Find where work waits
Follow a typical request from start to finish and note where it stops. Missing information, repeated handoffs and slow approvals can add more delay than the task itself. Validate the map with people who handle the work every day.
Limit competing priorities
Too many simultaneous initiatives spread attention thinly. Agree what should finish first and make the sequence visible. Discuss trade-offs when new work arrives instead of adding it to an already full queue.
Shorten the feedback loop
Use brief reviews to identify blockers and assess whether changes improve flow. Look at quality and rework alongside speed. Keep changes small enough to reverse when they create new problems elsewhere in the system.