Do you have any “lean resolutions” for the new year, either personally or for your company?
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Happy New Year!
Mark Graban
Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. His latest book is Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. He also published the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.
I’m going to make an extra effort to make sure people always understand the “why” behind lean decisions and lean principles. This takes extra effort, but helps with helping lean principles stick in the long term. People have to internalize concepts before they’ll really own them.
My wife and I just finished our end of year car ride that lasts at least four days and gives us a chance to discuss our goals for the coming year. She threatened to make me walk home from California if I didn’t commit to a Leaner office with a heavy dose of 5S techniques. I listened and I learned that one of my stakeholders is demanding change which means other stakeholders want change but didn’t have my complete attention for a protracted period in which they could communicate. I need to continue to improve my listening and learning.
Thank you for a great learning year in 2005. I am looking forward to more, and better, in 2006.
I have a simple lean new year’s resolution:
– Ask more questions