How do you know which Kanban metrics to prioritize and focus on when it comes to continuous improvement? Trust me, I understand the struggle. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with countless numbers to track. Here’s the thing. Not all metrics are created equal. To make the most of your efforts, you need to be strategic in selecting those that have a real impact on your work. And today, I’ll walk you through a simple, step-by-step approach that will help you identify the metrics that drive meaningful change. Without any further ado, let’s dive right in. 5 Steps to Prioritizing Kanban Metrics for Co ..read more

Hey there, my friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful day. Today, I want to dive into the issue of a lack of alignment when it comes to improving your processes. It’s something that can really throw a wrench in the works, making it tough to reach a consensus on which Kanban metrics to utilize. Let’s face it, when people aren’t on the same page regarding the goals and objectives of an agility initiative, it’s no surprise that disagreements arise. And that’s precisely where the trouble begins. Without alignment, it becomes a challenge to determine which metrics are most relevant and meaningful ..read more

It’s Thursday evening, almost 6pm, and I’m just wrapping up my workweek. It’s been a long one! I can hear my husband pulling into the driveway. Our two little troublemakers jump out of the car, giggling and screaming with excitement. “Mommy, mommy, I’m hungry! I’m hungry!” Oh no. There’s nothing in the fridge that can be prepared in less than an hour. And honestly, cooking is the last thing I want to do right now. Pizza time it is! So here I am, browsing through the menu of a local pizza place. Alright, I need a classic Margherita pizza (you know, just tomato sauce and mozzarella). And it need ..read more

To spot opportunities for improvement and drive meaningful change, you need to trust your data. But, too often, teams doubt their Kanban metrics and, as a result, don’t feel confident making decisions based on those numbers. More than ever, data and analytics play a crucial role in decision-making – but if you don’t have confidence in your metrics, you can’t reap the full benefits of Kanban. Today, we’ll dig into these issues, with an eye on identifying the root causes of any distrust you or your team may be experiencing. How to Lean Into Your Kanban Metrics – and Make Better Decisions Along t ..read more

Drowning in a sea of information? I get it – It’s easy to get lost and lose focus in the sheer volume of insights that Kanban metrics provide. But while it can be easy to head your attention in the wrong direction, it’s just as easy to course-correct – and, with that, to accelerate your development processes. Today, my goal is to help you spot mistakes you could be making when collecting and reviewing Kanban metrics. And if you do spot one of these pitfalls? I’ll share the very next steps you can take to help you shift your focus back to what’s driving meaningful process improvement. 5 Costly ..read more

More often than not, it’s well-meaning – teams analyze their processes to identify their next improvement initiative. They set a goal and put a metric as a threshold to achieve that goal. More often than not though, they become so focused on hitting the target on that one metric that they lose sight of the big picture. And while, yes, they’re making strides in making progress on their goal – often those boosts are happening at the expense of other even more important indicators. That’s the challenge with taking a narrow focus on individual Kanban metrics. While one may improve, it’s often at t ..read more

Today, we’ll explore a structured approach to setting up a Kanban system. It follows five simple, essential steps that, together, ensure you get the most out of your data. As you’re working through these steps, keep in mind this isn’t a sequential approach – it’s iterative. As you go through the steps, you’ll naturally collect more information. When that happens, I encourage you to revisit the previous steps. Ask yourself, “Does anything need to change? Is there anything you’ve uncovered that better informs those previous steps?” That iterative process will make your foundation stronger and en ..read more

“How can we use Kanban metrics to identify the impediments that slow us down and improve our workflow?” This is a classic question for good reason! If you’ve been sticking around for a while, I bet you’re the kind of person who’s always looking for opportunities for improvement. And today, I have a few quick wins for you. There are three very simple things you can do to identify the obstacles that slow you down and streamline your workflow. Ready to dive in? 3 Tips to Improve Your Workflow Using Kanban Metrics Today, I’ll share with you strategies that will help you build momentum right away a ..read more

If your teammates feel unmotivated or detached from their process, it’s because they don’t see how their actions make a difference. Here’s 3 steps you can follow to help them reconnect. Do you know what a lack of ownership looks like? Imagine you’re looking at a split screen of two different workers. At first, there’s really no noticeable difference: both of them are focused on getting their work done. However, after a few days, you notice something remarkable: one of the workers hasn’t said a single word the whole time, while the other one stands up and says to her teammates: “Hey, there’s no ..read more

It’s normal for people to resist change, even when breaking the status quo is the most logical step forward. I’ve got 3 tips for you to help your teams overcome that resistance. Have you ever wondered why it can be so hard to try something new, even when we know it’s for the best? Resistance to change is a common psychological phenomenon. It basically works like this: when our teams are faced with a new way of doing things, they instinctively feel challenged. Their brains go into overdrive, searching for a potential threat. It’s a 100% natural response that’s meant to keep people safe. It unfo ..read more