Lean Tips Edition #154 (#2521 - 2535)

For my Facebook fans you already know about this great feature. But for those of you that are not connected to A Lean Journey on Facebook or Twitter I post daily a feature I call Lean Tips.  It is meant to be advice, things I learned from experience, and some knowledge tidbits about Lean to help you along your journey.  Another great reason to like A Lean Journey on Facebook.

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Here is the next addition of tips from the Facebook page:

Lean Tip #2521 – Schedule Regular Team Brainstorms For Ideas.

Build ongoing brainstorm sessions into the weekly or monthly meeting rhythm. This creates a culture of open engagement and ensures your team that their ideas are valued. For all ideas selected, follow up with incentives. Even a small gift card, a lunch out with you or access to company products and services goes a long way to show appreciation and fuel future innovation.

Lean Tip #2522 – Build the Right Environment For Ideas.

As a leader, your role is to knock down walls and develop an environment that evokes creative thinking from your team. The team needs to feel that their voice is appreciated and that they have room to do cool things. Let them test their ideas, see what works and what could be improved, and make sure they know that they have to opportunity to do so.

Lean Tip #2523 – Be Transparent With Overall Business Goals.

The more teams know about changing goals and new opportunities for the business, the more involved they will feel in its success. Creative ideas stem naturally from the desire to participate in the company's growth and awareness of the right direction. The resulting successful marketing campaigns compound the benefits on a morale level and reinforce employee loyalty.

Lean Tip #2524 – Ask the Team What They Want to Learn.

One of the best ways to engage your team is by asking what they'd like to learn. Develop a project that encourages them to dive deep into what you are already doing, research competitors in the space and present strategy ideas. This project will help them to structure feedback and learn more from the experience than just sharing a few early ideas.

Lean Tip #2525 – Encourage Mistakes.

One of the best ways to encourage creative ideas is by making it really clear that mistakes are not just tolerated but encouraged. Understanding that not all creative ideas are going to be wins creates a comfortable environment to brainstorm ideas and walk through new concepts. Mistakes are part of every creative process, and making room for them allows for innovative thinking.

Lean Tip #2526 – Offer Positive Reinforcement For Idea.

Sometimes the best way to encourage a team member is to not discourage them. If a team member suggests an idea that obviously will not work or is even irrelevant, don't put them down, especially in front of others. If they have a great idea in the future, they may hesitate or refuse to share for fear of being mocked. Foster an environment where there are no bad ideas.

Lean Tip #2527 – Share Your Idea.

People who are shy about sharing their ideas usually feel their ideas are not great and they may look bad in front of their colleagues. Assert that no ideas are dumb and that you welcome all ideas. Let your team submit ideas via email or one on one. Discuss submitted ideas anonymously in team meetings so everyone can hear about them and let people choose the idea that they like the best.

Lean Tip #2528 – Challenge the Way You Work

Encourage employees to keep looking anew at the way they approach their work. Ask people what works well and what doesn't. Allocate time for thinking about different approaches. Appeal for original ways to solve particular problems. Keep your door open to anyone with new ideas. Encourage people to work together and share ideas. Individuals within the team can feed off each other – exploring, testing and refining new approaches.

Lean Tip #2529 – Reward Creativity

Respond enthusiastically to all ideas. Never make someone offering an idea, however hopeless, feel foolish. Give even the most apparently outlandish of ideas a chance to be aired. Motivate individuals or teams who come up with winning ideas by actively recognizing creativity, for example through an awards scheme.

Lean Tip #2530 – Act on Ideas

Creativity is only worthwhile if it results in action. Provide the time and resources to develop and implement those ideas that are worth acting upon.

Following through on good ideas is a powerful way of encouraging staff to keep being creative, coming up with more new ideas to improve the business.

Lean Tip # 2531 – Improve Listening By Recognizing That Employees May Know What They're Doing

The single biggest problem I've seen among executives, managers, and entrepreneurs is the assumption that no one "beneath them" could have anything valuable to say. There are those who will succeed in the face of such arrogance, but any such stories you might have heard are likely outweighed by the legions of others who come to nothing. No one accomplishes much of anything without a lot of help, and to dismiss the experience and insights of others because they're not in charge of the business is smug and stupid.

Lean Tip #2532 – Make Listening a Priority

Listening must be considered as an important skill and must be listed on the top of your priority list. Listening and acknowledging has been an important skill which is mandatory for a leader. When employers and leaders have the mindset that they have all the answers, then they do not listen at all. Hence, it is important to have the intention to listen.

