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 #1396 – Create Sense of Ownership for Employees
Tip #1396 – Create Sense of Ownership for Employees
Many
companies try to use money as the primary factor to drive employee ideas. This
usually doesn’t work well. Employees also need the feeling of ownership—a sense
that it is their duty and their right to be involved. Taking pride in their
company and knowing that their ideas are helping the company succeed are
important motivating factors.
companies try to use money as the primary factor to drive employee ideas. This
usually doesn’t work well. Employees also need the feeling of ownership—a sense
that it is their duty and their right to be involved. Taking pride in their
company and knowing that their ideas are helping the company succeed are
important motivating factors.
Lean
Tip #1397 – Let Them Do Their Jobs
Tip #1397 – Let Them Do Their Jobs
Having
your hands in every pot is tempting. Don’t micromanage. Offer guidance, but let
employees learn how to do their jobs by actually doing them. An autonomous
workforce will keep your company running smoothly, and you’ll free up time for
yourself to focus on the big picture.
your hands in every pot is tempting. Don’t micromanage. Offer guidance, but let
employees learn how to do their jobs by actually doing them. An autonomous
workforce will keep your company running smoothly, and you’ll free up time for
yourself to focus on the big picture.
Lean
Tip #1398 – Remember That Hands-Off Doesn’t Mean Invisible
Tip #1398 – Remember That Hands-Off Doesn’t Mean Invisible
Even
though you’re determined to let people carry on with their work, that doesn’t
mean you should hole up in your office all day every day. Getting in face time
with your employees is just as important as letting them get on with their
jobs. Get to know them. Find out what inspires them, what makes them tick, what
makes them the people they are. Ask them about their families and passions from
time to time. It’ll allow you to build on common interests and connect on
another level.
though you’re determined to let people carry on with their work, that doesn’t
mean you should hole up in your office all day every day. Getting in face time
with your employees is just as important as letting them get on with their
jobs. Get to know them. Find out what inspires them, what makes them tick, what
makes them the people they are. Ask them about their families and passions from
time to time. It’ll allow you to build on common interests and connect on
another level.
Lean
Tip #1399 – Challenge and Motivate Employees
Tip #1399 – Challenge and Motivate Employees
As
a leader, it’s your job to take your company in the right direction. But you’re
only as strong as the weakest member of your team. Challenge employees to be
the best they can be. Give them tasks that put them outside their comfort zones
every now and again. Then guide and motivate them. It’s not only a good way to
keep your employees striving for excellence; it’s also a way for you to see how
certain people will react in certain situations.
a leader, it’s your job to take your company in the right direction. But you’re
only as strong as the weakest member of your team. Challenge employees to be
the best they can be. Give them tasks that put them outside their comfort zones
every now and again. Then guide and motivate them. It’s not only a good way to
keep your employees striving for excellence; it’s also a way for you to see how
certain people will react in certain situations.
Lean
Tip #1400 – Involve and Work Through People
Tip #1400 – Involve and Work Through People
Avoid
being prescriptive with each step of your approach, rather opting to use a
facilitated approach to get support and buy in from the teams involved. Always
be open to a team using a different approach though still aligned to the
overall objectives. Forcing things down people’s throats doesn’t really work
well. Good facilitation should allow for a team to reach a pre-conceived
conclusion on their own accord. On the same vein, allow the teams to decide
what tasks and actions are to be done and offer to help rather than allocate
tasks directly to the different people.
being prescriptive with each step of your approach, rather opting to use a
facilitated approach to get support and buy in from the teams involved. Always
be open to a team using a different approach though still aligned to the
overall objectives. Forcing things down people’s throats doesn’t really work
well. Good facilitation should allow for a team to reach a pre-conceived
conclusion on their own accord. On the same vein, allow the teams to decide
what tasks and actions are to be done and offer to help rather than allocate
tasks directly to the different people.
Lean
Tip #1401 – Be Transparent to Gain Trust
Tip #1401 – Be Transparent to Gain Trust
If
your company is doing well and goals are being met, let your employees know.
Likewise, if the company is lagging behind in a few areas, make sure employees
see the big picture. If an employee has questions about his or her standing, be
frank. In short, be trustworthy. How can you expect your employees to trust you
if you don’t trust them with certain information?
your company is doing well and goals are being met, let your employees know.
Likewise, if the company is lagging behind in a few areas, make sure employees
see the big picture. If an employee has questions about his or her standing, be
frank. In short, be trustworthy. How can you expect your employees to trust you
if you don’t trust them with certain information?
Lean
Tip #1402 – Listen To Your Employees
Tip #1402 – Listen To Your Employees
It
can be hard to hear what others have to say if you’re constantly touting your
accomplishments and barking orders. Listen to your employees’ suggestions, then
do something about it. Continue to encourage, support, and implement their
ideas whenever possible. You’re a team, after all.
can be hard to hear what others have to say if you’re constantly touting your
accomplishments and barking orders. Listen to your employees’ suggestions, then
do something about it. Continue to encourage, support, and implement their
ideas whenever possible. You’re a team, after all.
