Continuous Improvement: Using Questions to Challenge the Status Quo

Contributed by Angela Knobloch, FST Change Management & Continuous Improvement Workstream Lead 

Individual changes collectively add up to have a significant impact on the work environment. This week’s focus is on the use of questions to help us shake off the status quo and approach a situation differently.  While this is relevant to change and continuous improvement, it has plenty of application in our lives overall!

I once had a colleague who reviewed these questions once a week as part of planning her to-do list.  By systematically asking these questions, she discovered opportunities for improvement, increased collaboration, and instances where she was the barrier to progress. Of course answering these questions takes honest reflection and courage. It’s likely the only way to truly influence and transform the culture: one individual at a time.

Pick one of these questions to use today:

It Starts With You

Five All-Purpose Self-Questions for Challenging the Status Quo

• How can I see this with fresh eyes? 
• What might I be assuming? 
• How might I be rushing to judgement? 
• What am I missing? 
• What matters most? 

For more from Angela on this topic, tune in to this episode of Finance Matters!