Comments on: The Role of Purpose and Your Role http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Crossan http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8326 John Crossan Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:38:05 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8326 People will stop becoming bystanders when they can actually do the things they think should be done to improve their workplace on their own initiative. I’ve seen over and over again how excited people get when they get this opportunity. Most places hourly people don’t participate because they are used to being told what to do, having to get permission to maybe try even something pretty small, and getting jumped on if they do do something, even the right thing, without permission. Getting people together and telling them what you plan to do to them when it’s evident that there’s nothing they can do about it, won’t do much to get them involved. Asking for input when all the decisions have been pretty much made isn’t involvement. Folks are used to this and won’t offer much except perhaps voicing frustration (if they feel it won’t get them in too much trouble, although they know it will probably get them on someone’s negative radar.) Command and control by the “smart” people is still pretty standard today. And when it seems like a college degree is the entry level to any kind of decision making activity, most people know they can’t get there anytime soon, and will give up and do what they feel they have to do to keep their jobs. The only way I’ve seen work is to let folks actually do things to make improvement. Give them the help they need to do it rather than telling them what to do. And if it doesn’t work, well the next effort will be better, and you’ve got some real positive energy going for you (and them). People will stop becoming bystanders when they can actually do the things they think should be done to improve their workplace on their own initiative. I’ve seen over and over again how excited people get when they get this opportunity.
Most places hourly people don’t participate because they are used to being told what to do, having to get permission to maybe try even something pretty small, and getting jumped on if they do do something, even the right thing, without permission.
Getting people together and telling them what you plan to do to them when it’s evident that there’s nothing they can do about it, won’t do much to get them involved. Asking for input when all the decisions have been pretty much made isn’t involvement. Folks are used to this and won’t offer much except perhaps voicing frustration (if they feel it won’t get them in too much trouble, although they know it will probably get them on someone’s negative radar.)
Command and control by the “smart” people is still pretty standard today. And when it seems like a college degree is the entry level to any kind of decision making activity, most people know they can’t get there anytime soon, and will give up and do what they feel they have to do to keep their jobs.
The only way I’ve seen work is to let folks actually do things to make improvement. Give them the help they need to do it rather than telling them what to do. And if it doesn’t work, well the next effort will be better, and you’ve got some real positive energy going for you (and them).

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]]> By: Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » Management Improvement Carnival #88 http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8304 Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » Management Improvement Carnival #88 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:49:53 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8304 [...] The Role of Purpose and Your Role by Mark Graban – “Are you just laying bricks or are you building a cathedral? You want people to understand their purpose, not just their job description or the tasks that are assigned to them. This is very similar to Jim Womack’s ‘Purpose, Process, People’ model. Your ‘role’ (what you are responsible for) is more than your task assignments” [great post - John] [...] [...] The Role of Purpose and Your Role by Mark Graban – “Are you just laying bricks or are you building a cathedral? You want people to understand their purpose, not just their job description or the tasks that are assigned to them. This is very similar to Jim Womack’s ‘Purpose, Process, People’ model. Your ‘role’ (what you are responsible for) is more than your task assignments” [great post - John] [...]

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]]> By: John Hunter http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8302 John Hunter Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:52:50 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8302 Absolutely great post. Keep up the good work. .-= John Hunter´s last blog ..<a href="http://management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/02/11/more-reasons-to-avoid-layoffs/" rel="nofollow">More Reasons to Avoid Layoffs</a> =-. Absolutely great post. Keep up the good work.
.-= John Hunter´s last blog ..More Reasons to Avoid Layoffs =-.

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]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8278 Mark Graban Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:52:13 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8278 Jefferson - maybe engagement and fulfillment are not going to come through slogans (Deming would certainly say that slogans won't help), but through leadership. Their lack of education shouldn't mean they don't want to be connected to their work. Did you see the pride in work from the person who cleaned porta-potties on the first episode of CBS "Undercover Boss"? Where did that come from? Definitely not from a slogan... I think Simon made some really good points to think about above. Have you really talked with your people or are you making assumptions? Your statement about their education level leads me to think you aren't really engaging with them 1x1, you're making assumptions. Jefferson – maybe engagement and fulfillment are not going to come through slogans (Deming would certainly say that slogans won’t help), but through leadership.

Their lack of education shouldn’t mean they don’t want to be connected to their work. Did you see the pride in work from the person who cleaned porta-potties on the first episode of CBS “Undercover Boss”?

