What got us here, won't get us there

In 2008, Marshall Goldsmith released his best selling book titled What Got You Here, Won't get you there in which he offered the proposition that you are doing well in your field but there is something holding you back from making the next step forward. We can see the same situation in the process improvement area.

In Chapter 2 of the new book we talk about the road to change. Understand that whenever we have a problem we are in new territory so that what got us here won't get us there. However we still need to have some foundation going forward so we need to walk on the shoulders of giants. We need to have an understanding and appreciation for whence we have come. We need to understand what the forefathers of the quality movement saw and believed was the path of growth towards where we are today. With that understanding in place we can begin to move forward.

Here is the dilemma however, In process improvement and in society as a whole if you don't know the past you have no real expectation to see the future. When you don't understand basic history you can't understand what is called for in the future. If you don't know what you did wrong in the present that brought you the problem you can't deliver the solution that is most appropriate to solve the problem in the future. If you don't understand the supply chain you can't identify what the root cause of your problem is.

Take the time to study the past. Understand what they saw and felt. Understand what they determined was the best path forward. We still use some of their tools in resolving our modern day problems. So understand how those tools and discoveries are applicable to the current situation. This understanding will show you the path to get here, but it is the current conditions and process improvement efforts which will get you there. It is the current efforts grounded in the past which will get you there.

About the author:?Daniel Bloom?SPHR SSBB?is a speaker, HR Consultant, author, and trainer for HR professionals looking to make the transformation from traditional HR to strategic HR. If you have questions about this topic or any other change management issue, send us an email at?[email protected]