“Respect for people” isn’t about being nice—it’s about how leaders design systems, make decisions, and respond to problems. In Lean organizations, respect shows up through listening, job security, psychological safety, clear communication, and a commitment to learning rather than blame. This archive brings together blog posts, podcasts, and examples that explore respect for people as a core Lean principle—one that enables trust, engagement, continuous improvement, and better outcomes for customers and employees alike.
Why do many of our best companies move to China or other countries? Some do it for the lower labor rates, but just as many move because they can’t find skilled labor, engineers and other resources here in the U.S.…
The OODA Loop & You I love examples of lean thinking that come from unexpected angles. Mike Gardner at the TPM Log recently brought up one of my favorite figures from the world of folks who embody lean without knowing…
strategy+business, the e-magazine from Booz, Allen & Hamilton, reports how the US Army is changing the way that it shares knowledge within such a massive organization. The new system is a powerful example of how respect for people and a…
Southwest. Way Southwest. – NY Times Jeff Bailey at the New York Times wrote a great article about Southwest Airlines and their legendary approach to the key lean principle of respect for people. After talking about Southwest’s propensity for cross-dressing…
I got a couple of reader emails last week that prompted me to think about Lean and the Toyota Way principle of “respect for people.” Whether it’s a supposedly “Lean” environment or not, why is true “respect” so often missing?…
Article Link: Lifting specialists set to lose weight I’m always a bit skeptical when I hear about Lean being a “project.” Sure, a project can be a starting point, but as the first step to transitioning to a Lean management…
Jim Womack’s E-letters – Respect for People Jim Womack’s most recent e-letter is one of the best I’ve read in quite a while. I think he really nails it, the compare and contrast of a Lean notion of “respect for…
There was a question on the NWLean email list about suggestions, in the context of The Idea Generator: Quick and Easy Kaizen, reading in part: “My question is this; is the 2 suggestions per month per employee forced? Meaning do…
Two article links, sent to me by a few readers: Court: Toyota Employee Was Worked to Death Widow of Toyota worker questions labor practices At a first quick read, this seems like a “Japan problem” more so than a “Toyota…
I saw this in a workplace, posted by a union. But, you know, as a Lean practitioner, I couldn’t agree with this cartoon more. For one, in the Lean approach, real kaizen (continuous improvement) happens without suggestion boxes. Boxes cause…
NWA puts an emphasis on service I saw this article in the Detroit paper when connecting on a Northwest Airlines flight today. My flight crews were both professional — in spite of the way management has treated them over the…
A poignant story showed up in the Washington Post during the recent GM strike that hits at the heart of the principle of respect for people. It came from the Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Management, required to work…
