We believe that “perfect” is the enemy of “done,” and how that one word can undermine your ability to pivot quickly and succeed in the face of adversity.

This week’s tip: if you’ve got an idea for how you might do something differently, to create a new service or product offering, or otherwise pivot some aspect of your business, just do it.

Don’t overthink the planning. Opt in favour of action. Start with a minimal viable product. Test it. Get feedback. Assess it. Improve your approach and try again.

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This is not only what we teach, it is exactly how we operate in our own business.

Gimbal’s Mindset Shift

Before CoViD, almost everything we did was done in a very traditional fashion - on site and in person. We would conduct live interviews, go on waste walks, map and analyze the current state, and brainstorm possible opportunities for improvement. Often we would make multiple visits across a number of months. This was, we thought, the only way to be effective and ensure the project team’s success.

CoViD forced us to change the way we work. Whether because of the travel ban, or because the attorneys and staff at our more local clients were all working from home, we could no longer deliver our Lean mapping and process improvement services the same old way.

We lost almost all our revenue immediately. We had to do something. But what? Then we had an idea, what if we stop imagining all the reasons we can’t deliver our services virtually, and actually try it?

Could we get the same results using online surveys and video calls to explore the pain points, the frustrations, and the friction that keep the attorneys and staff from being as effective and productive as they would like to be?

Could we see how and where the work was being done and run a mapping session using videoconferencing? Could we facilitate constructive discussions that would help the team identify the root cause of problems and then brainstorm possible solutions all without being present?

The short answer is, “YES!”

It took us a while, but ultimately, we figured out that if the engagement involved a small team of people and a relatively short process, it might be possible to run a successful process mapping and improvement project virtually.

With this thought in mind, we approached a possible client, pitched our ideas for how we would like to approach the project, and asked for a partner who would be willing to work with us.

Our plan was not fully thought out.

We didn’t have a proven process. We didn’t know what to charge for the work. But, we didn’t let any of that get in the way of trying out a very different approach.

Instead of standing still, we opted for action. It wasn’t pretty, and there was definitely some trial and error. But we went ahead anyway.

We started by sharing our idea with someone we felt would be open to experimenting. We were taking a bit of a risk, and so was Kim. Working together, we created a minimum viable product.

We tested it with Kim’s own practice. We got her feedback, assessed and refined our approach, and tried again with one of her partners.

The result? Kim and her firm ended up redesigning two key legal processes—one within Wills & Estates, and one in Corporate-Commercial—and we got to redesign how we deliver a service that is perhaps even more valuable to our clients given pressure on firms to rethink how they work in light of the pandemic.

The point is, we were not sure if our new approach was going to work. But we tried it all the same.

And now, more months into the pandemic than I care to acknowledge, we have completed two pilots with Kim’s firm. We have created and refined a very clear process for each engagement, determined the right price point, and completed two more Lean mapping and process improvement engagements virtually.

Don’t let the fact that something’s not perfect hold you back.

Start with a minimal viable product. What matters is that you start, that you create momentum, and that you keep moving forward.

If you want to learn more about our new Quick & Dirty Process Redesign, schedule your strategy session.

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Thanks a lot everybody!