Lean Quote: The Two Dimensions of Leadership

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.

"Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel.  If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish." --Sam Walton.

Some leaders are very task-oriented; they simply want to get things done. Others are very people-oriented; they want people to be happy. And others are a combination of the two. If you prefer to lead by setting and enforcing tight schedules, you tend to be more production-oriented (or task-oriented). If you make people your priority and try to accommodate employee needs, then you're more people-oriented. 

A popular framework for thinking about a leader's 'task versus person' orientation was developed by Robert Blake and Jane Mouton in the early 1960s. Called the Managerial Grid, or Leadership Grid, it plots the degree of task-centeredness versus person-centeredness and identifies five combinations as distinct leadership styles.

By plotting 'concern for production' against 'concern for people', the grid highlights how placing too much emphasis in one area at the expense of the other leads to low overall productivity. The model proposes that when both people and production concerns are high, employee engagement and productivity increases accordingly.

As Same Walton alludes the goal of effective leadership is to make others successful in performing their jobs!  Therefore consider where you place your concern.

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A Lean Environment is One Where They Present You With Solutions

I saw this comic at ONEFTE.com that made me pause a little. 



I know this comic is poking fun at the corporate lifestyle that many experience.  But as I reflected on this comic I thought to myself there are places in which this situation is true.  In a Lean Thinking organization it is the goal to have empowered employees to find problems and to provide solutions.  It is even encouraged that employees implement the solutions on their own. 

In previous posts (here and here) I talked about the Lean practices at FastCap.  They provide a great example where employees find problems and bring solutions.  Here is the latest example from FastCap's YouTube Channel about an office improvement:



So do you think there is a job where you get presented with solutions all day long?

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Lean Gone Lego - There must be a better way

I came across this short stop-animation film from Australia which delivers an insight into a better way of working in manufacturing called Lean gone Lego.



This video was developed by The Gordon, an online training company, supported by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework's E-learning Innovations business activity.  This project aims to empower workers to continuously come up with ideas to improve workplace productivity. 

While this is a fun video I think what is really intriguing is the use of Lean thinking in this project and in Australian manufacturing.  Lean aims to empower workers to continuously come up with ideas to improve workplace productivity.  For me there is no other answer.

Lean Quote: Effective Listening

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.

"Of all the skills of leadership, listening is the most valuable—and one of the least understood. Most captains of industry listen only sometimes, and they remain ordinary leaders. But a few, the great ones, never stop listening. That's how they get word before anyone else of unseen problems and opportunities." — Peter Nulty, National Business Hall of Fame Fortune Magazine

The following keys are a positive guideline to better listeing.  In fact, they are at the heart of delevoping better listening habits that could last a lifetime.

Now the choice is yours.  Are you going to be a bad listener or a good listener?

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The Value Of Time

I use the scheduling application Tungle.me which syncs with my existing calendars for easy scheduling and efficiency.  The folks at Tungle.me are trying to understand the needs of the calendar of the future.  As part of this they took a look at illustrating what the value of time is:

The Calendar of the Future got us thinking about the value of time. Every day, hour and minute is more than a spot to fill on your calendar. It's more than a meeting, reminder or tick of the clock. It's our lives.

Time is not a renewable resource, and it waits for no one.

The team at Tungle.me thinks sometimes a little perspective is all we need.



I think Tungle.me has a great point:

Time waits for no-one so what are you waiting for?
Stop wasting time on things you can't control and focus on things you can.

Guest on the Lean Nation Radio Show

I am excited to be a guest on the world famous The Lean Nation radio show Today, Wednesday, October 13 from 4-5pm (ET) on 790 AM Talk and Business, hosted by Karl Wadensten. We're going to discuss what Lean, leadership, and learning have in common.

I have been on the show twice previously.  During my first time I visited VIBCO during tax seaon where we held the show from the Rhode Island State House this past April.  My second appearance on the show was duing SME's EASTEC show this past May.

Lean and Government with Karl on Tax Day 2010

Lean Nation Show from EASTEC

You can listen to my appearance live on 790AM (Citadel Broadcasting, ABC Affiliate) in Providence, RI. The show is also globally available via a live audio stream at 790business.com. I would love to hear your opinions and answer your questions, so feel free to call in to the show. The call-in number is 401-437-5000 or toll free at 888-345-0790.

Can't tune in live? The podcast will be available after the show!

The Lean Nation is the hottest new show on 790AM and airs from 4-5pm, weekdays and streams online at 790business.com. The Lean Nation features real world examples and actionable advice from local and national business leaders on how to reinvent yourself into a lean operation in business and in life. The show's host, Karl Wadensten, is the president of VIBCO, a Rhode Island manufacturing company. Over the last 3 years VIBCO has created a Lean Revolution, using lean methodologies (based on the Toyota Production System). I am looking forward to the opportunity to visit the Gemba at VIBCO prior to the show.

Take a moment to visit The Lean Nation facebook page and join the nearly 500 members.

Lean Quote: Be Accountable, Not a Victim

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.

"When you blame others, you give up your power to change." ~ Dr. Robert Anthony

This accountability chart reflects the different levels of acceptance and non-acceptance of responsibility.  We all operate at different levels of the victim-accountability chart based on the situation.

The more we operate in the victim levels, the more energy is expended in blaming and making excuses.  We are less likely to produce the desired results.

The more we operate in the accountability levels, the more energy is expanded in acknowledging our role, taking responsibility for the problem, in finding solutions.  We are more likely to produce the desired results.

In conclusion, I think it is appropriate to end with this quote:

“Accountability breeds response-ability.” - Stephen R. Covey

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