many things that are common improvement goals have easy to measure units, weight loss is measured in pounds and BMI (Body Mass Index). Lowering blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury through recording the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Numbers are great for measurement but what if your goal is not easily measured by a number. The acquisition of knowledge is difficult to measure unless you test yourself  (lets be honest, who really wants to give themselves a test?). So here is where we have to get creative.

There are some goals that are difficult to measure with numbers so coming up with creative solutions for tracking progress is important. For example if you have a goal of fixing a car, take a quick snapshot of your work from the same angle and distance every time so you can later use those photos to create a montage. When dealing with relationships, do a little survey, a little communication check-up, a few simple questions recorded consistently can help you get a feel for how your doing.

What do we do with all this info after we have it? Once we have completed the cycle we take a look at the results and then compare them with our goals; how well did we do? Being able to look at tangible results motivates and gives weight to your progress. Now that you can see where your strong and where you have room for improvement you can alter your balance and plan to help you accomplish your goals on time. Just like everything else practice makes us better. So now that you have seen how the Improvement Cycle works, come take the Intro to Brio class and we will show you tips and provide you with tools to help you on your way to where you want to go.