The words "change" and "improve," are easy to misuse. Since change is essential to improve, it can be a common mistake to assume that change equals improvement. However, just because something changed, doesn't necessary mean it improved. This shadowed truth can transform the best ideas for a positive step forward, into a devastating step back.

But fear not! You can avoid the danger of change by adding these tools to your project development arsenal.

So Much to Do… So Little Time

Before you do anything, it is essential to ask yourself one simple question, "What should I do?"

Make sure to allow enough time to answer this question. Allow enough time to prioritize outstanding issues when making your decision. To arrive at an educated answer, you need to ask a series of additional questions: "Is there something more important to do?" "Is someone else already working on it?" "Am I the best person to make the change?" and most importantly "Where are the opportunities for improvement?"

Take the time to explore your current environment. Inspiration can fool us into believing our most recent idea is the most important. By taking a step back to view the big picture, you can be more confident that you're making effective use of your time.

Know Your Destination

How many times have you made an important trip, such as a vacation, without a final destination? Unless you are someone who enjoys adventure and the mysteries of the unknown; rarely, if ever.

Then why would you make a change without knowing what you want the change to be? Taking a little time in the beginning of your efforts to set goals and milestones will save you much more time later by eliminating rework and unnecessary waste. It will also ensure you're even headed in the right direction all together.

Tell Somebody!

After you have decided what you need to do and how to do it, the most important thing to remember to communicate! Schedule a meeting, dial an extension, or at the very least send an email. Whatever you do, make sure to share your ideas with the right people. Not only does this keep everyone on the same page, but also opens the door to further discussion and brainstorming that can take your idea places you never imagined.

Define "Improvement" with Numbers

Ever seen an advertisement that makes claims similar to this one, "Our new formula is 33% better than the leading competitor's." Now imagine if the advertisement said, "Our new formula is a lot better than the leading competitor's."

Which is the stronger ad?

Though obvious, we often use ambiguous measurements such as, "a lot better" instead of powerful alternatives that use hard numbers, "33% better".

If you can't express "improvement" with numbers, you are opening yourself up to two big problems:

Playing for the Wrong Team

The first, and worst, is the possibility of worsening the problem. When I redesigned the website for a company I work for, the primary goal was to increase the number of leads we receive each day. If we had made the change without a measure for daily lead production, how would we know if the change was for better or worse?

Robbing Yourself

Just like the formula that is "a lot better", your accomplishment, if not measured in numbers, can rob you of the all the recognition your achievement deserves. Does your new car go fast, or does it go from 0 to 60 in 4.6 seconds?

Everyday we should strive to, not simply change, but IMPROVE what we do. Just remember that change, no matter how well intended, can be dangerous. Just because you're moving, doesn't mean your moving forward.