On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve. "In teamwork, silence isn’t golden. It’s deadly."   —  Mark Sanborn Teamwork is the force behind every successful business. Only when employees come together, share a common vision of the goal, put together their stren ..read more

A system without a goal is like a marathon without a finish line. But a system with a bad goal will result in a bad outcome. Traditional goal-setting methods use the SMART framework. Specific. Your goal should be well defined, clear, and unambiguous. Measurable. You can easily measure your progress towards the accomplishment of the goal. Achievable. The goal should seem attainable and not impossible to achieve. Relevant. The goal should be aligned with your current priorities. Timely. Your goal should have a clearly defined timeline, including a starting date and a ta ..read more

Communication is an essential part of our lives, and it's something we do all day, every day. However, have you ever found yourself in a conversation where you feel like the other person isn't really listening? Or have you ever been so focused on what you want to say that you're not paying attention to what the other person has said? We've all been there, but the truth is, listening is the key to effective communication. Listening is one of the most powerful tools you possess as a leader – and can help build trust and loyalty with your team. Hearing and listening, though synonymous, are com ..read more

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve. "Honesty is the most single most important factor having a direct bearing on the final success of an individual, corporation, or product."   —  Ed McMahon Leadership with honesty is essential for building trust, foster ..read more

Lean thinking is fundamentally transforming the way organizations operate. The Lean principles of continuous improvement, respect for people, and a relentless focus on delivering customer value are making teams and organizations rethink the practices that might have guided them for decades. For Lean to be truly effective, it needs effective Lean Leadership — to champion Lean principles, offer guidance, and ensure that Lean is being used to optimize the entire organizational system for value delivery. Here are six things you can do to become a more effective lean leader. Show Respect for Peo ..read more

There is often a missing link in many Lean organizations - which is, the set of leadership structures and behaviors that constitute a lean management system. People frequently equate ‘Lean' with the tools used to standardize processes and generate efficiencies; and organizations tend to focus more on the implementation of these tools. However, implementing tools only accounts for, at most, 20% of the effort needed in lean transformations. The remaining 80% should be spent on changing leaders' behaviors and practices; and eventually their mindsets. Lean leadership bridges a crucial divide: t ..read more

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve. "True leadership is servanthood. Put the interests of others at the center of your decisions."   —  Dave Ramsey Servant Leaders, whose vision is to make people better in various ways, naturally exhibit many ideals in t ..read more

For my Facebook fans you already know about this great feature. But for those of you that are not connected to A Lean Journey on Facebook or Twitter I post daily a feature I call Lean Tips.  It is meant to be advice, things I learned from experience, and some knowledge tidbits about Lean to help you along your journey.  Another great reason to like A Lean Journey on Facebook. Click this link for A Lean Journey's Facebook Page Notes Feed. Here is the next addition of tips from the Facebook page: Lean Tip #3481 – Consider General Business Goals When Setting KPIs The first step w ..read more

I've been following Mark Graban's Lean Blog for so many years now. He's been a friend for quite some time due to our connections within the Lean community. His contributions in this area have certainly been highlighted here before. Perhaps like many of you each year you may look forward to today to see what he'll come up with on April Fool's. Mark is incredible creative and it's great fun to see the spoofs.   Here's a look at some of his prior goodies. April Fool: A New Way to Learn Lean? Wii Lean! April Fool 2011: New “A3” App Utilizes Two iPads & Virtual Sensei Tech ..read more

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve. "The lesson of Good Friday is to never lose hope or at least give it 48 hours."   —  Robert Breault Hope is the one thing that lifts the human spirit and keeps us going despite our difficulties that we face. Hope looks ..read more