Where did that come from? Definitely not from a slogan…

I think Simon made some really good points to think about above. Have you really talked with your people or are you making assumptions? Your statement about their education level leads me to think you aren’t really engaging with them 1×1, you’re making assumptions.

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]]> By: Jefferson Martin/synfluent http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8277 Jefferson Martin/synfluent Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:38:03 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8277 Simon Ellberger: My employees are underground coal miners whose average educational level is roughly tenth grade in high school. These are not habitues of office campus cubicles who can be lead to the well of some self-enlightenment with slogans or the works of great authors. My thirty-three years as a business owner leave me perplexed and frightened with the fundamental, negative change in the work ethic in the nation. At least where I make payroll every Friday. .-= Jefferson Martin/synfluent´s last blog ..Purpose and Paradigm Shifts =-. Simon Ellberger: My employees are underground coal miners whose average educational level is roughly tenth grade in high school.

These are not habitues of office campus cubicles who can be lead to the well of some self-enlightenment with slogans or the works of great authors.

My thirty-three years as a business owner leave me perplexed and frightened with the fundamental, negative change in the work ethic in the nation.

At least where I make payroll every Friday.
.-= Jefferson Martin/synfluent´s last blog ..Purpose and Paradigm Shifts =-.

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]]> By: Il meglio della blogosfera lean #25 — Encob Blog http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8238 Il meglio della blogosfera lean #25 — Encob Blog Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:35:06 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8238 [...] The Role of Purpose and Your Role dal Lean Blog di Mark Graban: Il vostro personale lavora solo per realizzare un compito o lavora per raggiungere uno scopo? (traduzione automatica) [...] [...] The Role of Purpose and Your Role dal Lean Blog di Mark Graban: Il vostro personale lavora solo per realizzare un compito o lavora per raggiungere uno scopo? (traduzione automatica) [...]

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]]> By: Simon Ellberger http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8219 Simon Ellberger Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:14:48 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8219 Mark: Thanks for the great post. Jamie: Excellent comment. Jefferson Martin/synfluent: Sounds like you have been appealing to mostly extrinsic motivators, rather than creating an environment which nurtures intrinsic motivation. As authors like Daniel Pink and Alfie Kohn have warned us, extrinsic motivators can kill intrinsic motivation. What you may have unintentionally been "teaching" your employees is that their work is not rewarding in and of itself, so you will reward them with what's really worthwhile: free beer, free college, merit bonuses, etc. It's like offering kids ice cream if they first finish eating their spinach. Subtle message: Spinach tastes bad, ice cream tastes good; it's the ice cream that is rewarding, so let's get through the horrible but necessary spinach first. Kids then won't eat the spinach on their own when there is no one around to offer them a reward for doing so and will genuinely believe spinach does taste terrible. What you're doing is also manipulation, and employees who sense this will feel like you are trying to control them, and will become demotivated. Furthermore, if you believe "the jobsite seems to be little more than an interlude, or disruption, to more important things in the worker’s life," then you will selectively perceive events that "confirm" your belief, and react in ways that will likely create that very attitude in the workers. I.e., it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, or what some fancily call the Pygmalion Effect. As for falling asleep in strategy sessions: that may be an honest and natural response to a boring situation. Mark: Thanks for the great post.
Jamie: Excellent comment.
Jefferson Martin/synfluent: Sounds like you have been appealing to mostly extrinsic motivators, rather than creating an environment which nurtures intrinsic motivation. As authors like Daniel Pink and Alfie Kohn have warned us, extrinsic motivators can kill intrinsic motivation. What you may have unintentionally been “teaching” your employees is that their work is not rewarding in and of itself, so you will reward them with what’s really worthwhile: free beer, free college, merit bonuses, etc. It’s like offering kids ice cream if they first finish eating their spinach. Subtle message: Spinach tastes bad, ice cream tastes good; it’s the ice cream that is rewarding, so let’s get through the horrible but necessary spinach first. Kids then won’t eat the spinach on their own when there is no one around to offer them a reward for doing so and will genuinely believe spinach does taste terrible. What you’re doing is also manipulation, and employees who sense this will feel like you are trying to control them, and will become demotivated. Furthermore, if you believe “the jobsite seems to be little more than an interlude, or disruption, to more important things in the worker’s life,” then you will selectively perceive events that “confirm” your belief, and react in ways that will likely create that very attitude in the workers. I.e., it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, or what some fancily call the Pygmalion Effect. As for falling asleep in strategy sessions: that may be an honest and natural response to a boring situation.

