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CLC Newsletter Great Lean Leaders Power Points

Updated: Oct 8



Highlights FOR YOU




Great Lean Leaders Power Points


Great Lean Leaders Power Points are selected to give you a quick highlight of useful paradigms and practices–designed to accelerate your Great Lean Leadership Journey.


The Change v. Improvement Standoff


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In the recent well-marketed boxing standoff in November 2024 between the boxing legend Mike Tyson, age 58, and the boxing talent Jay Paul, age 27, many watched and some risked a bet on who would win this sanctioned professional fight.  Each athlete had strengths on display throughout the bouts, but in the end, the younger Paul clearly won by unanimous decision.  There were some who gained and some who lost on their gambling bets.  That is the essence of sport and gaming and it was on full display in this event. 


In contrast, let’s explore how Great Lean Leaders can minimize the risk and guarantee a better outcome.  This situation is a far cry from the sport and the gaming of the boxing match as we know it, where risk is on and outcomes are uncertain.  The argument presented here is for Great Lean Leaders to be able to choose the winner in the Change v Improvement Standoff.


To start with an explanation of Change v Improvement, let’s compare a Now/Next scenario of the Current State versus the Future State expressed with the following simple concept map.



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Concept Map:  Change v Improvement Standoff


This Concept Map shows that Change in the Current State does produce a different result in the Future State.  In other words, something will be different with Change, but there is no guarantee it will be better.  So, like sport and gaming, Change is high risk with uncertain outcomes.


This Concept Map further shows that Improvement in the Current State does produce a better result in the Future State.  In other words, something will be different with Improvement, and there is a guarantee it will be better.  So, unlike in sport and gaming, Improvement is low risk with guaranteed better outcomes.


It is easy to mistake Change for Improvement as a leader.  But Change is like moving the puzzle pieces around on the chess board with no strategy.   It can involve blaming others for problems or losing track of goals.  It often creates more chaos or confusion.  It fails to complete the full Plan-Do-Check-Adjust (PDCA) cycle of lean continuous improvement work.


So, Great Lean Leaders need to be diligent to engage in  Improvement.  Great Lean Leaders commit to Improvement through the PDCA Cycle, where continuous, iterative rounds of work take place until the Future State reaches its stated benchmarks of success.  When results are better, then Improvement has occurred.  


With the recent awareness and excitement of what is possible through AI, it is head spinning to consider what and how Improvement for the Future State will be.  Improvement will occur more rapidly, more accurately and with better analytics.  So, we must not lose track of what is needed in our organizations and stay committed to Improvement.


So, while a boxing match is sport and gaming, Lean in this sense is not.  Great Lean Leaders commit to Improvement over Change because it has low risk in the end and it is a sure winner after PDCA is completed.  For Great Lean Leaders, therefore, the Change v Improvement Standoff is settled!


Enjoy the learning!


Shannon Flumerfelt, Ph.D., Lean Black Belt

Founder, Charactership Lean Consulting (CLC)

Author of Great Lean Leaders:  Making the Business Case, Book Series



 
 
 

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