How to create an exceptional improvement loop
1. Constantly work on improving yourself (and your team)
The important concept is "constantly".
If you improve a skill (let's say coding) just 1% each day, you'll be 40 times better at it at the end of the year compared to where you started (yes, not 40%, 40 times, ie. 4000%).
Let's say you find that improving a little bit each day is too tiring. You decide to improve 1% once a week. End results is that you'll be less than 2 times better by end of the year.
So... in one case you've grown your skill by 40x (you're a freaking master at it). In the other case, you're barely better. Click here for more reading on this topic (one out of many posts on this topic).
This works for personal growth. But this works for your team too!
2. Using a systematic framework for improvement
There are many frameworks available out there. The key is to use one that works for you and use it!
A recommended system (source: Principles from Ray Dalio):
GOALS
PROBLEMS
DIAGNOSIS
DESIGN
DOING
For more details:
Have clear goals: define clearly what you want, define and agree on what good looks like
Identify and don’t tolerate the problems that stand in the way of your achieving those goals: this sounds obvious but you'll be surprised how often we make excuses and tolerates problems.
Accurately diagnose the problems to get at their root causes: VERY IMPORTANT STEP. Natural tendency is to jump from problem to solutions (next step). Ask people around what they think the root causes are! Get alignment on this first.
Design plans/solutions that will get you around them: emphasis on the word "design". This means there is a need for creativity here. Don't just execute on the first idea that comes to your mind. Brainstorm a bit first, evaluate, refine and decide what's the best design to go for.
Do what’s necessary to push these designs through to results: you get zero value if you don't take action even though you've done lots of thinking and talking!!