A Lean Journey 
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 #2311 – Let Everyone See What Everyone
is Doing
is Doing
It’s hard to lend a hand to your teammates when
you don’t know what they’re doing or where they’re overrun with work.
Unfortunately, office workers tend to keep track of their own work in email or
spreadsheets—places where it can’t be seen by their manager or teammates.
you don’t know what they’re doing or where they’re overrun with work.
Unfortunately, office workers tend to keep track of their own work in email or
spreadsheets—places where it can’t be seen by their manager or teammates.
With each person’s information locked away in
their own personal silos, no one has visibility into anyone else’s needs.
their own personal silos, no one has visibility into anyone else’s needs.
Fortunately, this problem can be fixed by
keeping each person’s work information—what they’re working on, how much of
their bandwidth is being consumed with each assignment, and what they have
coming up—in a public space where the whole team can see it.
keeping each person’s work information—what they’re working on, how much of
their bandwidth is being consumed with each assignment, and what they have
coming up—in a public space where the whole team can see it.
A whiteboard or a shared Google spreadsheet,
for example, are a good way to start doing this.
for example, are a good way to start doing this.
Lean Tip #2312 – Be Present and Attentive
Teamwork is impossible when people think you
don’t care about them.
don’t care about them.
Rather than being that person who tears around
the office, constantly absorbed in the next meeting, the next quarter, the next
campaign, blind to the human beings in your midst, be that team member who
takes time to give their full attention to each conversation.
the office, constantly absorbed in the next meeting, the next quarter, the next
campaign, blind to the human beings in your midst, be that team member who
takes time to give their full attention to each conversation.
When team members see you listening to them,
they will be more likely to buy into your teamwork-building efforts. As
old-fashioned as it may sound, teamwork is the result of a group of people who
care enough about each other to work together.
they will be more likely to buy into your teamwork-building efforts. As
old-fashioned as it may sound, teamwork is the result of a group of people who
care enough about each other to work together.
Lean Tip #2313 – Recognize Team Member
Accomplishments Consistently
Accomplishments Consistently
When team members are praised for outstanding
performance, they’re more likely to stretch themselves in the future to reach
their own goals or to help a team member in need.
performance, they’re more likely to stretch themselves in the future to reach
their own goals or to help a team member in need.
But be careful with praise and rewards: if they
are administered with even a hint of favoritism and arbitrariness, they could
engender resentment and skepticism in your team and undermine your efforts to
build teamwork.
are administered with even a hint of favoritism and arbitrariness, they could
engender resentment and skepticism in your team and undermine your efforts to
build teamwork.
The only way to effectively give praise and
rewards in a way that builds teamwork is to do it i a deliberate, transparent,
structured way. Criteria should be clear and indisputable to everyone involved.
rewards in a way that builds teamwork is to do it i a deliberate, transparent,
structured way. Criteria should be clear and indisputable to everyone involved.
Lean Tip #2314 – Communicate Priorities Clearly
When priorities aren’t clearly communicated to
the whole team, they can feel arbitrary—even when they aren’t. So let your team
know exactly how you will decide what gets worked on. Publish this information
so everyone can refer back to it when necessary and share these priorities with
stakeholders.
the whole team, they can feel arbitrary—even when they aren’t. So let your team
know exactly how you will decide what gets worked on. Publish this information
so everyone can refer back to it when necessary and share these priorities with
stakeholders.
Lean Tip #2315 – Focus on Creating Business
Value
Value
In the course of trying to perform well in the
business world, teams can get a little distracted. They can start to think that
they exist to outperform the team next door. They can get tricked into thinking
they exist to pull off their next promotion or to get public recognition from
the CEO.
business world, teams can get a little distracted. They can start to think that
they exist to outperform the team next door. They can get tricked into thinking
they exist to pull off their next promotion or to get public recognition from
the CEO.
These ideas are inevitable, but they need to be
constantly trimmed to keep teams from getting off track.
constantly trimmed to keep teams from getting off track.
Teams that focus on creating value for their
company—and clearly demonstrating that value to the company—will always go
right. Interestingly, these teams tend to be the ones that also get the
recognition, job security, and praise everyone pines for.
company—and clearly demonstrating that value to the company—will always go
right. Interestingly, these teams tend to be the ones that also get the
recognition, job security, and praise everyone pines for.
