The core idea of LEAN is to maximizecustomer valuewhile minimizing waste. Simply, lean means creating more value for customers with fewer resources (defined by the Lean Enterprise Institute).
Lean 5S (sort, simplify, shine, standardize, sustain) are about organizing work space so we can be more efficient, effective and productive. There are many benefits Lean 5S can provide including improving safety, decreasing down time, raising employee morale, identifying problems more quickly and establishing convenient work practices. Lean 5S are also used to strengthen employees’ pride in their work, to empower employees to sustain an organized work area and even to promote stronger communication among staff.
How Lean is your communication?
Communication is a two-way dance and involves an offer that is accepted by the receiver. It is as much about how content is delivered as the content itself.The most effective communication happens when content is delivered in a process that can be “heard” by the receiver. This involves attention to not only words, but also totones, gestures, postures and facial expressions.
Effective communication has many strong connections to Lean principles and concepts, including 5S. When communication is done right, it helps employees and leaders work together in a safe and open environment. It increases the quality of personal and professional lives. Everyone feels respected and appreciated for their unique gifts. Downtime is decreased as positive conflicts are handled in a healthy way, which means that effective problem solving is expedited. Because employees feel safe and connected, they feel pride in working in an organization where their gifts are valued; therefore, they continueto contribute to improving work processes.
Like Lean, effective communication is about the how;it is about how communication takes place. With that in mind, here are the suggested 5S of communication: Size Up, Seek, Simulate, Stabilize and Sustain.
SizeUp
Be open, trustworthy and transparent. Be aware of your personal communication needs, strengths and blind spots. Recognize your own propensity to create and/or participate in negative conflict and learn strategies to recover. Be open to understanding different personality types and individual needs.
Seek
Seeking is about aligning the way you communicate to cater to individual preferences. It is about being resourceful, willing to discover ways to assess employees’ preferred communication styles that encourage creativity, innovation and problem solving.
Simulate
Polish your communication and compassion skills so you know how to motivate employees based on their different needs. Simulating is about being inquisitive and curious about what makes people diverse and appreciating differences in how people communicate.
Stabilize
To stabilize means to demonstrate effective communication skills by connecting with, and motivating employees, based on their needs, to negotiate negative conflict in the workplace. This requires a leader who is consistent,willing to stick with employees who are different, willing to help without judgement; a leader who can truly listen.
Sustain
This is about being proficient in communication practices so you can connect and motivate employees based on their needs - consistently and effectively - 100% of the time. Accept people the way they are – without judgement. Apply Compassionate Accountability skills to lead a healthy organization. Engage the best inyourself and others for effective and lasting change!
Lean principles and strategies don’t work without effective communication. So, how Lean is your communication?
Are you interested in improving your communication and conflict skills? Check out Next Element's site or give me a buzz.
