Consider this situation: You’re a project manager, and your project has hit a wall with its goals or deadlines! Painful, right? Naturally, the first question that comes to mind: Who’s to blame?! Easy! But not necessarily true!

Let’s rethink that. As the head of the team, you’re aiming for better outcomes. So, you dig into every aspect of the project—from processes to people. This broader view lets you uncover setbacks and track down their root causes. And, of course, a servant leader does this with their team, not alone!

Now, let’s say you’ve identified the root causes, and you’re ready to work on solutions. Here’s my suggestion: the 1% improvement strategy. This approach helps you make every aspect of the project 1% better with each PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle. Have you heard of the compound effect? This strategy lets you leverage that effect to boost your project’s success in small, manageable steps.

I’ve included a process flow to show what this strategy looks like—from identifying issues to implementing ongoing improvements, which, as we all know, can keep going and growing! I’d be more than happy to hear your thoughts and feedback.