"WHO DO I FOLLOW?" | Being A Lean Follower | 2.09
LISTEN TO LEARN | Being A Lean Follower | LBFF 2.09
You may be thinking, “Do I have to lead lean? Can’t I just be a follower?” Yes, you can be a LEAN FOLLOWER. What you need to figure out is whose Lean leadership you want to follow. Not all programs are made the same or would provide the coaching you need. So what are you looking for?
Listen to find out how Being A Lean Follower can be just as rewarding as leading the change effort!
WATCH TO TRY | "Being A Lean Follower" with Michel Schmied | LBTT 2.09
Is it okay to be a LEAN FOLLOWER rather than a Lean Leader? Is there a difference? Do you need a Lean Sensei to be your guide? Do you need a consultant? Watch our latest interview with Michel Schmied, a retired Aerospace Professional and Lean Practitioner. Michel shares his experience from Being A Lean Follower to leading Lean in the professional world. He also shares his personal experiences and opinions on working with teams through torrential storms…Watch to Learn More!
READ TO APPLY | Being A Lean Follower | LBCC 2.09
I believe that Lean expands the mindset of traditional management systems making it more inclusive of all individuals. it’s more about how we solve problems rather than controlling the environment we are in. What’s your experience? Is our personal life much different?
The WHY: we are surrounded with opportunities to identify and fix problems…From our workplaces to our families and personal relationships. Is there one right way to be a part of that effort? Can we be Lean Followers? Or do you Have to lead the effort?
The WIIFM: If we are surrounded by opportunities to identify and fix problems, the quality of the solution we implement directly impacts our personal and professional relationships. We all have an opportunity to be a part of that effort regardless if we want to be a leader or not, there’s always an opportunity to participate!
my Advice: I spent many of my early years as a Lean Follower. Don’t get discouraged or bogged down with learning all the Lean Tools…This is a journey remember…
LEAN FOLLOWERS: The definition is the same as a Lean Leader – Any Individual that has a desire to improve the way they work and how they interact with their peers, other employees, and leadership. They “seek first to understand”. They put their pride aside for the betterment of the teams. They ask “WHY?” differently. They have the Lean spirit and mindset and are willing to try, try, try.
- PERSONALLY: Being a Lean Follower isn’t a common thing that is talked about in our personal lives…Let’s think about it more like Being teachable and “seeking first to understand”. These are some of the greatest traits of anyone involved with Lean. How are you emulating these qualities in your personal lives? Do you give people the space to learn from their mistakes? Do you learn from yours? I think these qualities are vital in today’s world. we need more patience and understanding regardless of Lean being the foundation. Do you think so too?
- PROFESSIONALLY: Being Lean Followers is more about behavior than it is about the number of tools you know or have experience with. Do you seek blame first? Or are you in relentless pursuit of root cause? Are you really willing to try, try try?
If my desire is to try, try, try and learn from mistakes; I’m headed in the right direction! That’s the Lean mindset needed for all individuals to flourish, regardless of whether an individual is a Formal Lean leader or not. A Lean mindset teaches that failure is just an opportunity to learn and try again. The mindset earned through continuous process improvement and culture change really does change the individual.
If you or your organization are looking to become Lean followers, Leanbrella can help! Starting with our Culture Climate (RealColors.org) first, will help you understand yourself and the teams you interact with. We cannot follow something we do not trust or believe in!…Contact us today to find out more!