Lean Tip #2533 – Show Employees That You Care

When you listen to their issues and solve it, they believe that you care for them as an employer. When they know you care, then they work harder and aim higher than expected results.

Employees love to work under leaders who care for them, they do not want to be looked as tools or resources utilized for the success of the organization. Employees always want to have a good relationship where employers listen to their concerns at times of professional hardships.

Lean Tip #2534 – Be Mindful of Surroundings

It is a fact that great leaders are always mindful of their surroundings. Along with both verbal and non-verbal communication, they also know to listen in an active manner. They use facial expressions, nods, and body language in order to show that they are responding. Executive presence is an asset that is required for leaders and managers so that they listen effectively.

Lean Tip #2535 – Get Rid of Distractions

It is a fact that people get annoyed when they speak and the listeners don’t listen. In that manner, you should not do the same when someone converses. It would be good to switch off mobiles, turn off tablets or laptop and invest some energy in the one who is speaking on the other side.

When your employee speaks to you and you’re busy with your iPhone or Tab, then it is surely a negative impression for the ones who work for you. Avoiding such distractions when you speak to your employees can be one best way that can be followed to listen to employees.

The Five Types of People to Surround Yourself with for Success

Success is made up of hard work, commitment and passion but perhaps one of the most crucial factors to take into account is who we choose to surround ourselves with. As the old adage goes, 'you are who you hang out with' and the people we invite into our world on a daily basis can impact the way we think, feel and act.

 There are five types of people that you must surround yourself with if you want to successful:

The Inspired
The inspired people are those who create the urge or ability for you to do something within your life. These are the people who create a feeling of awe within you and create a state of mind that is empowering as opposed to disempowering.

The inspired are those who spark a curiosity within your heart and mind and cause you to search for inspiration elsewhere as well. They breed n environment of inspiration which leads to high quality results in life.

The Passionate
The passionate people are those who express their intensity through the medium of life. They immerse themselves in what they become deeply engaged in and find themselves in flow.

These are the people who, like the inspired individuals, infect you with their ability to become passionate. They cause you to reflect on your own levels of passion and guide you curiously to a place where you can be just as passionate as them.

Their passion is obvious and spills out of them. They have that glitter in their eye and love in their heart.

The Motivated
The motivated people are those who get things done. They very rarely struggle with accomplishing tasks because they have a strong vision and why for their life.

The reason why the motivated people are so critical in your life is because they show you how to become a person who is intrinsically motivated as opposed to extrinsically motivated. In other words, they show you how to cultivate motivation from within as opposed to having your motivation being dictated by the environment.

These people work hard on their journey and set the example for how hard you must work on your own craft and life. They show you how to set a schedule, focus on the important things, knock out one task after another, so on and so forth.

The Grateful
The grateful people are those who live within the present moment and express their full gratitude for what they have and the circumstance that they find themselves in.

These individuals allow you to fully relax in their presence and carry with them a calm energy that becomes infectious. You are attracted to these people because of how present and attentive they are.

These people allow you to see the positives as opposed to the negatives. They look at the glass fully and drink deeply from it. They take the time to look at the trees, flowers, breathe in the air, and experience all of the sensory inputs that are available to them in the immediate environment. They are great practitioners of mindfulness.

The Open Minded
The open minded people are those who expose you to new ideas, people, places, experiences, so on and so forth. They expose a whole new world to you and your perspective becomes wiser as a result.

These are the people who will give you that nudge to break free of your comfort zone into things that you previously deemed uncomfortable. They essentially expand your comfort zone for you through the process of just being around them.

The fastest way in order for you to accelerate your success is simply choosing the right people to hang around with. By spending time with these types of people, you begin to pick up on their ways of thinking, actions, habits, so on and so forth. This will give you a new perspective and will start the process of momentum for you to do the very same thing within your own character.

Lean Quote: Patience is to Be Calm No Matter What Happens

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.

"Patience is not the ability to wait. Patience is to be calm no matter what happens, constantly take action to turn it to positive growth opportunities, and have faith to believe that it will all work out in the end while you are waiting."   — Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

In the pursuit of peace and joy in life, one of the most important traits we need to develop to go further is patience. The dictionary defines patience as a state of endurance under difficult circumstances. It is also the ability to wait in the face of delay without becoming negative.

