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.
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” — Max De Pree
This quote, from Max DePree is among my favorite servant leadership quotes. This frames 3 roles every leader must fulfill: the roles of Realist, Praiser and Servant. I would like to extend this line of thinking to that of a Lean Leader specifically.
What are the qualities of a good Lean Leader? This is one of the most contemplated questions when undergoing a Lean thinking transformation since leadership is critical to it’s very success. In my opinion there are at least 10 key responsibilities for a Lean leader:
Learn Lean Thinking
Get out front, be hands on, don’t delegate
Take lots of leaps of faith
Change metrics and set stretch goals
Create an environment where it is ok to fail
Provide air cover for early adopters
Eliminate concrete heads
Have a no layoff policy
Organize around value streams
Change any compensation system that doesn’t support Lean
The next time someone asks you what roles a Lean leader must play, keep this mind. I am sure you have some others to add as well and I encourage you to do so in the comments below.
A Lean Journey 
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *