Different mindset
What do you mean?
You’ve probably heard of it, but I believe in a LEAN mindset. Let’s be clear straight away, applying a LEAN mindset is not what you might think it is: (Again) some tools or techniques, with which all problems can suddenly be solved. This mindset is also not a project that ends over time and is ‘finished’. But then what is it?
LEAN is primarily a mindset, it’s more than tools & techniques. The mindset shows up in our daily interactions with each other & in how we work together.
Behavior
Implementing this LEAN mindset, or behavior, does not just happen overnight, it’s primarily about changing culture. You don’t just transform that. It’s a habit, which is fixed in the norms and values of a team or organization. The point is that the top of a team or organization consciously needs to make a choice to behave itself differently, to lead by example towards the rest of the team or organization. It is a different way of thinking and working that they must understand and show first. ‘Change’ Management and strong leadership, is inescapable. Often, management is not conscious of this, which is mainly why implementations of LEAN fail. And, this leads to having a ‘bad name’ overall & stopping it. The change will not stick…
Tools and techniques
But where are the tools and techniques? Implementing this behavior is not a project or goal in itself, where the use of the tools and techniques to support this behavior often is. Implementing this behavior is primarily about changing culture which is hard to measure, where tools and techniques are an aid to achieve this and which are very measurable. The tools and techniques used to support this behavior will ultimately lead to better results. Not to win or to be the best, but to survive as an organization*. Important: the tools and techniques are only supportive, not the (main) means.
Specify the value(stream) of the customer & remove waste, to create flow according to customer pull. Always strive for perfection.
LEAN mindset in combination with tools & techniques
*Survive as an organization
‘Not to win, but to survive?’ Yes, indeed. I share the opinion of Simon Sinek who states that as a team or organization, you need to stay in the game, not aim to be the best. Because, when you think about it, how do you measure being the best? That will almost always come down to comparing cheese and chalk. In the video below you can watch an inspiring explanation of how ’the game of business’ could also be played (approx. ~16m.).
Literature
