Lean principles are not specific to manufacturing processes. In fact, when viewed from a business perspective core lean ideas are easily applied to the shift towards interactive business, an impetus for business wide successes from employees to end customers using consistent innovation and improvement as driver behind the way we think and act.
Like the lean manufacturing leader, leaders on the interactive side focus on driving continuous improvement. Continuous improvement in our world breaks down into four primary rules, guided by the principles of serving leadership:
Rule 1: Serving leaders upend the pyramid of conventional management thinking. They put themselves at the bottom of the pyramid and unleash the energy, excitement and talents of the team, business and community. All are equal, all our called to lead, all are mentors.
Rule 2: Serving leaders hold out in front of their team, business or community a “reason why,” a purpose that is so big that it requires and motivates everybody’s very best effort. In this way, individual talents will rise up to exceptional performance.
But the serving leader title isn’t resolved solely for the CEO or executives. We are all serving leaders, working as a team to build value for clients and their customers.
Think you could improve your business by using these principles? Let’s chat!