Adobe backs '1% mindset' as SMEs turn to marginal gains for growth

"Britain's small business leaders are embracing a new ethos of marginal gains, with fresh research revealing how the so-called "1% mindset" is quietly shaping a new wave of SME growth. According to Adobe, which has launched its Adobe Express 'One Better' movement alongside entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, more than 90 per cent of SME owners familiar with the term believe that making small, continuous improvements delivers measurable benefits to productivity and profits."

"Often associated with elite sport and high-performance teams, the 1% mindset is gaining traction in the day-to-day realities of UK business. Adobe's findings show that nearly a quarter of SME owners now "always" use the approach, while a further third apply it regularly. Younger leaders are particularly enthusiastic: 29 per cent of Gen Z owners say they rely on the incremental method as part of their management style."

"Confidence is high, too. Some 92 per cent of respondents feel optimistic about their prospects for the year ahead, with four in five classing the last 12 months as successful, a sentiment many attribute to consistent, micro-level improvements rather than sweeping reinvention. Small steps may be at the heart of the mindset, but technology is proving to be the accelerator. Adobe's survey found that 61 per cent of SME leaders who practise the method believe tech plays a "big role" in enabling continuous progress."

British small businesses are increasingly applying a 1% mindset of marginal gains, with nearly a quarter always using the approach and a further third applying it regularly. More than 90% of SME owners familiar with the term believe small continuous improvements deliver measurable productivity and profit benefits. Younger leaders show stronger uptake, with 29% of Gen Z owners relying on incremental methods. Confidence is high: 92% feel optimistic about the year ahead and four in five judged the past 12 months successful, often crediting micro-level improvements. Technology and AI are major enablers, with many using AI assistants and valuing AI-powered design suggestions, customer engagement tools, and content-writing support. Adobe Express is positioned as an entry point for embedding these capabilities into everyday operations.

Read at Business Matters