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February: Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement means intentionally seeking ways to enhance processes, elevate performance, and strengthen the quality of our work. At UA, embracing continuous improvement empowers us to stay adaptable, deliver better service, and contribute to a culture where innovation and excellence thrive.
Core Behaviors to Practice:
- Review processes regularly and look for simple, effective improvements.
- Ask questions, stay curious, and challenge outdated practices.
- Welcome feedback, new ideas, and constructive criticism.
- Adapt to changing priorities and evolving work needs.
- Identify improvement opportunities, implement small changes, and measure impact.
- Encourage and support a safe environment where everyone’s ideas for improvement are valued.
Quick Tips to Elevate Continuous Improvement
- Select one recurring task and examine it for unnecessary steps.
- Ask a teammate, “What’s one improvement we could make to this process?”
- Try a micro‑change: a small adjustment you can test and measure within one week.
- Practice curiosity: question the “why” behind established routines.
- Capture improvement ideas in a shared team list or personal journal.Share one new tool, skill, or insight you’ve learned with your team.
- Encourage input during team discussions to build psychological safety.
Call to Action:
Choose one LinkedIn Learning course to complete, identify a process or workflow you can improve this month, and test one meaningful change. Measure the impact (time saved, quality improved, or steps clarified) and share what you learned with your team. Together, we can build a culture where continuous improvement fuels our collective excellence.
Check out these courses to learn more on Continuous Improvement
Psychological Safety: Clear Blocks to Innovation, Collaboration, and Risk-Taking
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February Edition: Continuous Improvement
Inspired by Journey ” Don’t Stop Believin'”February is where good intentions turn into real momentum. While January is often about setting goals and resetting habits, this month is about staying committed to progress, even when improvement feels slow or invisible. Journey captured that spirit perfectly with: “Don’t stop believin’…”
At UA, Continuous Improvement means consistently looking for ways to make our work better, stronger quality, smoother processes, smarter use of time and resources, and better outcomes for the people we serve. It’s not about big overhauls every week. It’s about paying attention, making adjustments, and improving step by step.
Think About These Lyrics:
- “Don’t stop believin’” → Improvement takes time. Stay committed even when progress is gradual.
- “Hold on to that feelin’” → Keep your focus on purpose and results, not just the day-to-day grind.
- “It goes on and on and on…” → Continuous improvement is ongoing. The goal is better, not “done.
- “Strangers waiting…” → Our work impacts others (students, faculty, staff, and teams) often more than we realize.
These lyrics remind us that continuous improvement is not a one-time project. It’s a mindset of persistence: noticing what isn’t working, trying something new, and sticking with the effort long enough to see results.
This month, ask yourself:
1. What is one process, habit, or routine I can improve that will make work smoother, faster, or more effective?
2. What’s one small change I can commit to that will reduce friction for others?
Call to Action:
This month, commit to:
- Identifying one improvement opportunity in your daily work (a process, recurring issue, or workflow bottleneck).
- Making one small change that improves quality, efficiency, or communication.
- Tracking the impact—even informally—so you know what’s working.
- Sharing improvements with your team so good ideas spread.
- Staying consistent—because continuous improvement is built through follow-through.
Let February be your reminder: improvement isn’t always flashy, but it is powerful. When we “don’t stop believin’,” we don’t just keep going, we keep getting better!
Where fundamentals meet real‑world impact. Show up and skill up!
February Edition: Three Micro-Checkpoints to Regain Alignment
(No Matter What the Day Throws at You)Sometimes the day pulls you in every direction, but with a few quick mindset check‑ins, you can steer yourself right back toward what matters most. These simple micro‑checkpoints—from quick resets to end‑of‑day reflections—are designed to help you stay aligned and in control, no matter what the day throws your way. Think of them as small but powerful moments that keep you centered, focused, and moving confidently toward your goals.
1) 60-Second Reset
This simple intervention is for any time your day suddenly changes course.
Ask yourself:
- What was I trying to accomplish before this interruption?
- Does this new demand support or distract from my priorities?
- What is the smallest action I can take right now that will keep me aligned?
This tiny pause interrupts urgency-driven decision-making and keeps you in the driver’s seat.
2) Midday Mission Check
Halfway through the day, take 3 minutes to review:
- What tasks or conversations have pulled me away from my priorities?
- What do I need to recommit to for the rest of the day?
This is especially powerful for employees whose days are shaped by others’ needs. Re-grounding at midday prevents drift from becoming the norm.
3) End-of-Day Recalibration
Instead of running a mental highlight reel of everything that wasn’t finished, shift the frame:
- Where did my actions align with my values today?
- Where did I drift and why?
- What deserves my freshest energy tomorrow?
Over time, this kind of reflection builds self-awareness and helps you recognize the patterns that disrupt alignment. By mastering these small shifts in focus, you transform alignment from a fleeting goal into a core habit that sustains your momentum and preserves your purpose throughout the year.