LEAN LEARNING | LBCC 2.07

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 a way we can learn the tools and is there a “right way” to learn Lean?

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. Learning about the tools and processes, that can help us solve our own problems, is always a great solution!

my Advice: As a Lean consultant/Trainer myself, I know that I directly impact the perception of lean throughout an organization. If I didn’t learn the concepts myself and apply what I learned into my work, I wouldn’t be able to coach in an effective way. true learning happens when the student feels heard, has the ability to implement what they learned, and has the opportunity to learn from failure as well as success.

LEAN LEARNERS: Any Individual that has a desire to improve the way they work and how they interact with their peers, coworkers, and leadership. They desire to be well versed in Lean tools and methodologies. They might have a position that requires they assist their organization in achieving its continuous improvement goals or they may not. They have the Lean spirit and mindset and are willing to try, try, try.

• PERSONALLY: Learning Lean can affect the way we interact with those around us. Many individuals that have gone through a lean training program like Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma will often try to apply some of the principles in their personal lives. Especially when they do not have an opportunity to try things out in their professional lives. Most often it’s 5S that people experiment with at home. Just remember, if you’re the lean learner, be patient with your family members that are not on board or haven’t been introduced to the principles…Buy-in at home is sometimes harder than buy-in in the workplace. Remember to have patience!
• PROFESSIONALLY: Lean is best learned by practice and patience. Your enthusiasm and experience with the Lean tools will inspire others to want to learn the tools as well as encourage the culture change process. The Culture has to be right first before there will be a broader acceptance of the methodology. We can be experts in the application of the lean tools, but “if the culture fit isn’t good, the transformation will never happen”…Every student needs to learn and internalize this as a foundational concept.

Learning Lean concepts/Tools is not enough. I can take several Lean Boot Camps or Certification programs until I’m blue in the face. But if there is no understanding of culture, i will fail. 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 certified in Lean/Lean Six Sigma 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 become certified in Lean, Leanbrella offers three levels of Certification: Storm Watcher (focus on culture), Storm Chaser (focus on Lean tools), and Leanierologist (focus on Lean Product Development and advanced tools). We are happy to support your training needs with a focus on Culture first…Contact us today to find out more!