We definitely aren’t born with it. We can definitely work on developing more patience, instead of thinking of it as genetic we should think of it as a skill. People who are patient are not free of frustration rather they are able to tolerate frustration without becoming negative or exhibit signs of frustration and long suffering. Being patient also doesn’t mean just restraint or tolerance it is a much deeper emotion, patience is a form of compassion.

Never confuse patience with apathy. Being patient doesn’t include disconnecting from our emotions and feelings. It means accepting how we feel about a given situation and doing whatever needs to be done. Being patient means accepting both how you feel about a given situation and what you can realistically do about it. To be patient doesn’t mean to surrender and just give up hope, being patient does not mean being passive.

Patience means preparing ourselves to face people and situations in the world, which we would have otherwise reacted very poorly. Patience also means that you stick through the tough times, we may all start with a lot of motivation initially but it fades over a period of time, we need patience to see our projects, work and plans to the very end. Patience is also a sign of wisdom; it grows over the years slowly but steadily.

Just like any skill we build patience by practicing more and more, we need to be aware if are being impatient and rectify ourselves. Especially when times get tough, being patient is crucial in staying calm every situation. But start small always; if we train ourselves to work around the little pains and irritations we can handle the big ones.

Seven Ways to Unlock Your Inner Leadership Skills

Who is a leader, and why do we need leadership qualities?

A leader is a person who has a goal and a team that one leads to that goal. Perseverance, adaptability, and integrity are said to be the most critical leadership qualities. The leader is respected, inspired, supported, and developed by his or her followers. 

And even if you don’t aspire to be president, those skills will be useful in life: convincing colleagues or employees at work, getting kids to listen or getting what you want from customers. It has been suggested that leadership abilities are shaped by parents in childhood, but the first ones can be developed at any age as well. Below, we review the ways to summon your inner potential of being a true leader.

Always See a Full Picture
Share your point of view with the team, elaborate on your purpose and mission. Your job as a leader is to create a unique path to follow. Explain the importance of the goal and share your ambitions. 

Tell your colleagues why your strategy will help improve the company’s state of affairs, explain what benefits the employees will end up with: material goods, professional experience, etc. Set up plans and ask for feedback.

Set Your Goals Right
The whole life of a leader is an activity. The leader is always busy with something, and his or her employment is subordinated to a specific goal. We are not talking about the general and global aim, it is rather about a narrow goal that depends on the issue being solved.

In other words, if a leader does something, everyone knows why he or she does so. A correctly set goal is closely related to the fulfillment of one's promises. Your promises must become your goals. 

Know Your Strengths &; Have Your Plan of Actions
You have to know exactly where you’re going to. So, clearly define the target you’re aiming for. And then, start working on a plan to achieve it. Break your path into small steps and set intermediate goals. In that way, it will be easier to get what you want.

Everyone is born with certain talents and developed abilities (those that a person has learned during a lifetime.) Frequently, we do not understand our genetic data just because something that does not require effort goes unnoticed. However, knowing one’s strengths enhances self-esteem, generates pleasure, success, and self-realization. Think about what you do best. Maybe you speak English well, juggle numbers efficiently, or have a good memory. Use and develop your strengths to become meaningful in a team.

Always set your priorities properly. Sometimes the goal of making money and the process of leading some dubious project may conflict with your global aim of being happy and living with a clear conscience. With the priorities set, you always know what you need to refuse and why. In the future, it will help to avoid painful internal conflicts.

Take Responsibility &; Follow Your Principles
Of course, responsibility for one's life comes first. But don't forget about the responsibility for your words, deeds, and promises. Even if you didn't do anything on purpose or if something happened against your will, it would be a result of your behavior. Remember the Little Prince: "You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."

When you make decisions or do things that confront with your moral principles, there will be a sharp sense of dissatisfaction. This unconscious feeling prevents the building of trust within a team. And if you act in harmony with your values, people intuitively sense your integrity. Accordingly, they respect you and recognize you as a leader.

Think of others and find beneficial solutions
Here is the thing: the leader is not looking for compromises, but instead works on solutions where both parties equally win and satisfied. It allows you to establish closer ties and strong cooperation. An agreement, in essence, is a loss for both sides: each should give up on something.

