Making decisions is an inevitable part of running a business. Whether it’s about pricing, hiring, marketing, or strategy, you have to make choices that can affect your bottom line and your reputation. But how do you make the best decisions possible? Do you need to have big ideas, radical changes, or expensive consultants?
According to some experts, the answer is no. In fact, the best source of big ideas is small ideas. Small ideas are the incremental improvements, the minor tweaks, and the simple solutions that can make a big difference in your business performance. By focusing on small ideas, you can avoid decision traps, reduce risks, and increase your chances of success.
The Power of Small Ideas
Small ideas are often overlooked or dismissed by business leaders who are looking for the next big thing. However, small ideas can have a huge impact on your business if you implement them consistently and systematically. Some of the benefits of small ideas are:
- They are easier to generate, test, and execute than big ideas.
- They are less risky and less costly than big ideas.
- They can create a culture of innovation and engagement among your employees.
- They can add up to significant results over time.
One example of a company that leverages small ideas is Toyota, the world’s largest automaker. Toyota has a system called kaizen, which means continuous improvement in Japanese. Kaizen encourages every employee to come up with small ideas to improve their work processes, products, and services. These ideas are then implemented quickly and evaluated regularly. As a result, Toyota has achieved high levels of quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Another example is Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer. Amazon has a culture of experimentation and learning, where every employee is expected to generate and test small ideas that can enhance the customer experience. These ideas are then measured by data and feedback, and the best ones are scaled up. As a result, Amazon has created a loyal customer base and a diversified portfolio of products and services.
How to Generate Small Ideas
Generating small ideas is not as hard as it may seem. You don’t need to have a genius mind or a creative flair. You just need to have a curious and open attitude, and follow some simple steps:
- Observe your customers, competitors, and industry trends. Look for problems, gaps, opportunities, and feedback that can inspire you to come up with small ideas.
- Brainstorm with your team, colleagues, or partners. Use techniques such as mind mapping, brainstorming rules , or SCAMPER to generate as many small ideas as possible without judging or filtering them.
- Prioritize your small ideas based on their feasibility, desirability, and viability. Use tools such as the Eisenhower matrix , the impact-effort matrix , or the lean canvas to evaluate and rank your small ideas according to their potential value and ease of implementation.
How to Implement Small Ideas
Implementing small ideas is not as easy as it may sound. You need to have a clear plan, a supportive environment, and a disciplined approach. Here are some tips to help you implement your small ideas effectively:
- Start with one small idea at a time. Don’t try to do too many things at once. Focus on one small idea that can make a noticeable difference in your business.
- Test your small idea quickly and cheaply. Don’t wait for perfection or approval. Use methods such as prototyping , piloting , or A/B testing to validate your small idea with real customers and data.
- Learn from your results and iterate. Don’t be afraid of failure or criticism. Use tools such as feedback loops , surveys , or analytics to measure your results and learn from them. Make changes based on what works and what doesn’t.
- Scale up your small idea if it proves successful. Don’t settle for mediocrity or complacency. Use strategies such as standardization , automation , or replication to expand your small idea to other areas of your business or other markets.
Small decisions can lead to big payoffs for your business if you follow these steps:
- Generate small ideas by observing, brainstorming, and prioritizing.
- Implement small ideas by testing, learning, and scaling.
By doing so, you can improve your business performance, enhance your customer satisfaction, and foster a culture of innovation.
