A Lean Journey

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Monday, August 27, 2018

Dream Big: Six Leadership Lessons From Walt Disney Himself

When you hear the name Walt Disney many words spring to mind – imagination, innovation, creator of the happiest place on earth…

“Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal.”

Think Walt Disney only drew mice and princesses? Think again. Here’s a man recognized as one of history’s best storytellers, one of American’s greatest showmen, and one of animation’s greatest innovators. And straight from the horse’s mouse’s mouth, Walt says his greatest accomplishment was rallying people around big goals. Here are six essential leadership competencies he illustrated:

Lesson 1: Find and state a higher purpose.
“We don’t make movies to make money. We make money to make more movies.”

Sure, money can be a great motivator in the short run. But there’s plenty of evidence to show that money can only goes so far before backfiring. To truly engage people and get the best from people, a leader must give us something to believe in.

For Walt, that special something was entertainment. He famously said, “Laughter is America’s most important export.” And for the animators at the studio or the cleaning crews at the theme park, which of these do you think is more compelling: “Let’s make people smile!” or “Let’s make our shareholders some money!”?

Lesson 2: Have a vision and relentlessly believe in it.
“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.”

Walt chased a number of dreams – short cartoons, feature-length films, cutting-edge animation technologies, theme parks, and more. Some were successful; others were…well…not. But regardless of whether he was convincing people (himself included) that he could rebound from bankruptcy or that the world needed a crazy new amusement park, Walt’s belief in his vision seemed unwavering. Leadership takes courage. If you don’t believe in your vision of the future, if you don’t believe in the goal at hand, who else will?

Lesson 3: Be a storyteller.
Walt was one of the world’s most gifted storytellers. In the winter of 1934, Walt gathered his top animators at a soundstage in Los Angeles. According to Walt Disney biographer, Neal Gabler, “Announcing that he was going to launch an animated feature, [Walt] told the story of Snow White, not just telling it but acting it out, assuming the characters’ mannerisms, putting on their voices, letting his audience visualize exactly what they would be seeing on the screen. He became Snow White and the wicked queen and the prince and each of the dwarfs.”

You don’t have to be an actor or comedian to be a successful leader. But it sure helps to be a storyteller. Stories change how people feel. Stories can make something complicated seem simple. Stories translate the dry and abstract into the compelling and concrete. Stories are memorable. When it comes to leading, nothing works quite like a great story.

Lesson 4: Build trust.
“Leadership means that a group, large or small, is willing to entrust authority to a person who has shown judgment, wisdom, personal appeal, and proven competence.”

Walt tells us leadership requires that people “entrust authority.” He hints that trust is multi-faceted: People must trust in your competence, wisdom, and judgment (they gotta believe in your head), and they must trust in your “personal appeal” (they gotta believe in your heart). Without trust, fuhgettaboutit.

Lesson 5: Always be constantly improving.
“Whenever I go on a ride, I’m always thinking of what’s wrong with the thing and how it can be improved.”

Walt believed in the future. He insisted that Steamboat Willie have the sound synced and recorded, unheard of for a cartoon at that time. Before Snow White, there was no such thing as a feature length animated film. After it became a huge success and literally changed the film industry, it led to the success of several more beloved Disney classics like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Fantasia. Walt Disney could have rested on his laurels, but that wasn’t his style. Instead, he completely switched gears and set out to build an amusement park where parents and children could have fun together. Once Disneyland opened, Walt would walk around the park, personally testing all the rides, noticing if anything was out of place and asking the guests their opinions. If he noticed something was wrong, he would personally see that it was fixed. As his animators could attest, good enough was never good enough for Walt Disney.

Every day you should become a little better than you were the day before. If you can become one percent better daily, you can recreate your life every 100 days. Learn to get better daily; look for ways to improve, to be kinder, more intelligent, and more helpful.

Lesson 6: Get going.
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

At the end of the story – once you’ve done the hard work of building trust and casting a vision – you’ve got to shut up and get to work.

