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Monday, January 8, 2024

Lean Tips Edition #293 (#3421 - #3435)

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.


Here is the next addition of tips from the Facebook page:

Lean Tip #3421 – During the Holidays Show Employee Appreciation With Team Lunches

Team lunches are a great way to boost employee morale year-round, and the holidays are no exception. Many companies increase the frequency of company-sponsored lunches during this time. This could be a recurring meal perk for your team to order individual meals during the work week. Or, you might host a team lunch for your staff to come together and bond over delicious meals. Whatever you choose, meals are a great way to show employees you appreciate their hard work.

Lean Tip #3422 – During the Holidays Show Employee Appreciation With Teambuilding Activities

Team-building activities are another way to foster engagement amongst employees. The team lunch previously mentioned is one great example of a team-building activity you can host during the holidays. Your activities should allow team members to connect with each other, and especially those they might not work with regularly. Additional ideas include movie nights, games, and shared music playlists.

Lean Tip #3423 – During the Holidays Show Employee Appreciation With Volunteer Day  

During the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to give back to the community. If your team wants to get together in person, you can host a volunteer day at a local organization like a soup kitchen or senior center. If you’d like to facilitate this virtually, you can consider a digital activity like writing holiday cards for veterans or the homeless. Volunteering together is a wonderful way to foster connections amongst your team.

Lean Tip #3424 – During the Holidays Show Employee Appreciation With the Gift of Knowledge.

As the year comes to a close, individuals often turn their attention to goals for the upcoming year. One of the most unique employee appreciation ideas is to give your employees the opportunity for personal development. Employees are hungry to learn, and you can support them in doing so by bringing in a professional speaker, attending a class together, or hosting a workshop.

Prior to doing this, poll your teams to learn about what they want to explore and if there's anybody in particular they'd like to learn from. That way you can host something that everybody is excited about. This will help your employees feel like you respect their future and will give them skills they can apply to your organization.

Lean Tip #3425 – During the Holidays Show Employee Appreciation With Recognition

We are primal creatures, and the human brain craves praise. Let recognition be the fuel that powers your organization. Put together a year-end “Wall of Fame” where individual achievements are on display for all to see. Take it a step further, and implement a peer-to-peer element by having each employee submit coworker acknowledgements. This is a simple-but-effective way to build individual confidence and fellowship among team members and departments.

Lean Tip #3426 – Put Time Into Planning

Don't wait until the last minute to choose your goal. Picking wisely and putting in extensive planning are essential parts of achieving any goal. Experts suggest that you brainstorm how you will tackle a major behavior change, including the steps you will take, why you want to do it, and ways you can keep yourself on track.

You can start by writing down your goal, making a list of things you might do to achieve that goal, and noting any obstacles that might stand in your way. By knowing exactly what you want to accomplish and the difficulties you might face, you'll be better prepared to stick to your resolution and overcome anything that might sidetrack you.

Lean Tip #3427 – Start With Small Steps

Taking on too much too quickly is a common reason why so many New Year's resolutions fail. Starting an unsustainably restrictive diet, overdoing it at the gym, or radically altering your normal behavior are surefire ways to derail your plans. Instead, focus on taking tiny steps that will ultimately help you reach your larger goal.

While it may seem like a slow start, these small incremental changes make it easier to stick to your new healthy habits and increase the likelihood of long-term success.

Lean Tip #3428 – Remember That Change Is a Process

Those unhealthy or undesired habits that you are trying to change probably took years to develop, so how can you expect to change them in just a matter of days, weeks, or months? Be patient with yourself. Understand that working toward your resolution is a process. Even if you make a misstep or two, you can restart and continue on your journey towards your goal.

It may take longer than you would like to achieve your goals but remember that this is not a race to the finish. Once you have made the commitment to changing a behavior, it may be something that you continue to work on for the rest of your life.

Lean Tip #3429 – Learn and Adapt 

Encountering a setback is one of the most common reasons why people give up on their New Year's resolutions. If you suddenly relapse into a bad habit, don't view it as a failure. The path toward your goal is not always a straight one, and there will often be challenges along the way. Instead, view relapses as learning opportunities.

If you are keeping a resolution journal, write down important information about when the relapse occurred, what might have triggered it, and what you might do differently next time. By understanding the challenges you face, you will be better prepared to deal with them in the future.

Lean Tip #3430 – Check In With Yourself Regularly

Reassessing your goal throughout the weeks and months it takes to get there is essential. Once you start making changes, you may find your original goal was a little unrealistic. Instead of sticking with it once you find it’s probably not possible, feel free to tweak the goal as you see fit. Look at your lifestyle and revise your goals to make sure they really fit in. Then share with others that you’re sharing accountability with, or write it down.

Lean Tip #3431 – Reflect and Celebrate

Take time to mentally review the past year. What do you wish you had done differently that you can change next year? Maybe you spend way more time on your phone than you’d like, or didn’t spend as much time as you’d like on the things you value most. It’s human nature to want to focus on setbacks, disappointments, and challenges, so after I’ve grieved any losses, and clarified where I’d like to improve, I make sure to write down what I’m really proud of. Even during the most challenging years, we can all find bright spots if we look for them.

Celebrate your own personal triumphs. What are you proud of? What did you accomplish in spite of the many challenges of the past year? Jot down all of your large and small victories and celebrate your accomplishments of all sizes.

Lean Tip #3432 – Commit to a System of Organization

The start of a new year is the perfect time to get organized. A good system of organization helps you gain greater control of your time and complete the tasks needed to achieve your goals. Consider a resolution that involves organizing each area of your professional life to save time, reduce clutter, and effectively delegate tasks.

Organize files by priority and keep the most important documents within arm’s reach. At the end of each work day, spend about 10 to 15 minutes organizing your workspace and planning for your next day of work.

Lean Tip #3433 – Say Yes to New Things

While the thought of trying something new can often conjure up complex emotions for different people, choosing to say yes to new things can be beneficial. Saying yes means you are making the most out of every opportunity. This often results in you expanding your comfort zone, overcoming your insecurities, and managing your fear.

It means being more open to whatever thing in your life evokes excitement, thrill, fear, or other feelings that you don’t normally encounter on a typical day at work. While you don’t need to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, make it a concrete goal to be more receptive to new things.

Lean Tip #3434 – Document Your Successes

Most people rarely tally up their accomplishments at work but this practice can be more beneficial than you think. Just like an inspirational book, documenting your successes can provide you with encouragement to continue working towards your goals. In addition, sharing your successes can be advantageous when seeking support for a new project or initiative or when trying to impress attendees at networking events.

Lean Tip #3435 – Strategize How to Get New Skills

Developing new skills can help you work more effectively and achieve your goals faster than you thought possible. There are many things you can do to develop your skills, such as taking an online course or seeking out a mentor who can help you overcome some of the challenges you face. Study everything there is to know about the topic and accept new challenges that could help your skill level grow.


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