Lean Quote: Freedom Lies In Being Bold

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Freedom lies in being bold."   — Robert Frost

Tomorrow, we celebrate Independence Day in the US. The 4th of July is an extremely patriotic holiday where we celebrate the independence of our country. People celebrate with family and friend gatherings, barbecues, parties, games, food, fun, festivals, parades, musical events and fireworks. 

Lean is a journey of discovery and offers a new path to a different world – a Lean World. The destination and routes individual enterprises takes will rarely be the same, but the principles they apply will. Few executives are brave or bold enough to take a radically different path. Being bold is about having the courage to challenge the status quo but also about being the leader who can set a direction and a goal. A bold organization knows its weaknesses but never let them stop it from making impact. 

Lean manufacturing provides your workforce the freedom that they need to own and maximize their productivity. In a Lean production plant, the "freedom to control one's work" replaces the "mind numbing stress" of mass production. Armed with the skills they need to control their environment workers have the opportunity to think actively even proactively to solve workplace problems. 

Lean is more than the traditional metrics of improved efficiency, reduced costs and increased throughput. The people-centric approach to the application of Lean creates a better future, driven by empowered individuals working in teams, committed to continuous improvement. It is this culture of responsible freedom and trust that allows employees and their organization to realize the positive benefits of Lean and achieve a successful outcome. 

Lean transformation lies in being bold. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you’ve got to walk in front of your group. You’ve got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble. You’ve got to seize the moment. 

Consider this my challenge to you. Dig deep into your inspirational leadership skills to inspire others. Being bold is about taking charge and making something happen. Bold leaders in bold companies do not sit back and wait to see what happens – they take an active role in making good things happen. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and get moving so that you can boldly take your company where it has not been before. I’m confident that it will be an exciting ride full of opportunity and promise.