I always say that “well done” is better than “well said,” so quit talking and start doing! Quit planning and start practicing; a plan is good, a good plan is even better, but if that plan doesn't get put into action it’s as useless as a four fingered glove. Learn to get into action, start today, whatever you've been postponing …just do it. If you wait for the perfect time, you’ll never accomplish anything.

When Walt was asked what the secret to his success was, he thought for a while and then he said this: “I dream, I test my dreams against my beliefs, I dare to take risks, and I execute my vision to make those dreams come true.” Today the rules of success are no different. If Walt Disney, a man with limited education from a poor family, could create an entertainment empire from almost nothing, what’s stopping you from dreaming just as big?

Friday, August 24, 2018

Lean Quote: We Travel Not to Escape Life, But For Life Not to Escape Us

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.

"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." — Anonymous

Sometimes all it takes to uplift your soul is to travel, relax, have fun and go on a vacation in the middle of a hectic schedule. This is one way to relieve stress and take a break from a busy life at work. There are times when we also need to go on a trip either alone to find ourselves or with family and friends to create happy memories with our loved ones. Go, visit and explore as many places as you can while you are still able because you can always make money but you can’t always make memorable and colorful moments in life.

Exploring new places, meeting different people and discovering various cultures can help us, not only to have a healthier body, but also a livelier mind, heart, and spirit. Moreover, those invigorating activities will also motivate us to appreciate Mother Nature, our planet Earth, and life itself. They can increase our knowledge, wisdom, and insight for the future.

So if you want to find your inner self, have the best memories with your loved ones, or just live your life to the fullest, I encourage you to travel, relax, and have a vacation.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Three Ways Vacation is Good For You and Your Company

Americans leave too many vacation days on the table —

Consider these statistics:

Although Americans have fewer vacation days than people in any other country, they have been taking less and less vacation over the last 15 years.
Fifty-five percent of Americans did not use all their vacation days in 2015.
Even when they actually do take vacation, 41 percent are checking into work while away (i.e., they are not fully unplugging).
84 percent of U.S. executives have cancelled vacations in order to work.

Ironically, while Americans may pride themselves on their hard work and dedication, research suggests that we will actually work harder, perform better, and have greater health, stamina, and enthusiasm for our work if we take time off.

Three ways vacation is good for you:

1. Vacation is relaxing. When you are in the thick of your day-to-day life, it can be difficult to take a step back and look at things objectively. This can make it hard to see either how good you have it or if you need to make some adjustments. By removing yourself from the daily grind, your to-do list, and normal responsibilities, you can make a true evaluation of your situation. And it’s often the case that people love coming back to their routines and restoring a sense of normalcy to their lives after a vacation.

Vacations improve your relationships with those around you. Whether it’s your spouse, children, parents, friends, or coworkers, your relationships are bound to improve after leaving your daily responsibilities behind for a few days. Since vacations tend to reduce stress, you will also be able to deal with difficult or frustrating situations with those closest to you in a more effective and satisfactory manner — and with a clear mind.

2. Breaks make you more productive. Another personal and professional advantage of taking vacations is the ability to detach from work.

Taking time off helps remind you that you are, in fact, a person. And probably a person who has interests and hobbies. So take the time to remember what they are, and make sure you schedule them into your weekly routine.

You know the refreshed feeling you get when you take a few minutes away from your desk? Well imagine what a whole day, or week, could do for your productivity. In fact, it works like such a charm that more companies are starting to realize the importance of time off — especially time off to pursue your own creative pursuits.

3. A change of pace boosts creativity. Another professional advantage from taking time off is a boost in creativity.

Nothing can lead to an anxiety attack faster than working a million days all in a row. So taking even one day off can help reset yourself mentally, and make it easier to have a clear head once back at work. According to Minda Zetlin on INC.com, "A growing body of scientific evidence explains what many of us have learned from unpleasant experience: Push yourself through too many hours or days of work and your brain starts to push back. Ideas that once flowed easily dry up, and tasks that you should be able to perform quickly become excruciatingly difficult ... you need to give your brain, and yourself, some rest." Amen to that.

