If we really like something we don’t want it to change. Like a holiday tradition, the way a soft drink tastes, or the format of your favorite TV show. For the things that we like, change can be very negative.

Every Sunday during football season, I spend time in the kitchen making chili. It is the most time I spend in the kitchen all year, and surprisingly one of the only dishes I make that my family really likes. (Not really surprisingly). As I was making chili last Sunday I was questioning whether I really need to include tomato paste. I always include it but does it really make a difference? And then I remembered the time I used one very large onion instead of a usual smaller one and my daughter balked at all of the vegetables in the chili! I quickly decided that taking out the tomato paste could cause unwanted change, and it was not worth the risk.

The problem in business is that oftentimes we want and desperately need change! If a business isn’t satisfied with the way things are, change needs to happen even considering the potential risks. But, what can be changed? What should be changed?

I believe that the best way to minimize risk while implementing necessary change is to create a system for evaluating and implementing one change at a time.

1. Write down the purpose of your business.

2. Determine one element that is not helping the business reach its purpose that should be changed.

3. Determine the one change to make and lay out the positive and possible negative consequences of that one change.

4. Implement the one change.

By working change one at a time, it becomes more manageable and allows you to move forward. I know this because we do this in our firm and with our clients. I won’t do it with my chili though…yet!