What do you think of when you hear the word lean? Lean muscle? Lean meat? Lean protein? Lean cuisine? Lean manufacturing? Lean leadership? Since this is a blog about Visions of Leadership you should have thought of Lean Leadership. A lean body and lean leadership have a lot in common. Like the guy pictured, this is how you should visualize your business - lean, muscular, agile, strong ethics, handsome. This picture represents your customer's expectations of your business - value, stability, flexible, integrity, great image.
So let's look at how lean is being applied.
The word lean would seem to take on the meaning - that only the essential elements are to be considered and utilized, that there is no waste, no fat in the approach to manufacturing processes or recently in terms of leadership.
It has become fashionable today ( and essential to stay competitive) to think in terms of lean methods, or to adapt many of the processes pioneered in Japan to your business. The lean process used by Toyota Motor Company focused on the customers needs and desires, which in turn required a re-think of how things were manufactured to allow for more variety, lower cost, and fast changeovers. As with everything in life... overindulgence can produce unpredicted outcomes such as Toyota recently faced. The focus on the customer must be maintained. As Toyota moved from total customer focus to a focus on becoming the largest car manufacturer in the world they missed the point. By staying focused on the customer they would still have achieved the 'world title' it just may have taken a little longer. Most car buyers want zero failure, stylish cars that meet their transportation and/or psychological needs. If you provide cars with the customer's need in mind better than any other car manufacturer you will become the the number one car manufacturing company. Toyota only went a little bit astray but it cost them billions to correct.
The lean concept has moved from the manufacturing process to the management/leadership process over the years due to the need for a new kind of leadership approach to business. Lean manufacturing requires 'out-of-the-box' thinking to be successful. It requires managers with special skills to see and effectively lead a lean organization's ongoing changes needed to stay competitive. Lean in terms of leadership refers to a focus on the key elements of personnel styles, traits, and needs to effectively motivate personnel and maintain the focus on the company's goals. It is a - 'just what is needed'; 'just enough'; 'at just the right time'; and an 'agile and flexible' approach. In other words a to-the-point, consistent, and supportive approach to leading.
Look for additional posts that provide more insight into each of the areas outlined here. Follow this blog to obtain the latest posts on the subjects you need to incorporate lean into your business operations.
So let's look at how lean is being applied.- What is the meaning of the word lean?
- What is meant by this term in business?
- Why is it in use today?
- Why associate it with leadership?
The word lean would seem to take on the meaning - that only the essential elements are to be considered and utilized, that there is no waste, no fat in the approach to manufacturing processes or recently in terms of leadership.
It has become fashionable today ( and essential to stay competitive) to think in terms of lean methods, or to adapt many of the processes pioneered in Japan to your business. The lean process used by Toyota Motor Company focused on the customers needs and desires, which in turn required a re-think of how things were manufactured to allow for more variety, lower cost, and fast changeovers. As with everything in life... overindulgence can produce unpredicted outcomes such as Toyota recently faced. The focus on the customer must be maintained. As Toyota moved from total customer focus to a focus on becoming the largest car manufacturer in the world they missed the point. By staying focused on the customer they would still have achieved the 'world title' it just may have taken a little longer. Most car buyers want zero failure, stylish cars that meet their transportation and/or psychological needs. If you provide cars with the customer's need in mind better than any other car manufacturer you will become the the number one car manufacturing company. Toyota only went a little bit astray but it cost them billions to correct.
The lean concept has moved from the manufacturing process to the management/leadership process over the years due to the need for a new kind of leadership approach to business. Lean manufacturing requires 'out-of-the-box' thinking to be successful. It requires managers with special skills to see and effectively lead a lean organization's ongoing changes needed to stay competitive. Lean in terms of leadership refers to a focus on the key elements of personnel styles, traits, and needs to effectively motivate personnel and maintain the focus on the company's goals. It is a - 'just what is needed'; 'just enough'; 'at just the right time'; and an 'agile and flexible' approach. In other words a to-the-point, consistent, and supportive approach to leading.
Look for additional posts that provide more insight into each of the areas outlined here. Follow this blog to obtain the latest posts on the subjects you need to incorporate lean into your business operations.
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