So why does your team exist? Plainly put, your
team exists to create value for your business.
team exists to create value for your business.
Lean Tip #2316 – Give The Power To Make Decisions
What’s one of the easiest ways to make team
members lose faith in teamwork? By restricting their autonomy to make decisions
that allow them to accomplish their tasks.
members lose faith in teamwork? By restricting their autonomy to make decisions
that allow them to accomplish their tasks.
When it comes to decision-making, you often
rely on the knowledge of your team members. This is why collaboration is
becoming an essential ingredient for success. Collaborative leadership is about
skillful management of relationships. This management should enable team
members to succeed individually while also accomplishing a shared objective.
Giving your team the power to make decisions serves as great motivation for
effective teamwork and to bring about radical change.
rely on the knowledge of your team members. This is why collaboration is
becoming an essential ingredient for success. Collaborative leadership is about
skillful management of relationships. This management should enable team
members to succeed individually while also accomplishing a shared objective.
Giving your team the power to make decisions serves as great motivation for
effective teamwork and to bring about radical change.
Lean Tip #2317 – Promote Efficient Team Meetings
According to a survey
conducted by Microsoft Office, professionals waste
up to 3.8 hours a week on unproductive meetings. No matter what you call
them—status updates or team gatherings—these meetings are a waste of time if
there is no value in them. Although it’s perhaps not reasonable to have
teamwork without meetings, making sure these meetings are productive is a step
towards effective teamwork in the workplace.
conducted by Microsoft Office, professionals waste
up to 3.8 hours a week on unproductive meetings. No matter what you call
them—status updates or team gatherings—these meetings are a waste of time if
there is no value in them. Although it’s perhaps not reasonable to have
teamwork without meetings, making sure these meetings are productive is a step
towards effective teamwork in the workplace.
To get the most out of your team meetings, try a
meeting checklist. It’s an easy tool that helps you plan for upcoming status
meetings by providing a list of criteria to reflect on. Through proper
preparation, you can save time and turn those dreaded team meetings into
success stories. After all, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.
meeting checklist. It’s an easy tool that helps you plan for upcoming status
meetings by providing a list of criteria to reflect on. Through proper
preparation, you can save time and turn those dreaded team meetings into
success stories. After all, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.
Lean Tip #2318 – Create Conditions Where Trust Wins
Teamwork frequently brings with it an
atmosphere of trepidation rather than trust. Often, employees are scared to
share their ideas, fearing that they’ll be misunderstood or criticized.
atmosphere of trepidation rather than trust. Often, employees are scared to
share their ideas, fearing that they’ll be misunderstood or criticized.
Leaders can create an atmosphere of
psychological safety to promote trust and encourage team members to openly
share ideas and perspectives. One way to do this is by opening your workplace
up to feedback. Enact a system of regular, structured feedback in which you go
around and ask everyone on the team to share something. Appreciate and listen
to the feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. This will gradually
increase the feeling of trust throughout the team.
psychological safety to promote trust and encourage team members to openly
share ideas and perspectives. One way to do this is by opening your workplace
up to feedback. Enact a system of regular, structured feedback in which you go
around and ask everyone on the team to share something. Appreciate and listen
to the feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. This will gradually
increase the feeling of trust throughout the team.
Lean Tips #2319 – Foster a Collaborative Environment
Your team requires both an open company culture
as well as a physical space that encourages collaboration and creativity. These
are the elements of an environment that fosters discussion, idea-sharing and
brainstorming among team members. Remind your employees that there are no
stupid ideas. Establish trust and make sure they feel comfortable sharing ideas
without judgment. In other words, provide the space to brainstorm in a way that
embraces your team’s diversity, encourages teamwork and is open and non-judgmental.
as well as a physical space that encourages collaboration and creativity. These
are the elements of an environment that fosters discussion, idea-sharing and
brainstorming among team members. Remind your employees that there are no
stupid ideas. Establish trust and make sure they feel comfortable sharing ideas
without judgment. In other words, provide the space to brainstorm in a way that
embraces your team’s diversity, encourages teamwork and is open and non-judgmental.
Lean Tips #2320 – Make Everyone Feel Important
Most managers know that giving an employee
direct responsibilities and making them accountable for a particular project’s
success is a great way to motivate individual achievement. This, however, also works for teams. Every person on the team should be just as
involved as every other member. This can
be accomplished through providing all project information, deadlines, and goals
to each individual team member. Make
each of them feel as if the success of the project is dependent on them and
every employee will give it their all.
direct responsibilities and making them accountable for a particular project’s
success is a great way to motivate individual achievement. This, however, also works for teams. Every person on the team should be just as
involved as every other member. This can
be accomplished through providing all project information, deadlines, and goals
to each individual team member. Make
each of them feel as if the success of the project is dependent on them and
every employee will give it their all.
Lean Tip #2321 – Learn How to Coach Your People.
The greatest and strongest leaders know they’re
only as good as the teams around them, so they put tremendous emphasis on coaching
and supporting their people, helping them grow. It’s important to give each
person the attention and feedback that will motivate them to make meaningful
contributions.
only as good as the teams around them, so they put tremendous emphasis on coaching
and supporting their people, helping them grow. It’s important to give each
person the attention and feedback that will motivate them to make meaningful
contributions.
Lean Tip #2322 – Be Passionate, Enthusiastic,
and Positive
and Positive
As a leader, one of your main responsibilities
is to make sure your team reaches their goals. This is really hard to do,
though, if there’s a negative energy in your workplace.
is to make sure your team reaches their goals. This is really hard to do,
though, if there’s a negative energy in your workplace.
You can influence your environment by being
passionate, enthusiastic, and positive about your work. Be excited about what
you’re doing and the impact your business is having on the world.
passionate, enthusiastic, and positive about your work. Be excited about what
you’re doing and the impact your business is having on the world.
Try to conquer problems and setbacks with a
positive outlook. Deal with issues with passion. This attitude will spread
throughout your team and be inspiring to them.
positive outlook. Deal with issues with passion. This attitude will spread
throughout your team and be inspiring to them.
Lean Tip #2323 – Live through Empathy
Kindness begets kindness.
It’s holding the door for someone, making a new
pot of coffee, and letting someone into your lane. Putting others ahead of
yourself is the practice of courageous leadership. Promote charitable giving
and an ethical consciousness in your culture, and your business will have value
beyond monetary, for both your customers and your colleagues.
pot of coffee, and letting someone into your lane. Putting others ahead of
yourself is the practice of courageous leadership. Promote charitable giving
and an ethical consciousness in your culture, and your business will have value
beyond monetary, for both your customers and your colleagues.
Understand your team too, and treat everyone as
an individual. Whether you’re rewarding or reprimanding someone, it’s the role
of a leader to know someone well enough to take an approach that best suits the
individual. This will help you help them get the most out of work and be the
best they can be.
an individual. Whether you’re rewarding or reprimanding someone, it’s the role
of a leader to know someone well enough to take an approach that best suits the
individual. This will help you help them get the most out of work and be the
best they can be.
Lean Tip #2324 – Be Constantly Learning
Leadership is movement. You’re going somewhere–
or, at least, you’re supposed to be. But if you’re not consistently learning
and growing, not only are you going to stay where you’re at, but it’s going to
be very difficult to convince others to continue to improve their performance
as well when they have something they need to work on.
or, at least, you’re supposed to be. But if you’re not consistently learning
and growing, not only are you going to stay where you’re at, but it’s going to
be very difficult to convince others to continue to improve their performance
as well when they have something they need to work on.
Learning gives us the ability to improve our
productivity and efficiency, see things in a new way that can lead to creative
solutions to problems, and maximize results. Whether it’s a regular reading
schedule, podcasts, conferences, or something else, make sure you’re constantly
upping your own game so that you can not only lead better but keep up with the
changes in your space.
productivity and efficiency, see things in a new way that can lead to creative
solutions to problems, and maximize results. Whether it’s a regular reading
schedule, podcasts, conferences, or something else, make sure you’re constantly
upping your own game so that you can not only lead better but keep up with the
changes in your space.
Lean Tip #2325 – Practice What You Preach
The things you say are important, but what you
do stands out even more. In other words, if you want to be a better leader,
implement the qualities you want your team members to have in your own life.
do stands out even more. In other words, if you want to be a better leader,
implement the qualities you want your team members to have in your own life.
Your employees will see what you do day to day.
So be sure you walk the walk instead of just talking the talk.
So be sure you walk the walk instead of just talking the talk.
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