Joyce Weiss

I work with organizations and individuals who want to kick conflict and chaos to the curb - Queen of Conflict Resolution and Communication Coach

By Leave a Comment

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

Was this helpful?
Let us hear your thoughts in the comment box below.
Feel free to share these tips with your team – Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.
Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on the subject.

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

Joyce Weiss
Conflict Resolution Consultant and Accountability Coach

By 6 Comments

Resolving Conflict in the Workplace by Using Lean Thinking

I have the honor of co-presenting a workshop on Lean Culture and Resolving Conflict in the Workplace sponsored by Michigan Lean Consortium.
Gerry Clark and Thomas Smith will be conducting the lean part of the workshop…which requires a complete transformation on how an organization collectively thinks and conducts business.

I will be addressing how changing a culture automatically creates conflict.  Participants will learn strategies on how to get people on board.

Participants will learn how to:

  • deal with naysayers
  • build trust by resolving conflict
  • stop wasting time by not dealing with conflict
  • gain control
  • use the power talk strategy
  • protect themselves when being verbally attacked
  • create solutions even during conflict

If you are not able to attend this powerful workshop, here are some questions that you can ask at your next meeting:

1.  Does your organization have top leaders who are seriously dedicated to becoming a lean learning enterprise?  If not can they at least seem seriously coachable?

2.  Are you committed to this process for the long term?

3.  What steps will you need to take to prepare yourself for this process?

4.  Are you willing to make enough of a commitment to take time to learn, to observe deeply and to participate in continuous improvement?

5.  How will you mentor others?

6.  How will your organization get the support needed for this transformation?

7.  Is your organization full of conflicting and inconsistent messages?  If so, develop a communication plan for beginning the process for sending consistent messages.

8.  What will be necessary to change the culture so that a singular consistent message develops?

Lean consists of the following:

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

Here are the details of the meeting if you are able to attend.  I would love to see you there!

Date: June 17, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Location: Oakland—Macomb INCubator
Address: 6633 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314

The event will be cut in half by lunch with the culture piece from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and the conflict
resolution piece Noon-2:00 p.m. Light breakfast & lunch included.
To register, email: register@michiganlean.org Limit 50
Cost: $20 for non-members; free for members; check out www.michiganlean.org for more events!

Please let me know if you would like me to present this program to your organization.
Feel free to contact me at 800.713.1926 or joyce@JoyceWeiss.com and I will answer any questions that you may have for me.

Was this helpful?
What is your most pressing issue on keeping your company continuously learning?
If you already are a lean company, please share your successes.

Feel free to share these tips with your team – just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.

Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this subject.

By Leave a Comment

Leadership Consulting: Great Leaders Make NO Excuses

Have you ever attended a meeting when complaining prevailed?

Did you wish that the leader stopped the negativity in order to move forward?

This blog post describes how a strong leader took a negative situation and turned it into a very productive meeting.

I recently attended the School of Education and Human Services board meeting at Oakland University in Rochester MI.  Our fearless leader Dean Louis Gallien told us how Oakland University may lose 23% of its state allocation if state legislators accept our governor’s budget plan for higher education.

Dean Gallien told us that our governor needs to fix our state budget and make tough decisions.  He led us into discussions on how to move forward and figure out what we must do to continue making Oakland University vital and growing.

The board of directors did not waste time feeling like victims or blame the government.
“No excuses” became our mantra for the rest of this productive meeting.

I wish all leaders stopped constant complaining during meetings. This kind of behavior only breeds negativity which stops problem solving and creativity.

Think about your own situation for a moment – especially if your budget was cut or if you experienced a reduction in staff or benefits.

How much time was wasted in conversations on what was taken away?

We need to spend more time on the positive things that the company is doing.
We need to spend the rest of our time discussing ideas for streamlining, cost cutting, and restructuring.
Many of us are experiencing the “new work reality” about reduction of budgets.

Do your best to use the following tips to keep creative ideas flowing:

  • Look towards the future
  • Search for a second right answer
  • Find opportunity from change
  • Do your best to stay positive during challenges
  • Accept responsibility and don’t blame others
  • Don’t walk away from negative people – run!

These are not easy to do BUT they are necessary in order to move forward and succeed.
Let our competition complain and stay stuck in their status quo while we find answers to our challenges.

Remember – You Get What You Tolerate!

Until the next time.
What is your most pressing question about your own meetings?

Was this helpful?
Feel free to share these tips with your team – Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.
Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this subject.

For more information, articles, and podcasts on conflict resolution, visit https://www.joyceweiss.com

Contact Joyce

Email: joyce@joyceweiss.com
Phone: 248-681-5831