Would you ask for advice from someone who doesn’t believe in the success of his or her cause? We bet you wouldn’t. Think about how you can use your zeal. Let people know that you value their contributions and sincerely celebrate their progress. Remember to praise. In a word, share your enthusiasm.

True leaders reinforce words with action. It sets the height you want to reach. Would you like to be a role model for the rest of us? Work on the qualities you want to see in other people. Try to consider their potential. Many leaders admit to having reached dramatic heights just because once another leader saw their abilities and embraced them.

Learn and Practice
Do not miss the opportunity to learn something new, especially if someone offers it for free. Always practice acquired skills.

In this world, there are no perfect people who haven’t ever made a mistake in their life. A leader does not lose heart and learns from one’s own bitter experience. We advise you not to hide your failings from your colleagues and loved ones. Be honest about your weaknesses. Maybe someone is good at what you are not. And your job as a manager is to assign the right duties and tasks to the right people.

Be a True &; Creative Leader
Remember, even if you have already demonstrated excellent leadership qualities, it is crucial to continue to evolve and grow. 

Some people detect their leadership skills from an early age. They achieve undeniable success, pass the test of status, money, and opportunities. Then, somewhere around the middle of life, they come to their existential crisis trying to leave a mark in this life. It is a crisis of liability and inner freedom. 

Well, a true leader never stops at this point. That is what sets one apart from everyone else. 

About the Author: Marie Barnes is marketing communication manager at Adsy and a writer for Bestforacar. She is an enthusiastic blogger interested in writing about technology, social media, work, travel, lifestyle, and current affairs. She shares her insights through blogging. Follow her on Medium.

6 Ways to Influence Without Authority

Congratulations—you’ve been asked to lead a change initiative! But there’s a catch—its success hinges on the cooperation of several people across your organization over whom you have no formal authority.

In this age of heightened business complexity, moreover, change itself has grown increasingly complicated. A majority of change initiatives now involve multiple functions within and even between companies, and many such efforts encompass an entire company.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to improve your leadership skills and become more adept at influencing those around you, even when you don’t have a job title that commands respect.

1) Stop wishing for control: If you think being someone’s manager will make things easier, think again. Take someone to lunch who manages people and ask them what it’s like to be able to tell people what to do. When they stop laughing, they’ll probably tell you it’s even harder in management.

2) Move beyond compliance: Sure, managers can get compliance, but effective managers bark orders as a last resort. Think back to the best manager you’ve had…it’s doubtful they were in your face much. Rather, they probably created an environment where you wanted to take action. That should be your goal.

3) Care: If all you know about the other party is what they can do for you, you’re missing the foundation of influence. We’re all human – and most of us give attention to those who show interest. Find out something they enjoy unrelated to work and ask about it. Demonstrate that you care – and mean it.

4) Offer to help: Almost every good team I know relies on influence over authority. Start by spending one extra hour a week helping out others with a deadline. Do it for awhile – and demonstrate that you’re a team player. People will help if you’ve helped them.

5) Set expectations: Just because you aren’t the manager doesn’t mean that you can’t make agreements. Approach people before it’s a crisis. Tell them what you need and what it will take. Be realistic on commitments (nobody likes a bait-and-switch). Ask how you can make it easier. Try to make it beneficial for them too.

6) Thank people in public: When someone takes time to help, thank them. Maybe mention it at the next staff meeting – or thank them in an email and copy their manager/team. Virtually nobody takes the time to do this genuinely, so people notice.

The goal of leadership without authority is to get others to willingly cooperate and engage, rather than following directives because you're the boss. This new style of leadership is a blending of personal and interpersonal skills that form the basis of a leader's ability to impact, influence, and inspire others.

By understanding your unique position, it’s possible to identify the key ways in which you can influence the organization, affect real change, and bring about your desired outcomes.

Lean Quote: Let Go Of Yesterday

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.

Let go of yesterday. Let today be a new beginning and be the best that you can, and you’ll get to where God wants you to be."   — Joel Osteen

It’s the first of May.  In some parts of the world, May Day is a traditional spring holiday and a day that signals rebirth and new beginnings.

So, if you’ve had a bad week, shake it off and enjoy a new start.

The idea of a fresh start is for some, the ultimate freedom. It can mean different things to different people but it could mean doing something that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the courage to do it. It could mean changing your thinking which will help to change your behavior, remember: ‘Think positive, be positive’.

You can be empowered. You can have the fresh start that you have always wanted. You can do anything that you want to do. It’s time to make a change.