Vacations provide opportunities for adventure and exploring new places, a chance to relax and unwind, learn new skills, gain insight, expand one’s perspective, strengthen connections with family and friends, create cherished memories, and more.

Monday, August 20, 2018

Leadership Lessons From Walt Disney - How To Inspire Your Team

Walt Disney once said, “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

To make a dream a reality, it is not enough to simply hope that the stars will align. Walt Disney relied on his business partners, his support system, and his Cast Members to turn his vision into a successful company. Walt’s vision was so strong that it continues to motivate and inspire today’s Cast Members.

Employees desire inspiration from their leaders. Not only must your people be inspired by the work they do, they also want to feel that what they do matters and has a positive impact on others. Leaders can set inspiration in motion when they take on the responsibility of ensuring employees are focused on the correct tasks, and that they have the proper resources at the right time.

At Disney, they believe and teach business leaders these three concepts to motivate and inspire their team:

Vision and Values: Every leader is telling a story about what he or she values. These values must be aligned with the vision for an organization or team. If a leader’s personal values do not align with organizational values, it will be difficult to genuinely express a vision that motivate others.

Behaviors over Intentions: Those within an organization will look to a leader as a model to develop their own behaviors and decisions. While people tend to judge themselves based on intentions, they judge others based on actions. As a leader, it is essential that your behaviors are authentic, and reflect your values and your vision. When rallying a team around a new initiative, it is crucial that you demonstrate its importance through your words and deeds. The best motivation can come from a leader’s example every day.

Purpose before Task: When assigning new projects to a team, it is important to discuss the purpose behind the task. Tasks that are isolated from the larger goal can become tedious and confusing, finding their way to the bottom of the priorities list. However, if a team understands the common purpose behind individual responsibilities, they will be more inspired to own the tasks as well as the goal.

How do you motivate your team to make your dream a reality?

Friday, August 17, 2018

Lean Quote: Every Person Needs to Take One Day Away

"Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us." — Maya Angelou

Despite our best intentions to live balanced lives, the modern world demands that we are almost always connected and productive, and this can drain us emotionally, spiritually, and physically. With our hectic lifestyle, we often underestimate the power of relaxation. Most of us have a massive to-do list each day, and we feel we can't afford to slow our pace or we'll quickly fall behind. However, we fail to acknowledge the ways that relaxation can increase our stamina, clear our thoughts, and allow us to get much more accomplished with less effort.

Rest and relaxation is the cessation of work, exertion, or activity which could result into peace, ease, relief from disturbance, mental & emotional tranquility and healing.

So I’m taking my own advice. Beginning today, I’ll be on vacation. That means no blogging, email, or social media. I’ll have virtually no access to a phone or computer. In short, I’m dropping off the blogosphere for two whole weeks. But don’t worry, I’m not leaving you in the dark. I have prepared several posts until I return. I hope you will enjoy these posts while I spend some time recharging.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Guest Post: How to Nail Your Morning Routine to Have a Good Day

Some mornings just feel right. You wake up without any alarm. The sunlight entering your room feels pleasant and soothing. You come back from your morning jog all energized and looking forward to the day.

And sometimes you have the complete opposite days. You don’t wake up in your best mood. You don’t feel like working out and deep inside your heart, you know that today isn’t going to be a great day.

Aren’t these everyday scenarios for most of us?

To have delightful mornings, it’s important to have a solid morning routine in place. Successful individuals such as Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama are known to have kickass morning routines and they are nailing it every day.

To create a morning schedule, just add some good habits to your current lifestyle - it will dramatically improve your life. To get you started, below is a list of little things you can add to your morning routine to have a good day.

Let’s take a look at them:

1. Resist the snooze

Time required: A few seconds (and a lot of willpower)

It could be tempting to hit the snooze button and get those ten minutes of extra sleep. Mind you, it’s going to do more harm than good. Ideally, the human body needs 7-8 hours of sleep to be at its optimum best. So, make the tough call to wake up as soon as your alarm starts ringing.

