In business, risk management is often seen as a continuous battle – a series of challenges to be solved day in and day out. As we head into the last few months of 2024, many businesses are already planning which battles to take on in 2025.
What if there was a way to break the cycle of solving the same problems repeatedly and instead apply what you’ve learned in one area across your entire organization?
This is the idea behind “fix once, repeat many” – a mindset that encourages us to use solutions to one problem as templates for future challenges. It’s a simple yet powerful way to scale risk management efforts – saving time, money, and resources while driving consistent success.
The Power of Bright Spots
In their book “Switch,” authors Chip and Dan Heath introduced the concept of bright spots. Bright spots are small, successful examples within an organization that can serve as models for broader change. The Heath brothers argue that instead of focusing on what’s broken, we should identify and expand on what’s working well.
In risk management, bright spots are those moments when a particular strategy or action significantly reduces exposure, improves safety, or prevents a loss. Bright spots provide a blueprint for success that can be replicated across similar areas within your organization.
By combining the bright spots concept with “fix once, repeat many,” you can create a systematic approach to scaling risk management success in 2025. Here are the steps to success.
Identify Your Bright Spots
Every organization has success stories when it comes to risk management. Maybe your construction team drastically reduced injury rates after implementing a new safety protocol, or perhaps a division improved cybersecurity by addressing a vulnerability that, if left unchecked, could have caused serious harm.
Start by identifying these bright spots. Look for instances where teams took an action that yielded positive, measurable results. These are the areas where “fix once, repeat many” can have the biggest impact.
Analyze What Made Them Successful
Once you’ve identified the bright spots, the next step is to dive deep into what made them successful. Was it a new piece of technology? A change in behavior? Strong leadership? Understanding the specific elements that contributed to success is key to applying the lessons learned more broadly.
This is where collaboration becomes crucial. Engage the people involved in these bright spots, ask questions, and gather information. The more you understand about why a particular action worked, the easier it will be to replicate it elsewhere.
Standardize and Scale
Now that you’ve identified what works and why it works, it’s time to scale those successes. Work to create a repeatable process based on your bright spots. This might involve formalizing new policies, creating templates for future use, or developing training programs that can be rolled out across the organization.
For example, if your manufacturing facility improved equipment maintenance procedures, standardize that process and implement it at other locations. If a department successfully mitigated a cybersecurity threat, create a playbook that can be applied to similar risks throughout your company.
When scaling solutions, it’s critical to ensure they are flexible enough to adapt to the nuances of different teams or divisions. Your success hinges on maintaining the core of what worked while allowing for customization as needed. As one of my colleagues often says, “keep it common where possible, but customize when it counts.”
Monitor, Measure, and Adjust
Scaling success doesn’t stop once a solution is implemented. You need to monitor the results to ensure they are producing the desired outcomes in different areas. Be prepared to make adjustments based on what you learn.
Not every solution will fit every situation perfectly, but by using the “fix once, repeat many” approach, you’ll minimize the amount of reinventing required. The key is continuous learning and iteration. As you scale, new bright spots will emerge, providing even more opportunities to replicate success.
A Shift in Mindset
At the heart of “fix once, repeat many” is a shift in mindset. It’s about moving away from constantly firefighting toward a more proactive approach. Instead of focusing on what’s broken, you focus on what’s working and how to make it work in more places.
Risk management is always evolving, but by identifying bright spots and scaling those successes, you can make a lasting impact across your organization. Fixing a problem once is good, but learning to repeat that success many times over is the key to long-term risk management success.
Ready to shine a light on your bright spots and elevate your risk management strategy? Our Risk & Safety experts are here to help. Contact us today and let’s start a conversation!