Lean Culture and Resolving Conflict in the Workplace

I had the privilege of co presenting a program for the MI Lean Consortium.  G.S. Clarke shared his knowledge on measuring, analyzing, and changing an organization’s existing culture focusing on thought patterns and behaviors.  I continued the discussion on how to deal with resistance during change.   The members asked great questions and they shared their best practices using Lean.

MI Lean Consortium is a diverse network of knowledgeable Lean professionals who come together to share innovative practices.  The organization aims to create a lean culture in MI to ensure sustainable competitive advantage, which could translate into healthier businesses that offers more job opportunities leading to economic growth in the state.

I’m so impressed with this group and will be become a member soon.

Check out some of the main ideas that we discussed on resolving conflict in the workplace especially while convincing naysayers about the benefits of cultural change.

• When you change culture, you will get conflict
• We need to convince leaders that they will be able to do what they want to do after lean processes are implemented
• Front line employees will see how their working condition will improve when waste in time and resources are reduced
• Everyone has to be responsible for lean every day.  It is not a passing fad and takes a long time to implement
• The role of Lean leaders is to create change based on learning
• It is more important to be effective than right

It is NOT an easy task to deal with people who are resistant to change, but it is possible…once we learn how to improve communication skills.

Lean consists of the following:

• Philosophy:  Long term thinking
• Process:  Eliminate waste
• People and Partners:  Respect, challenge, people
  Problem Solving:  Continuous improvement and learning 

  Here are a few more ideas on lean:

• Signs of good leadership include high morale and consistent achievement of objectives within the group…growing people while still doing tasks to accomplish greater results.

• A lean company forbids its people to do what they did yesterday.

• Learning and experimenting are expected and required for every job.

• Leaders provide the emotional safety for those who are willing to risk and shrink the comfort zone.

If you want more information about the MI Lean Consortium or on
resolving conflict in the workplace
feel free to contact me and I will introduce you to the fine people at MI Learn Consortium

Check out the 2 videos from Debra Levantrosser Setman who is the co founder of MI Lean Consortium and Phil Berry who sits on the Board of Directors on what they learned from the program

Debra Levantrosser Setman, Les Sutherland, Joyce Weiss, G.S. Clarke, Phil Berry

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Until next time, Remember…YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE!

Joyce Weiss
Conflict Resolution Consultant and Accountability Coach