A common trap when driving change or implementing improvements is what I call the “hamster wheel.” Everyone’s busy working hard, checking off tasks and yet, results remain elusive. It’s a cycle of motion without real progress, often triggered when the organization focuses more on activity than outcomes.
I once worked with a contracting firm struggling to hit performance targets. In a meeting with their executive team, they presented a 20-page PowerPoint outlining everything they were doing to improve results. The list was impressive, but the metrics told a different story. I pointed out that while their intentions were strong, their actions weren’t delivering change. It was the classic hamster wheel in motion.
So, how do you step off the wheel and start moving forward? It comes down to this: every time you report an activity, pair it with its impact. Saying you implemented three improvements is simply reporting activity (you’re spinning). Saying you implemented three improvements that saved $1,000 or reduced cycle time by three hours? That’s progress.
Shift the mindset. Measure what matters. Break the cycle.