How the Most Effective SMEs Improve Their Performance
By
Maxime Lavoie
·
2 minute read
At the 2025 edition of Stratégies PME, Maxime Lavoie, President and Founder of LevelOps, shared a simple but powerful message: improving performance isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters, better.
Based on more than 15 years supporting manufacturing and retail companies, Maxime explained how the most effective SMEs consistently achieve better results by building clarity, discipline, and alignment into the way they operate. Below is a summary of the key concepts from his conference, “Améliorer la performance de votre entreprise : que font les PME les plus efficaces?”
1. Performance Begins with Strategic Clarity
Every leader wants better results, but very few organizations have a clear, structured way to execute their priorities. Maxime emphasized that performance starts with three simple elements:
• The right objectives
A clear vision and a small set of meaningful priorities.
• Simple, aligned projects
Fewer initiatives, but each tied directly to strategic outcomes.
• Strategy + Execution = Results
When priorities are clear and aligned, teams can focus, move faster, and deliver more impact.
This clarity is the foundation on which everything else depends.
2. Disciplined Execution Creates Predictable Results
Most companies don’t struggle because of bad ideas — they struggle because execution is inconsistent.
Maxime presented a practical, structured cadence that high-performing SMEs use to stay aligned:
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Daily 15-minute meetings focused on:
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A good news
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Key KPI
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Daily priority
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Blockers preventing progress
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Weekly prioritization and follow-ups
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Quarterly planning with simple, measurable targets
This rhythm keeps teams synchronized, removes ambiguity, and puts focus on rapid problem-solving.
Better meetings lead to better decisions — and better decisions drive better results.
3. The Operational Excellence System
To sustain performance long-term, companies need more than a good plan. They need a system.
Maxime introduced the Operational Excellence System, built on three pillars:
Pillar 1 — The Team
Engaged people, clear roles, and a culture that supports accountability.
As Peter Drucker famously said: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
Pillar 2 — The Processes
Clear, repeatable workflows that allow teams to act, measure, and improve continuously.
Pillar 3 — The Tools
Technology that serves the strategy — not the other way around.
When these three elements are aligned, organizations gain predictability, speed, and resilience.
4. AI Doesn’t Create Performance — It Amplifies It
A recurring mistake Maxime sees: adopting technology or AI before fixing the fundamentals.
AI becomes a multiplier only when:
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Teams are aligned
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Processes are clear
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Tools are properly used
Without those foundations, AI only adds complexity — not performance.
The takeaway is simple: structure first, acceleration second.
Conclusion: Structure Before You Accelerate
Improving the performance of an SME doesn’t require more tools or more projects.
It requires clarity, discipline, and the right operating system.
With a clear strategy, simple priorities, and a strong execution cadence, companies create the conditions to grow — and to use AI and technology effectively.
If you’d like to evaluate where your operations stand today or identify the most impactful improvements for your team, Maxime offers a free operational audit.
Book your audit here:
https://www.levelops.co/get-your-free-audit