How well is your business actually performing? Most leaders either overestimate their effectiveness or lack the right benchmarks to know what excellence looks like.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to:

• Benchmark your performance against industry bests

• Implement Lean practices to create momentum

• Use Six Sigma to systematize excellence

Let’s explore how organizations can go from insight to implementation.

1. Operational Benchmarking: Know Where You Stand

If you’ve ever thought “we’re doing okay,” you might be missing millions in opportunity. Benchmarking services help you find out:

• How long should that process take?

• How much does it really cost compared to your competitors?

• Where are you bleeding time, budget, or team capacity?

At JonBassford.com, we:

• Map your current operational KPIs

• Compare performance to industry standards

• Highlight outliers and lagging areas

• Tie benchmarks to strategic priorities

💡 Example: A multi-site nonprofit learned its donor processing took 12x longer than peers. Post-benchmarking and automation, donor retention increased 18%.

2. Lean Management Consulting: Unlock Immediate Wins

Benchmarking shows you the gap. Lean closes it—fast.

Lean isn’t just cutting waste. It’s a mindset: improve what matters, involve your team, and deliver consistent value.

Lean strategies I implement with clients:

• Value Stream Mapping – visualize where the real waste lies

• Root Cause Analysis – solve the actual problem, not the symptom

• Standard Work – build sustainable habits that scale

• Leader Standard Work – empower leaders to drive daily improvement

Lean is perfect for organizations wanting fast traction without adding headcount.

Explore transformation ideas on the Blog.

3. Six Sigma Implementation: From Variability to Reliability

Where Lean eliminates waste, Six Sigma eliminates defects. It’s data-driven decision-making at its finest.

Using tools like:

• DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control)

• Statistical analysis

• Control charts

• Design of Experiments

…you don’t just solve a problem once. You ensure it never returns.

Whether you’re improving patient handoffs, production timelines, or service delivery quality—Six Sigma locks in consistency.

When Should You Layer All Three?

For best results, I combine all three inside my operational transformation programs—outlined on the Work With Me page.

Ready to Transform?

Here’s what to do next:

1. Book a strategy session to identify where your ops are falling short

2. Follow me for more tools, case studies, and insights

3. Subscribe for exclusive blog updates

Let’s build a business that doesn’t just survive—but sets the benchmark.