The Sweet Science of Continuous Improvements

“Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.” – Sugar Ray Leonard

Fitness is always included in my New Year’s resolutions, so I have been deliberating about the types of workouts that I will be doing this year. I enjoy boxing inspired workouts, because they combine the cardio, strength training, and the strategy from the sport. Boxing is often referred to as the sweet science, because the competitors take a systematic approach to their success in the ring. They experiment with different tactics, and they have a mindset to continuously improve. They know that victory is not given to the competitor that has the best statistical advantage, but it is earned by the competitor that learns and adapts the fastest. This cycle of experimentation, learning, and adaptation creates the science of boxing. Similarly, there is a scientific method for determining, prioritizing, and implementing initiatives in continuous improvement programs, and the benefits that they create for business value are sweet indeed.   

3 factors that contribute to the sweet science of continuous improvements are:    

• Strategy
• Experimentation  
• Optimized impact

First, boxing instructs its competitors to determine their strategy by studying their total environment. Boxers know what the opportunities and challenges will be before they enter the ring. Correspondingly, a continuous improvement program is kicked-off by gaining an understanding of the total value stream. In most cases, the first step is a chartering session, because it will outline the overall goals, opportunities, and challenges that will be become the focus of the workshop. It creates an initial target for the continuous improvement initiative, and it gives the team the opportunity to adapt as they learn more information.

Next, the sport teaches its participants to experiment. If boxers are not able make progress using a specific combination, then they explore different options. Also, if they get stuck, they always have someone in their corner that gives them advice. Similarly, continuous improvement initiatives are experiments. The team creates a goal, and they form a hypothesis about what actions will help them achieve their goal. In addition, continuous improvement teams always walk into the ring together, so they are able to ask each other for feedback. The team is created by the process owners in the value stream, because they understand the process end to end. This knowledge is necessary for achieving the team’s goals.

Third, boxing instructs competitors to optimize their impact. During the match, energy is a resource, and boxers need to conserve it. If a participant’s energy supply becomes depleted, then they will be defeated. Equally important, the fighters that make strategic strikes achieve increased success. Likewise, continuous improvement programs prioritize tasks to create the largest amount of business value while using the least amount of resources (time and money). This action allows the team to optimize their impact.   

In conclusion, there is a sweet science to executing continuous improvements. It begins when the overall strategy is determined, and this typically takes place during a chartering session. Also, the team experiments and modifies the initiatives based on new learnings. In addition, the team will prioritize their action items, so they optimize their impact and achieve their goals. Similarly, the sport of boxing is considered a science, because the competitors are continuously learning through different experiments inside and outside of the ring. Also, boxing inspired workout classes are a great way to execute my personal fitness continuous improvement program, so I was happy to add them to my New Year’s resolutions. In summary, Sugar Ray Leonard is considered to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, and he once said, “Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.” Those words resonate with me, and I am wishing everyone endless success as your realize your dreams, pursue you aspirations, and discover your opportunities this year.