5 Traits of an Effective Leader

Being a good leader means setting a confident, positive example for team members to follow, on top of effectively communicating with employees. Strong leadership is beneficial to both your company and employee base, increasing overall happiness and morale while elevating your bottom line. Business News Daily reports that, “...employees who work under great leaders tend to be happier, more productive, and more connected to their organization.”

But what makes an effective leader? For starters, you can inspire your employees to be their best selves by using various Lean-based leadership tools. By avoiding micromanagement, ensuring that employees are well-trained, and promoting a healthy work-life balance, you’re actively demonstrating your strong leadership skills.

Yet that’s only the beginning, and leadership tools are something you’ve likely picked up along the way: In fact, the bulk of effective leaders have particular, inherent characteristics that are an asset to businesses in every industry. Studies show that high-quality leaders are 13 times more likely to outperform their industry counterparts, and are integral to a company’s operations, profitability, employee morale, and more.

The following five examples are just a few of the attributes that allow strong leaders to stand out from the crowd, and excel in their chosen field. Using these traits, effective leaders are also better able to smoothly lead their teams through major business and policy changes.

1. Confidence

Effective leaders are sure of themselves and their decisions, at least on the surface. It can take time to develop confidence, but the good news is that it can be faked, and/or developed over time. For starters, rather than dwelling on your mistakes, acknowledge where you went wrong and ask yourself how you can do better in the future. Negative thoughts and self-talk have no place in the mind of a confident leader.

Improving your confidence may also serve as a useful decision-making tool. As a leader, you’re often tasked with making tough decisions, sometimes on the fly. Having confidence in yourself and your abilities can help fuel your decisiveness and ability to effectively lead your team to greatness.

2. Imagination

The thought process of effective leaders tends to move so fast that it may seem like a superpower. Great leaders are able to quickly process the myriad data tossed their way and offer tangible solutions and ideas, even under the pressure of a looming deadline.

And while intelligence is influenced by a variety of factors, including nutrition and availability of learning resources, imagination stems from both the way we think, and what we know. As you hone your leadership skills, make sure to do plenty of research about your company, its competitors, and the industry itself. Having a large data set in your mental arsenal allows you to more effectively connect the dots when you’re faced with a workplace challenge.

3. Innovation

For many entrepreneurs in leadership positions, an active imagination helps spark innovation. In modern times, for example, the iPhone stands out as one of our greatest (and most innovative) inventions in modern times. It’s common knowledge that the iPhone is the brainchild of Steve Jobs, but how did he come up with the concept of a device that would ultimately change the world?

In fact, Jobs developed the initial iPhone based on the concept of simplicity, and how it connects to design, elegance, and sophistication. His innovative invention is a prime example of effective leadership in action — the iPhone spawned a revolution, and as of January 2020, Jobs’ legacy, and his Apple company, is worth $1.3 trillion.

4. Humanity

For everyday workers, leaders such as Jobs may appear larger than life, enjoying a sort of celebrity status throughout the office or collaborative community. But it's a leader's ability to remain human, humble, and approachable that allows him or her to truly make waves. Employees are more likely to trust a leader who supports and facilitates them, rather than sitting in the corner office with the door closed.

And when employees trust and believe in their leaders, company morale is likely to grow. Employees are more prone to excellence when they work for a company and leaders who they believe in. What’s more, humanity among company leaders can help build a strong and company culture, which benefits all involved, from yourself to your customers.

5. Adaptability

No matter the strength of your company culture, however, change is inevitable. It’s the capacity with which you handle that change that determines the true strength of your leadership. During policy transitions or company reorganization, it’s a leader’s job to facilitate that change.

Your employees may respond to change in varying ways, up to and including the so-called seven stages of change, which begin with shock and frustration, eventually culminating in integration. As a leader, you must be prepared to help guide your employees through every stage, and demonstrate how well you can adapt and thrive through any change.

Final Thoughts

Effective leadership is both a cornerstone of Lean principles and a necessity in today’s constantly evolving business landscape. Whether you’re already in a leadership position or aspire to be, ensuring that you possess a number of positive leadership traits can help ensure your continued success. 

About the Author – Luke Smith is a writer and researcher turned blogger. Since finishing college he is trying his hand at being a freelance writer. He enjoys writing on a variety of topics but business and digital marketing topics are his favorite. When he isn't writing you can find him traveling, hiking, or gaming.