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]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8218 Mark Graban Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:06:02 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8218 Marc and Rob- Great point. I was somewhat speaking in shorthand, which I should be careful about. "To make the world lean" has a lot of depth behind it that I didn't articulate. The LEI front page says: "Our Mission: Advance lean thinking throughout the world" But that's not the same as purpose. The LEI mission page is here http://www.lean.org/WhoWeAre/?mission=yes But that's not "purpose" either. Maybe that's a good exercise for us to go through and articulate on the web, as well. To me, "making the world lean" means the purpose of teaching people methods they can use to engage the staff in improvement of quality, safety, productivity, and long-term corporate vitality (for the sake of a healthy economy and society). A "lean world" would have high-quality services and goods, available when needed, where needed, produced with minimal waste. A lean world would have happy, engaged employees, which is good for companies and society. I think that purpose is very well aligned with LEI's, so I'm happy working there. If I were in a place where the only purpose were short-term profits and enriching the executives, that's not so fulfilling. I should write what I mean rather than making people infer it, I suppose :-) Thanks for the questions and for allowing me to elaborate (and thanks for not assuming I'm a dolt who wants to see lean done for lean's sake -- that's certainly not my mission or LEI's). Marc and Rob-

Great point. I was somewhat speaking in shorthand, which I should be careful about.

“To make the world lean” has a lot of depth behind it that I didn’t articulate.

The LEI front page says:

“Our Mission: Advance lean thinking throughout the world” But that’s not the same as purpose.

The LEI mission page is here

http://www.lean.org/WhoWeAre/?mission=yes

But that’s not “purpose” either. Maybe that’s a good exercise for us to go through and articulate on the web, as well.

To me, “making the world lean” means the purpose of teaching people methods they can use to engage the staff in improvement of quality, safety, productivity, and long-term corporate vitality (for the sake of a healthy economy and society). A “lean world” would have high-quality services and goods, available when needed, where needed, produced with minimal waste. A lean world would have happy, engaged employees, which is good for companies and society. I think that purpose is very well aligned with LEI’s, so I’m happy working there. If I were in a place where the only purpose were short-term profits and enriching the executives, that’s not so fulfilling.

I should write what I mean rather than making people infer it, I suppose :-)

Thanks for the questions and for allowing me to elaborate (and thanks for not assuming I’m a dolt who wants to see lean done for lean’s sake — that’s certainly not my mission or LEI’s).

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]]> By: Rob Worth http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8217 Rob Worth Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:53:24 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8217 Mark, I had a similar feeling to Marc when I read "As I have said before, the main objective is not to “implement Lean,” the point is to improve your organization, develop people, and meet customer needs." but then further down read the seemingly contradictory, "Our purpose is try help make the world lean." I think Marc above has suggested a good alternative, so I will not try to better it. Rob Mark,

I had a similar feeling to Marc when I read

“As I have said before, the main objective is not to “implement Lean,” the point is to improve your organization, develop people, and meet customer needs.”

but then further down read the seemingly contradictory,

“Our purpose is try help make the world lean.”

I think Marc above has suggested a good alternative, so I will not try to better it.

Rob

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]]> By: Marc Rouppe van der Voort http://www.leanblog.org/2010/02/the-role-of-purpose-and-your-role/#comment-8215 Marc Rouppe van der Voort Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:27:49 +0000 http://www.leanblog.org/?p=4940#comment-8215 Hi Mark, great blog. I did notice however that I became restless when I read: " Our purpose is try help make the world lean." Don't you run the risk that the means (lean principles and methods) become the goal if you state it like that? I'd say something like 'try to help the world create more value and reduce waste by applying the lean principles and methods". What do you think? Marc .-= Marc Rouppe van der Voort´s last blog ..<a href="http://leanthinkinginhealthcare.blogspot.com/2010/02/toyota-in-trouble.html" rel="nofollow">Toyota in trouble</a> =-. Hi Mark, great blog. I did notice however that I became restless when I read: ” Our purpose is try help make the world lean.”

Don’t you run the risk that the means (lean principles and methods) become the goal if you state it like that? I’d say something like ‘try to help the world create more value and reduce waste by applying the lean principles and methods”.

What do you think?

Marc
.-= Marc Rouppe van der Voort´s last blog ..Toyota in trouble =-.

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