A Lean Journey 
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.
“People will not be set in motion until they are convinced on an emotional level based on trust…” — Shigeo Shingo, The Sayings of Shigeo Shingo , p. 129
Most leaders
think their followers put vision or communication or problem solving skills
first. Of course, all of those attributes are important, but what difference do
they make if you are not trusted? Does it matter what vision you provide if
there is little trust that it’s best for all? Does it matter how well you
communicate if what is said can’t be trusted? Does it matter how charismatic
you are if only a handful are willing to follow you?
think their followers put vision or communication or problem solving skills
first. Of course, all of those attributes are important, but what difference do
they make if you are not trusted? Does it matter what vision you provide if
there is little trust that it’s best for all? Does it matter how well you
communicate if what is said can’t be trusted? Does it matter how charismatic
you are if only a handful are willing to follow you?
Integrity gets
lost…one degree of dishonesty at a time. There are no varying degrees of
integrity. A leader is judged to have integrity or not based on what is seen.
Minor lies can become a major problem. As minor as lies may seem, employees do
not forget integrity mistakes.
lost…one degree of dishonesty at a time. There are no varying degrees of
integrity. A leader is judged to have integrity or not based on what is seen.
Minor lies can become a major problem. As minor as lies may seem, employees do
not forget integrity mistakes.
There are 4 key
ways a leader can earn employees trust:
ways a leader can earn employees trust:
1. Keep your
promises. You don’t have to promise things just to make employees feel good.
They are more interested in being able to depend on what you promise than in
feeling good. Just keep the promises you do make and trust will follow.
promises. You don’t have to promise things just to make employees feel good.
They are more interested in being able to depend on what you promise than in
feeling good. Just keep the promises you do make and trust will follow.
2. Speak out
for what you think is important. Employees can’t read your mind. If employees
have to guess how you feel about something, they may guess wrong. Tell them how
you feel and why. This builds respect.
for what you think is important. Employees can’t read your mind. If employees
have to guess how you feel about something, they may guess wrong. Tell them how
you feel and why. This builds respect.
3. Error on the
side of fairness. Be fair to all. Things
are not always clearly right or wrong. Sometimes you have to make difficult
decisions that affect many people. Sometimes those decisions include having to
de-hire some employees. Be fair at all times – regardless of the type or
decisions you have to make.
side of fairness. Be fair to all. Things
are not always clearly right or wrong. Sometimes you have to make difficult
decisions that affect many people. Sometimes those decisions include having to
de-hire some employees. Be fair at all times – regardless of the type or
decisions you have to make.
4. Do what you
say you are going to do. Just let you “yes” be yes or your “no” mean no. When
you say you’re going to do something, your employees should be able to
“consider it done.”
say you are going to do. Just let you “yes” be yes or your “no” mean no. When
you say you’re going to do something, your employees should be able to
“consider it done.”
It all starts
with integrity. Your employees will follow only if you have earned their trust!
with integrity. Your employees will follow only if you have earned their trust!
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