Using comparisons to drive action

In business, we’re always looking ahead.

New goals, fresh strategies, bigger outcomes. 

But how often do you look back to understand where you’ve been and how far you’ve come?

Every year, people declare bold goals in January. 

They talk about the “new year, new me” vision, but those resolutions rarely make it past February.

You know what works better than resolutions? 

Comparisons and Retrospectives.

And the cool thing is that you can use them at the end of any quarter, month, week or even every day to help you get better.

To demonstrate the power of using comparisons, the Glucose Goddess shares awesome examples to drive habit changes in people's diets.

Here's one I like:

It quickly shows the difference in glucose spikes when you eat the same foods in a different order.

The comparison is powerful.

Let's look at why comparisons work inside businesses:

1. Comparisons Reveal Gaps:

Consider past vs present for a moment.

Looking at where you are now to where you were a year ago gives you clarity. 

Have your sales grown (or decreased)? 

Is your team more skilled today than yesterday? 

Are your operations smoother in places you focused? 

These insights can energise your team, or highlight areas for improvement.

Write down where you started last year and where you are now. Focus on what’s changed.

2. Comparisons Spotlight What’s Working:

Looking back helps you identify winning strategies. 

Imagine the impact if all you focused on this year was doing more of what’s working. You’d be in a pretty sweet place at the end of this year.

Maybe it’s a marketing campaign that resonated or a process change that saved time. 

Knowing what works allows you to double down on what delivers results.

3. Comparisons Build Accountability:

Comparing your current state against past benchmarks offers a level of unmatched accountability (esp. if you're not on track).

It’s about transparency, both with your team and yourself.

Review last year’s goals, targets, or standards and discuss them openly as a team.

4. Retrospectives Inspire Positive Action:

Sometimes, looking back reveals unexpected opportunities. 

A missed target could inspire a pivot, or a small win could open up new avenues for growth.

They can also show how far you've come during tough times when it's hard to see incremental gains. 

 Instead of being demotivated, retrospectives can drive enormous action by demonstrating progress.

How to Start Using Comparisons in Your Business:

1. Schedule Retrospectives Regularly:

Review key metrics—sales, team performance, customer feedback—at consistent intervals.

Compare it against a period before that or against a goal you have set.

2. Ask the Right Questions:

What’s improved compared to last year, quarter, or month?

What isn’t working as well as it should?

What patterns or trends stand out?

3. Discuss Findings with Your Team:

Transparency builds trust. 

When your team sees where they’ve made a difference, it boosts morale and engagement.

And when it’s trending in the wrong direction, they might have good ideas about how to solve it.

When you take the time to reflect, patterns emerge. 

Those insights aren’t just powerful—they’re transformative. 

They’re your secret weapon to getting better every year

Now that you’ve put a full stop on last year, take an hour or two to reflect. 

Then use those insights to drive action and make your business stronger than ever.