Start Stop Keep List

A while ago I posted about that your business motto in this environment should be “Do the right things right”. So how do you work out if you are doing the right things right? 

One way is to sit down with your team and make a start stop keep list.

Ask yourself and your team:

What should we start doing? 

Things you should consider doing that you are not doing now such as:

• What can we do to add value to our customers?
• What things your customers are most asking for in respect of your product / service?
• What can we do to improve the way we do things? For example, reduce waste, deliver quicker.

What should we stop doing? 

Things that are not working and need to be scrapped or fixed such as:

• What are we doing that is not adding value to our customers and we don’t really need to do?
• What things are a pain in the neck to do and appear a waste of time?
• What is causing rework?
• ·What problems with your product / service are your customers complaining about?

What should we keep doing? 

Things that are working well:

• What things do customers most like / value about our product or service?
• What is working well in one part of the business that you can transplant to another part?
• What should we keep doing? 

What next? 

Now you have your start stop keep list, prioritise that list two ways.

Firstly, most important, from 1 to whatever. With 1 being the highest.

Secondly easiest to implement, from 1 to whatever. With 1 being the easiest.

Add the 2 numbers together and your first priority is the lowest combined number. Second priority is the second lowest number. Etc.

So there you have it a simple stop start keep system to work out what you need to do to make sure you are doing the right things right.