"Where there's a will, there's a way; where there's a team, there's more than one way." Rex MurphyThe biggest challenge in process improvement and cultural transformation isn't identifying the problems. It's execution: implementing and sustaining the solutions.
Blue-Collar Kaizen reveals the key leadership principles that Mack Story identified while logging over 11,000 hours leading leaders and their teams through hundreds of kaizen events, process improvement, organizational change, and cultural transformation. In a simple, yet powerful, format, you will quickly discover how to effectively lead Lean and Lean teams. You will develop an understanding of: 1) why the principles are important; and 2) how to apply them correctly.
When it comes to leading Lean and Lean teams, the single biggest success factor is the ability of the Lean manager, leader, or coordinator to create an environment that supports sustainable, positive change and process improvement on a large scale.
Regardless of title, the Lean Leader's success, and therefore that of the organization's process improvement efforts, is based on High Impact Leadership: the ability to connect with others in a way that motivates and inspires them to buy-in, not only to the leader, but also the leader's vision.
High Impact Leadership is highly effective leadership that delivers sustainable results. It's more than improving culture, initiating change, managing an organization, or leading a team. Far beyond short-term initiatives, High Impact Leadership is about lasting, long-term, positive impact and transformation within the organization and in the lives of others.
Helping Lean Leaders become High Impact Leaders is the key to continuous improvement and cultural transformation.
The role of the Lean Leader is to improve communication, create buy-in to change itself and the change leaders, facilitate team-based decision making, remove roadblocks, and ensure execution is occurring while sustaining the gains.
"Only 2% of Lean Leaders create dynamic Lean cultures by focusing on growing people, and not the bottom line." Paul Akers
High impact Lean leaders, coordinators, and managers lead teams through process improvement by engaging, empowering, and encouraging the team in a way that creates authentic buy-in, based on trust, that ultimately leads to cultural transformation. These leaders understand that "Respect for the People" means developing the people.
There are five elements required for transformation to take place in an organization. They are: leadership development, buy-in (to the leader and the leader's vision), a unifying purpose, competency to carry out the mission, and execution. When these elements are missing, there is a sea of chaos filled with frustration, resistance, confusion, anxiety, and stagnation. In other words, at best, the team struggles to maintain the status quo. At worst, a quick and steady decline occurs. Learn more at GetTheTransformationEquation.com
Blue-Collar Kaizen offers insight through high impact leadership principles and related real-life stories. It will help Lean Leaders understand how they can minimize frustration, resistance, and confusion while reducing anxiety among team members. The result will be execution, and ultimately, the creation of a true culture of kaizen.
Blue-Collar Kaizen is a resource for anyone in any position who is, or will be, leading a team through process improvement and change. Learn to engage, empower, and encourage your team for long term buy-in and sustained gains. Learn what it means to truly have "respect for the people."
About the Author: Mack's story is an amazing journey of personal and professional growth. He married Ria in 2001. He has one son, Eric, born in 1991. After graduating high school in 1987, Mack joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve as an 0311 infantryman. Soon after, he began his 20 plus year manufacturing career. Graduating with highest honors, he earned an Executive Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Faulkner University. Mack began his career in manufacturing in 1988 on the front lines of a large production machine shop. He eventually grew himself into upper management and found his niche in lean manufacturing and along with it, developed his passion for leadership. In 2008, he launched his own Lean Manufacturing and Leadership Development firm. From 2005-2012, Mack led leaders and their cross-functional teams through more than 11,000 hours of process improvement, organizational change, and cultural transformation. Ria joined Mack full-time in late 2013. In 2013, they worked with John C. Maxwell as part of an international training event focused on the Cultural Transformation in Guatemala where over 20,000 leaders were trained. They also shared the stage with internationally recognized motivational speaker Les Brown in 2014. Mack and Ria have published 22 books on personal growth and leadership development and publish more each year. In 2018, they reached 65,000 international followers on LinkedIn where they provide daily motivational, inspirational, and leadership content to people all over the world. Mack and Ria Founded TopStoryLeadership.com in 2008. Mack Founded Blue-Collar Leadership.com in 2016 to specifically support the blue-collar industries. Clients: ATD (Association for Talent Development), Auburn University, Chevron, Chick-fil-A, Kimberly Clark, Koch Industries, Southern Company, and the U.S. Military. Mack is an inspiration for people everywhere as an example of achievement, growth, and personal development. His passion motivates and inspires people all over the world!
