Book review - Leadership reimagined
Subject – “Leadership Reimagined, The Impacts of Continuous Improvement & Respect for People.” Brian deFonteny
EVERY EMPLOYEE DESERVES TO BE VALUED, RESPECTED AND INSPIRED TO CONTRIBUTE TO SHOMETHING LARGER THAN THEIR ASSIGNED JOB TASKS.
The Format:
This book explains real life instances and uses of many Lean / Continuous Improvement principles and tools. The focus is on Leadership behaviors. There are Side Stories sprinkled throughout the book that provide real examples in Brian’s long and diverse career. Many of those stories are cautionary tales, or potholes to avoid. The book cuts no slack to traditional management practices that disrespect people.
Lean is done with people, not to people!
Some key take aways:
1. Voice of the Customer-There is only one correct place to start an improvement, with the customer. Your supervisor is not your customer, they do not consume the product or service you produce. Leaders ensure all employees are fully aware of the downstream customer requirements.
2. 2 Key Puzzle Pieces to Lean – Respect for People and Continuous Improvement – Leadership doesn’t dispense solutions. Lean cultures are rewarding team behaviors relentlessly driving performance gaps toward zero.
3. The Gemba (where the work happens). You are watching, learning and seeking opportunities to remove hurdles in the employee’s way. If you are not Gemba walking, you are not behaving as a Servant Leader. Great quote here; “Hell, this fruit is on the ground waiting to be picked up! No ladder required. Bring a shovel and a wheelbarrow.”
4. Coaching – the intent of coaching is for someone who has stepped in a lot of potholes and learned how to navigate the path to success guiding others. It is a process to nurture others toward independent capability they do not possess yet. A coach can be a leader regardless of formal title or lack thereof.
Short Video on the topic (2:28): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnXuNayurkc
Longer Video on the topic (57:23): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fla8nsCfyjg
Next Steps:
1. Go Learn more, read the book!
2. Evaluate yourself on where you stand, there is a Humble Pie Assessment and the end of the book that will challenge you to think about what kind of leader you are. Take the assessment, then use the data to make positive change, continuously improve.
