LEAN CONSULTING | LBCC 2.05

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. Does having a consultant involved in the transition really matter?

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. I believe, if we are able to appropriately identify the problem we are trying to solve, by using a lean mindset, we are able to successfully eliminate or reduce the impact of the storms (issues, problems or opportunities) we face. Having a consultant that is well versed in the process of problem identification can help develop teams and individuals into more effective problem solvers.

my Advice: As a Lean consultant myself, I know that I directly impact the perception of lean throughout an organization. If I enter the facility as a “know it all” or “my way or the highway”; i can ruin any chance of lean taking hold in the Culture. But if I become one with the company’s culture and desire first to serve them in their journey that they have established, then true change can start to happen.

LEAN CONSULTANTS: Individuals that are well versed in Lean transformations and assist organizations in achieving their continuous improvement goals. They are sometimes called senseis. They have the Lean spirit and mindset and are willing to try, try, try.

• PERSONALLY: As a lean consultant, i can safely say that it effects everything that I do. I think about lean constantly, how it effects my personal life as well as the lives of those with whom I consult. often I am viewed as a personal mentor or even a therapist to some of the members within the organizations I serve. I’m grateful for their trust and I hope that my colleagues in consulting approach their role in a similar manner. If we have a service mindset and their well-Being at heart, we can really impact not only professional lives, but personal lives as well.
• PROFESSIONALLY: I believe that an effective lean consultant is all about fit within the Organization’s culture. If the personality or character fit of the consultant isn’t right, lean will fail. Having been on the receiving end of various consultants throughout my career, I have learned from some of the best for what to do versus what not to do. As a consultant, we need to remember the human factor to everything we do. Culture has to be right. We can be experts in the application of the lean tools, but if the culture fit isn’t good, the transformation will never happen…

There is no “magic solution” to successful lean transformations. All organizations have flaws and imperfections. But if our desire is to try, try, try and learn from those flaws and mistakes; we are headed in the right direction! That’s the Lean mindset needed for all individuals to flourish, regardless of whether a consultant is utilized 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 and the systems they interact with.

If you or your organization are looking to develop or improve your culture, feel free to contact Leanbrella to learn more about your Culture Climate and Lean transformation Journey. We might be the right consultant culture fit you are looking for…