Yesterday was a BIG day for me as I finally completed the last required internship day for my MBB program! I spent two days at a local-turned-national retailer, working on a supply chain challenge, followed by one day at a regional food producer starting a lean assessment. And while I'm thrilled to be done this part of the program, I know I still have projects outstanding - some of which I'm not too worried or stressed about but one that is a BIG project for me and I'm going to have to make sure I git'er'done on time. Tick tock tick tock....But back to these last two companies where I spent these days - I wanted to share an interesting observation. The first company, I'll call them Company A, had been on their lean journey a few years now. The second, Company B, hadn't even heard of "lean" or the concept of continuous improvement. Company A had a very clear problem to solve - they knew what they needed to address, perhaps not how. Company B didn't know where they were going, or even what was going on right now - they didn't even know what problems existed to be solved. Company A had staff who were motivated to solve the challenge, and who worked openly, honestly and together to get through to a solution. Company B was full of whispered hallway conversations, mistrust and fear. Company A knew their vision very clearly. Company B - no one knew one existed or was written down anywhere.
As I reflect back on the vast differences between these two companies, I am amazed at how far Company A moved the "culture needle" in a few short years, and while I think myself an optimistic person, I wonder if Company B isn't ready for real change, you know, the kind of change that requires an honest look in the mirror (so to speak).
In all my visits to all these various companies, there are many similar themes - we want to get better, we want to improve, we need to improve... our people are important, our customers are important, our shareholders are important... But the difference I see in those that do improve compared to those that don't is in the leadership of the organization - having the vision to see where to steer the ship, the courage to let go of control and trust their people, and the humility to understand that it's not about them (time to check the ego at the door).
AMac
