Here is the next addition of tips from the Facebook page:
Lean Tip #3901 – Teamwork is the Foundation of Continuous Improvement
True Lean transformation starts with teamwork. The most
effective Lean systems are built on collaboration, not competition. When
individuals come together around a shared purpose, they can solve complex
problems, generate new ideas, and sustain improvements that no one could
achieve alone.
Building teamwork requires intentional effort. Create
opportunities for people to work across functions, share perspectives, and
align around customer value. When everyone sees how their role connects to the
bigger picture, they take ownership of improvement efforts. Strong teams are
not accidental—they are the result of trust, communication, and a shared belief
that together, we can always make things better.
Lean Tip #3902 – Build Trust Before You Ask for Change
Lean relies heavily on people’s willingness to change how
they work. But people won’t embrace change from leaders they don’t trust. Trust
is built through consistency, transparency, and fairness. When employees
believe their leaders listen and genuinely care about their success, they are
far more likely to support new initiatives.
Start small—follow through on your promises, admit when you
don’t have all the answers, and show appreciation for honest feedback. These
actions communicate integrity and reliability. Before asking your team to
change a process or adopt a new standard, ensure you’ve earned their
confidence. Change without trust feels like control, but change built on trust
feels like progress.
Lean Tip #3903 – Visual Management Strengthens Team
Alignment
Visual management is one of the most powerful Lean
techniques because it makes the invisible visible. When performance, problems,
and priorities are clearly displayed, teams can align and act quickly. A
well-designed visual system allows anyone to understand the current condition
of the process at a glance—whether things are on track or need attention.
Use visual boards, Kanban systems, and process maps to
communicate information openly. Make them team-owned, not management-owned.
When people contribute to creating and maintaining these visuals, they develop
ownership and engagement. Visual management is more than a display—it’s a
communication system that reinforces accountability, collaboration, and shared
responsibility for improvement.
Lean Tip #3904 – Lead with Questions, Not Answers
Effective Lean leaders don’t dictate solutions—they develop
problem solvers. One of the best ways to do that is to lead with questions.
Instead of telling your team what to do, ask questions that help them think
deeply: What do you see? Why is this happening? What could we try next?
By asking rather than telling, you empower people to
explore, learn, and discover insights for themselves. This approach builds
confidence and critical thinking skills. Over time, teams become
self-sufficient in problem-solving and improvement. Great leaders understand
that their job isn’t to provide all the answers, but to create the environment
where the best answers emerge from the team.
Lean Tip #3905 – Focus on the Process, Not the Person
When problems occur, our instinct is often to look for
someone to blame. But Lean teaches us that nearly all performance problems are
process problems, not people problems. Systems drive behavior. If you want
consistent results, you must design consistent processes.
Shifting focus from people to process creates a safer, more
constructive environment. Employees feel comfortable raising issues and
suggesting improvements because they know they won’t be blamed for systemic
failures. As a leader, model this behavior by asking “What in the process
allowed this to happen?” rather than “Who caused this?” When you improve the
process, you protect your people and your performance simultaneously.
Lean Tip #3906 – Use Leading Metrics to Drive Proactive
Action
Metrics are the dashboard of Lean management, but not all
metrics are created equal. Lagging metrics—such as monthly sales or defect
rates—tell you what already happened. Leading metrics, on the other hand,
predict what will happen. They give you the opportunity to act before results
deteriorate.
Examples of leading metrics include the number of completed
training sessions, frequency of preventive maintenance, or percentage of
improvement ideas implemented. These measures are actionable and
forward-looking. Use them to drive daily management and proactive problem
solving. By balancing leading and lagging indicators, you can better guide your
team toward sustained improvement rather than reacting to problems after they
occur.
Lean Tip #3907 – Teach Problem-Solving as a Daily Habit
Problem-solving is not reserved for special events or
projects—it should be part of everyone’s daily work. When employees learn
structured methods like PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) or A3 thinking, they can
tackle small issues before they grow into large ones.
Create a culture where continuous improvement is expected
and supported. Encourage team members to identify and address problems in real
time. Recognize those efforts, even if the outcomes aren’t perfect. Over time,
your organization will build a collective capability to learn, adapt, and
improve continuously. Problem-solving isn’t just a skill—it’s the muscle that
strengthens Lean thinking every day.
Lean Tip #3908 – Servant Leaders Ask: “How Can I Help You
Succeed?”