Lean
Tip #1403 – Look Beyond Technical Know-How
Tip #1403 – Look Beyond Technical Know-How
Skills
can be taught. Character can’t. When you’re vetting potential employees, look
for those people who can provide additional value to the company. That doesn’t
mean you should overlook technical aptitude, though. Encourage current
employees to keep learning in order to stay ahead of the technical curve.
Keeping their skills sharp and learning new ones won’t only help them do their
job now, but will help prepare them for the future.
can be taught. Character can’t. When you’re vetting potential employees, look
for those people who can provide additional value to the company. That doesn’t
mean you should overlook technical aptitude, though. Encourage current
employees to keep learning in order to stay ahead of the technical curve.
Keeping their skills sharp and learning new ones won’t only help them do their
job now, but will help prepare them for the future.
Lean
Tip #1404 – Respect Your Employees’ Ideas
Tip #1404 – Respect Your Employees’ Ideas
The
real expert at a job is the person doing the job. Your employees will often
have ideas to improve the product, service or processes that managers may not
spot. But this means that managers and senior leaders need to be enthusiastic
about the idea and committed to it.
real expert at a job is the person doing the job. Your employees will often
have ideas to improve the product, service or processes that managers may not
spot. But this means that managers and senior leaders need to be enthusiastic
about the idea and committed to it.
Lean
Tip #1405 – Encourage Employees to Collaborate on Ideas
Tip #1405 – Encourage Employees to Collaborate on Ideas
Employee
ideas don’t need to be a solo effort, so ensure that your system allows both
individual ideas and collaborative ideas. Collaborating on ideas can improve
the concept further and generate additional input. However, you need to
encourage a culture where employees are enthusiastic about engaging with their
co-workers and unafraid to share their ideas.
ideas don’t need to be a solo effort, so ensure that your system allows both
individual ideas and collaborative ideas. Collaborating on ideas can improve
the concept further and generate additional input. However, you need to
encourage a culture where employees are enthusiastic about engaging with their
co-workers and unafraid to share their ideas.
Lean
Tip #1406 – Promote Responsiveness
Tip #1406 – Promote Responsiveness
Along
with good listening, organizations should promote responsiveness — to
employees, internal and external audiences, leaders, and more — in good times
and bad. Open communication and responsiveness, as well as honesty, helps facilitate
discourse with employees with issues and working together to fix them.
with good listening, organizations should promote responsiveness — to
employees, internal and external audiences, leaders, and more — in good times
and bad. Open communication and responsiveness, as well as honesty, helps facilitate
discourse with employees with issues and working together to fix them.
Lean
Tip #1407 – Set Realistic Goals
Tip #1407 – Set Realistic Goals
You
can’t build Rome in a day, and you can’t expect your employees to do so,
either. Change is implemented gradually and strategically. Setting realistic
goals eliminates unnecessary stress that can hinder quality and quantity of
work, create unhappy employees and impede progress in your organization.
can’t build Rome in a day, and you can’t expect your employees to do so,
either. Change is implemented gradually and strategically. Setting realistic
goals eliminates unnecessary stress that can hinder quality and quantity of
work, create unhappy employees and impede progress in your organization.
Lean
Tip #1408 – Promote Insatiable Learning
Tip #1408 – Promote Insatiable Learning
Insatiable
hunger for knowledge keeps leaders, employees and companies fresh and cutting
edge. Always be open to learning new things and promoting education for all
employees, no matter how much you think you or they already know. Webinars and
courses to help with operations and teamwork keep your employees engaged and
improve your company’s profitability.
hunger for knowledge keeps leaders, employees and companies fresh and cutting
edge. Always be open to learning new things and promoting education for all
employees, no matter how much you think you or they already know. Webinars and
courses to help with operations and teamwork keep your employees engaged and
improve your company’s profitability.
Lean
Tip #1409 – Embrace Innovation to Grow
Tip #1409 – Embrace Innovation to Grow
Along
with being open to learning new things, it’s important to be ready to implement
what develops. Embracing change and adapting to new demands not only keeps a
company relevant, but also presents exciting challenges for employees that can
make work less routine and even boring. Challenges engage and help employees —
not just the organization — grow.
with being open to learning new things, it’s important to be ready to implement
what develops. Embracing change and adapting to new demands not only keeps a
company relevant, but also presents exciting challenges for employees that can
make work less routine and even boring. Challenges engage and help employees —
not just the organization — grow.
Lean
Tip #1410 – Make Work Enjoyable
Tip #1410 – Make Work Enjoyable
Make
sure employees don’t dread work every morning. Generating a comfortable and
enjoyable space, physically and mentally, where employees feel welcome and
supported by their peers, is crucial to happiness and productivity. While
company growth and profitability may be the overarching goals, you should also
be invested in helping your employees grow — whether it is to promote them
within your own organization or help them move onto bigger opportunities. These
employees will be not only grateful, but also productive and loyal.
sure employees don’t dread work every morning. Generating a comfortable and
enjoyable space, physically and mentally, where employees feel welcome and
supported by their peers, is crucial to happiness and productivity. While
company growth and profitability may be the overarching goals, you should also
be invested in helping your employees grow — whether it is to promote them
within your own organization or help them move onto bigger opportunities. These
employees will be not only grateful, but also productive and loyal.
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