As a Continuous Improvement (CI) professional, I've worked with organizations across different industries to implement processes that make daily work better. One area where I've seen the most exciting transformation is Human Resources.
I've always believed the traditional HR role goes beyond compliance and administration. HR has the power to shape culture, enhance productivity, and influence the future of our organizations. But to do that effectively, we need the right approach and tools. For me, that’s where Continuous Improvement comes in.
CI provides HR professionals with tools to identify inefficiencies, build better processes, and ultimately align people strategies with organizational goals.
Here are a few ways I've helped HR teams explore CI principles:
- Using process mapping to document current state, desired future state, and complete a gap analysis.
- Utilize change management to re-engineer communication loops to strengthen employee feedback mechanisms
- Identify defects in HR data processes that eventually turns into rework
- Facilitating employee based cross-functional improvement teams to enhance collaboration between HR and operations
Some common questions I get from HR professionals:
What if I don't have the time to work on anything?
The answer is that we need to start somewhere. We must examine how you spend your time now, and where we can find efficiencies. This also applies to the entire HR team. For example, eliminating or reducing one 1-hour weekly meeting gives you that time back to work on improving a day-to-day process.
What if we don't have processes documented? And where do I start?
Before we can improve or identify any waste, we have to understand what we are doing now. Observations, focus groups, and workshops can be very powerful to comprehend the day to day and where variation occurs. You should start with the most crucial employee and organizational experiences, and the also most frequent.
What if I do improve something and must roll it out to the organization?
This is where change management comes into play. No change is too small, and proper timing, communication, and feedback loops are all required to minimize friction and maximize acceptance. All this fits into a tactical plan that acts as a playbook throughout the change.
Whether I'm facilitating employee workshops or discussing capacity with HR leaders, one thing is constant: curiosity. People want to know how to make CI real in their day-to-day lives and not just sound great in PowerPoint. That's why I'm excited about the upcoming workshops HEC is offering. These sessions are grounded in real-life HR challenges and provide the frameworks, tools, and confidence needed to make meaningful change.
Here are a few workshops that I personally recommend:
- Using Continuous Improvement in Human Resources (June 24)
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification (5-part series starting July 2)
- Using CI Tools to Create Efficiency (July 21)
- Too Many Meetings? Improve Your Meeting Culture with CI (Aug. 7)
- Applying Change Management: Action Planning for Change (Aug. 22)
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification (5-Part Series starting Oct. 1)
Download a free Continuous Improvement Checklist that will help empower your teams to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and enhance workplace processes.
For HR professionals seeking to stay ahead in a competitive talent landscape, embracing CI isn’t just smart—it’s essential.
Joe Bolton is the Strategic Solutions Manager at the Hawaii Employers Council. With over 20 years of experience in Learning and Development, Lean Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement, Joe has worked across various industries, including retail, hospitality, and aviation. He holds a Master of Education in Learning Technology and Instructional Design, a Master Black Belt certification in Lean Six Sigma, and a Change Management Specialist certification. At HEC, Joe leads Continuous Improvement and Lean Six Sigma training and certification programs, providing strategic solutions for process improvement and change management to organizations.