Servant leadership lies at the heart of Lean. A servant
leader’s goal isn’t to command, but to enable. They remove obstacles, provide
resources, and coach their teams to perform at their best. This mindset
transforms the leader’s role from boss to supporter.
Ask your team regularly: “What’s standing in your way?” and
“How can I help you succeed?” By focusing on the needs of your people, you
demonstrate respect and earn trust. When employees feel supported, they’re more
willing to experiment, take ownership, and collaborate openly. Servant
leadership builds strong teams capable of sustaining continuous improvement
over the long term.
Lean Tip #3909 – Celebrate Small Wins Frequently
In the rush to achieve big goals, it’s easy to overlook the
small victories that happen every day. But those small wins are the fuel of
continuous improvement. Each time a team solves a problem, eliminates waste, or
implements a better standard, they’ve made real progress toward excellence.
Celebrate those achievements—publicly and sincerely. Recognition reinforces the right behaviors and motivates others to contribute. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; a simple thank-you or a story shared at a team meeting can make a big difference. Remember, Lean is a journey made up of thousands of small steps. Every win, no matter how small, deserves to be noticed.
Lean Tip #3910 – Standard Work Creates the Baseline for
Improvement
Standard work is the foundation of Lean. It defines the best
known way to perform a task today—so tomorrow, we can make it even better.
Without standards, improvement is impossible, because there’s no baseline for
comparison.
Developing standard work should be a collaborative process.
Involve the people who do the work every day; their input ensures practicality
and ownership. Once in place, use standards as living documents—update them as
improvements are made. Standard work stabilizes processes, ensures consistency,
and provides the structure needed to drive meaningful, lasting improvement.
Lean Tip #3911 – Reflection Turns Experience into
Learning
Experience alone doesn’t guarantee growth—reflection does.
Taking time to pause, review, and think critically about what happened is
essential to continuous improvement. Reflection allows teams to capture lessons
learned, identify what worked, and understand what didn’t.
After every project, Kaizen event, or even a busy week,
build in reflection time. Ask questions like: What did we set out to do? What
actually happened? Why was there a difference? And what can we do better next
time? These discussions transform activity into insight and insight into
progress. Lean organizations that make reflection part of their daily rhythm
consistently learn faster and perform better.
Lean Tip #3912 – Share Best Practices Openly and Often
In too many organizations, improvement ideas stay trapped
within one team or department. The true power of Lean comes when those ideas
are shared freely. Sharing best practices helps spread success across the
organization, saving time, avoiding duplicate effort, and inspiring new
thinking.
Establish regular opportunities for sharing—Lean fairs,
improvement showcases, or short “show and tell” sessions at team huddles. Make
it easy for teams to learn from one another. When people see that their ideas
make a broader impact, they feel valued and motivated to keep improving.
Collaboration and openness turn isolated wins into organizational excellence.
Lean Tip #3913 – Empower Teams to Solve Problems at the
Source
The people closest to the work often have the best
understanding of what’s going wrong—and how to fix it. Empowering teams to
identify and solve problems at the source builds both engagement and
capability. Rather than waiting for management intervention, employees can take
immediate, informed action.
Provide your teams with problem-solving tools, time, and
encouragement. Recognize their efforts publicly to reinforce accountability and
pride in ownership. When employees feel empowered to address issues directly,
they become active participants in continuous improvement. This decentralized
approach accelerates problem resolution and creates a culture of responsibility
and initiative.
Lean Tip #3914 – Visualize Flow to Identify Waste
Seeing is understanding. Many process problems remain hidden
until you make the work visible. Tools like value stream mapping and process
flow diagrams allow teams to visualize how materials, information, and people
move through a system. Once flow is visible, waste becomes easier to identify.
Bring your team together to map the current state of a
process. Discuss delays, rework, or bottlenecks. Then design a future-state map
that represents your ideal flow. This shared visualization not only reveals
waste but also unites the team around a common vision for improvement. Lean
thinking always begins with seeing the flow.
Lean Tip #3915 – Metrics Should Drive Behavior, Not Fear
Metrics are vital for tracking progress, but if used poorly,
they can create anxiety and resistance. When numbers are weaponized, people
focus on protecting themselves rather than improving the process. Metrics
should motivate, inform, and align—not intimidate.
Choose measures that reinforce collaboration and learning.
Share results transparently, discuss them constructively, and focus on trends
rather than single data points. Encourage teams to ask, “What can we learn from
this?” instead of “Who’s at fault?” A positive approach to metrics fosters
engagement and drives meaningful improvement.
