People are not assets
What is an asset? By definition, it is “a single item of ownership having exchange value.” Exchange value, as in buy and sell. Sounds a bit like slavery to me, which is still this country’s most shameful part of its history. Why are assets on the balance sheet? So that
Read MoreFinding the hidden "mouse" skills in every team member
It’s too bad everyone isn’t just like us, isn’t it? Wouldn’t the world be a better place? Of course not. But our behaviors often suggest that we do hang on to this belief. We are far more likely to recognize the skills and talents of others if those skills and
Read MoreWhen to coach the process, and when to coach the solution
Do you think of yourself as a coach? When I ask this question, almost every single hand goes up. But what does that really mean? Do we have a process? Or do we confuse sharing our little bits of wisdom with coaching? To be an effective coach, you must combine
Read MoreMotivation and Incentives in the Lean Company
Some groups don’t have to worry about motivation. Sports teams, for example, are filled with people who want to win, or at least enjoy trying. But for most of us, don’t have motivation so easy. Truly lean organizations have demonstrated a higher level of motivation, incentive, and engagement. In
Read MoreYou’re sacked! NEXT!
Although I have written about Undercover Boss, don’t expect this post to be about Donald Trump’s Apprentice (even if the show has now officially jumped the shark, since we now have crook governors and ex-wrestlers). But while fun to say “You’re Fired!” on TV, it’s a lot harder in real
Read MoreCreating Employee Engagement, Part 4
This is the final part of a 4 part series on Creating Employee Engagement. You can first read Parts 1, 2, and 3. Skills Required for Engagement Skill gaps to create engagement exist both in employees and managers, although most transformation efforts tend to focus on only one or the
Read MoreCreating Employee Engagement, Part 3
This is part 3 on employee engagement. Read Part 1 and Part 2. The Development of Systems to Support Engagement When conducting an assessment, one of the most revealing questions that I seem to ask is “if you have found waste or an opportunity to improve, what do you do
Read MoreCreating Employee Engagement, Part 2
This is Part 2, you can read Part 1 on Creating Employee Engagement. The Role of Culture in Engagement Culture is the set of shared assumptions, beliefs, and principles that a group or organization holds. It is best measured or observed by the shared behaviors or habits that are exhibited.
Read MoreCreating Employee Engagement, Part 1
Learning happens in the classroom. Coaching happens through a formal mentor often away from our work. At least that’s what we’ve been lead to believe. But that view has many limitations. As it applies to learning, learning is never internalized in the classroom. There is a difference between information, which
Read MoreYou must lack common sense!
Kiyoshi Suzaki, a lean thinker who deserves to be at the top of any lean guru list, wrote: Lean tools are common sense – after the fact. I think that makes sense based on my observations. People see it, and they want to call lean “common sense”. Some organizations and
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