Benefits of waking up early:

● Sense of accomplishment

● More time for other activities

● Relaxed start of the body

2. Drink a glass of water

Time required: One minute or less

It’s a good practice to drink water as the first thing in the morning. As you’ve had a sound sleep for about 6-8 hours, your body gets dehydrated. Add lemon, cucumber, ice cubes or just drink it straight up. It starts your metabolism on the right note and keeps your digestive processes running smoothly.

Benefits of drinking water:

● Replenishes water levels

● Refreshes body and mind

● Better metabolism

3. Be grateful

Time required: Five minutes

It’s always a great idea to start your day on a positive note and what better way than practicing gratitude. Life becomes a blessing when you start treating it like one. Being grateful increases your long-term well-being by more than 10percent which is the same as doubling your income. Successful people like that of Tony Robbins and Arianna Huffington always take out time to be grateful from their hectic schedules.

Benefits of practicing gratitude:

● Makes you happier and optimistic

● Strengthens your emotions

● Makes you more likable

4. Complete a 7-minute workout

Time required: 7-10 minutes (including warm-up)

It could be hard to find time to exercise when you are spending more than 10 hours at work. However, if you could just spare 7 minutes to break a sweat in morning, you’re going to have a super-productive day at work. You can easily find several seven-minute workout apps for your Android phones and iPhones.

Benefits of exercising:

● Strengthens muscles and bones

● Increases energy levels

● Reduces risk of chronic diseases

5. Choose your 3 MITs for the day

Time required: 5-7 minutes

As a part of your morning routine, develop a habit of making to-do lists and planning your day. The most effective way to go about it is to choose your three most important tasks (MIT) for the day. It will help you stay focused on things that actually matter so that you can plan your day keeping your priorities straight. You can use tools like ProofHub and Evernote to plan, prioritize, and manage daily tasks.

Benefits of making to-do lists:

● Creates order and structure

● Lets you coordinate similar tasks

● Makes you more accountable

6. Read a book

Time required: 15-30 minutes

If you think that gone are those days when you could find time to leisurely read your favorite book or novel, you are wrong. By carving out 15-30 minutes every morning, you can read whatever you want and expand your knowledge. Warren Buffett and Steve Jobs are one of those people who read multiple newspapers and books to stay updated and relevant.

Benefits of reading in morning:

● More likely to grasp information faster

● Improves concentration levels

● Fewer distractions and disturbances

7. Keep your phone away

Time required: A few seconds (with constant reminders)

Phones have become an inevitable part of our lives. So much so that people start searching for it before they even open their eyes. Checking social media accounts and replying to emails isn’t a great thing to do as the first thing in the morning. Keep a fixed time for phone usage and use morning time for something constructive.

Benefits of less phone usage:

● More time for other things

● Keeps your brain relaxed

8. Eat a real breakfast

Time required: 5-10 minutes

Eating healthy and nutritious food is essential for your well-being. Make it a priority to have a power breakfast every morning. It will provide required nutrients to the body to enable it to be productive and efficient all day long. Include everything to have a wholesome meal. Try incorporating fruits, veggies, salads, lentils to not miss out on essential minerals and vitamins.

Benefits of power breakfast

● Promotes healthy eating habits

● Keeps weight and body mass index in check

● Better skin

9. Watch an Inspiring video

Time required: 5-10 minutes

The best way to start your day is by watching kickass motivational videos or listening to some foot-tapping numbers. It fills you with much-needed energy and empowers you to tap into your potential.

Benefits of watching motivational content:

● Uplifts mood

● Fills you with motivation

● Inspires to take action

Summing it up

The way you handle your morning routine could remarkably change your life for all the good reasons. I’ve only included things that are less time-consuming and doable.

Feel free to share your morning routine rituals in the comments below.

About the Author:
Vartika Kashyap is the Marketing Manager at ProofHub and has been one of the LinkedIn Top Voices in 2017. Her articles are inspired by office situations and work-related events. She likes to write about productivity, team building, work culture, leadership, entrepreneurship among others and contributing to a better workplace is what makes her click.