It is a popular misconception that lean thinking and lean transformation strategies are meant only for those who are at the managerial level. Quite contrary to this lean methodologies can be easily understood and followed by each and every person in an organization.
In case you are wondering how can lean practice even be implemented if those in the ‘top’ are not doing much about it – then you need to keep in mind that there are some basic elements or we can even call them as goals which are more or less equally looked up on by every member of an organization. If each employee works on these common goals, it surely will improve productivity of the workforce. The Lean India Summit throws light on how employees can practice lean philosophy with little or no guidance from their bosses.
Here is how it can be done:
Intentions
Intentions are usually stable as compared to elements like actions driven by motivations or change in motivational issues. For example, almost all the managers/ bosses intend to keep the unit cost down by manufacturing parts which can be cheaper as and when possible.
Calculations
A lot of calculation goes into getting any kind of work done (be it productivity related or motivation of the employees) in an organization. As per the famous psychologist Daniel Kahneman we can subconsciously reduce any complex problem to the part we can solve. Thus as an employee, if you feel that certain work is difficult or needs more time for execution, then all you need to do is subconsciously calculate the steps to be taken to solve the issue. The lean workshops in Bangalore will guide on you on how you can do these mental calculations and bring a change in your subconscious thinking.
Actions
At the end, everyone wants results. Be it the boss or the lower level worker. You should always gear your intentions and calculations towards measurable actions. This way, not only will you get the expected results but you can also improve your performance at work.
One major thing which you need to keep in mind while following these three points is context in which you do these activities. The context can be societal, cultural, organizational or national. The social context does have an impact on the goals which are picked and strategies taken to achieve the goal. For example a company which is committed towards producing quality goods will never roll out products which are below standard.
Lean transformation is all about making positive changes in the organization in such a way that it is beneficial for its employees, customers as well as to the organization on a whole. And every single individual’s contribution to this end is counted. So even if your boss is not involved in lean practices we recommend that you continue with your lean work ethics. As gradually your efforts will bring your professional as well as personal gains. Practice lean methodology and bring a change to your organization!
Lean Management Institute of India 