Where do I start? FIRST of Series

How can I implement Lean Leadership principals and programs with limited or no consulting services?

So many great ideas fail because of execution, not because the idea was bad.  It is the same with Lean Leadership principals and programs.  There are many opportunities for success - pushing your business to new heights with record profits.  There are also opportunities to add cost without seeing a return. I have seen how six-sigma programs, TQM, Leadership Programs and other processes have both helped and hindered companies. As the leader of your organization you must be sure you understand and internalize your path to success.  This blog is intended to help you understand the areas to focus on, the tools needed, where to find help, and to recognize when you really do need to seek expert advise.  This blog and its many posts can help you follow a path to understanding.  Along the way you will learn many things, however be ever aware that few can go it alone!  We can always learn from the experts and often they are the only ones who can push us along to achieve our goals. The path to "Lean Leadership" is not a walk in the park.  However there are many opportunities to take advantage of principals and tools which can be implemented in a logical order over a period of time.  Keep in mind that Lean Leadership is a process, not a single action.  You need to start somewhere, why not here.

Training and continuous Learning are the keys to success.  Everyone in the organization must be challenged constantly.  Training and Learning opportunities must be made available to encourage new thinking.  Implementing the ideas in this blog along with support and training where needed will get you on your way to success with limited costs.  Try for some small successes before taking on a complete culture or organization change.  Look for some 'quick fixes' to use as learning opportunities.

The main thing is not to take on too much until you and your organization have a solid foundation in the process tools you will use.  There are so many "tools" out there that you can get lost in the process.  Be careful when hiring consultants to help you.  Many of them are great and are really there to help... because they enjoy seeing people and companies succeed.  However, others are there to just generate cash flow for themselves or their company.  There are many one or two person consultation groups out there at very reasonable costs to work with you.  These individuals will have a personal, vested interest in your success.  Give the 'new guy or the lone consultant' a chance to provide you with the services you need.  These folks often have very reasonable daily/hourly rates that can be one half of the big guys rates and will provide focused results. They will not have all the fancy 'glossies' but will have the knowledge.

Try out some of the principals and processes outlined in this blog such as those shown on pages:

1. Strategy Factors
2. Success Path
3. Process Tools
4. How to...?
5. Lean Leadership

These pages will link you to many other posts that will show you the path!  It is also important to review many of the archived posts and subscribe to this blog to get the latest posts on your path to success.

Also see:
Where do I Start? SECOND
Where do I Start? THIRD

Lean?

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.

1. What is the meaning of the word lean?
2. What is meant by this term in business?
3. Why is it in use today?
4. Why associate it with leadership?

The word lean has a number of meanings.  It can refer to 'moving toward', as in she is leaning toward this candidate.  It can refer to something which is tilted, like a tree or building is leaning.  However in the case of business processes it seems to refer to thin, sparse, to-the-point, minimum, no waste, only what is needed, pure, like lean muscle!

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. 

Mission Statement(s)

Your mission is the nuts and bolts of your vision.  A mission statement concerns what an organization is all about.

 It answers three questions:

1. What do we do?
2. For whom do we do it?
3. What is the benefit?

A mission statement gives the overall purpose of an organization, while a vision statement describes a picture of the desired future. Your mission statement explains what you do, for whom, and what is the benefit.  The vision statement describes how the future will look if the you achieve your mission!

An example:
"We build the finest castles for the world's billionaires.   Our castles are eco-friendly, made out of all natural materials and meet all local energy conservation standards. We strive to mazimize our client's return as much as possible while taking into account all possible threats ."

The differences:

1. Vision:  Defines where the organization wants to be in the future. It reflects the optimistic view of the organization's future.
2. Mission:  Defines where the organization is going now, basically describing the purpose, why this organization exits.
3. Values:  Main values protected by the organization during the progression, reflecting the organization's culture and priorities.
4. Strategic Planning: Saves wasted time, every minute spent in planning saves ten minutes in execution.