When beginning your Lean journey many companies ask the question of how can we get employees engaged? Another question that goes through their mind is often WHY do I have to get people involved? The answer is simple. Employees who are included are committed. Here are four ways to increase employee commitment.
Many years ago, when conducting some 6S activities within a department the leaders wanted to keep the area building product while others on the Rapid Improvement Event team (RIE) did the 6S of the area for them. What’s the problem with this? How much employee commitment is there going to be in keeping up the area when the area employees weren't in the 6S event?
Guess what, when I returned on the next visit, I went to the area to check up on how they were keeping it up and they weren’t keeping it up at all. It’s no surprise, they weren’t included so they weren’t committed to the 6S sustain process. It was something that happened to them, not with them. I’m glad I learned that lesson early in my Lean career. Here are some things you can do to increase employee commitment.
1. Include a wide range of employees in your Value Stream Mapping event(s)
Value Stream Mapping should be the first activity when you begin your Lean journey so you can identify the waste opportunities. When you are creating an Enterprise Value Stream Map, ask employees to be part of the team that is doing the work, not just managers of the department.
This exposes the employees to Lean concepts and they will be positive ambassadors for the process with others in their department. They will help you identify waste that has been irritating them for years and they will be committed to helping you eliminate it.
2. Include future RIE area participants on a current RIE
It sounds like common sense but you would be surprised to know how few companies do this. One way to eliminate fear in the organization is to train and educate employees. By having someone from an area that a future RIE will be held in, on a current RIE, they will learn how the process works, see first-hand the benefits that can be gained and will be committed when the future event is held in their area.
3. Inclusion increases transparency
A key piece of a true Lean transformation is increasing transparency in the organization. Visual displays, performance boards, daily huddles all are tools to include employees in making the company better. They are also designed to increase transparency. Employees don’t have to worry about company performance if it is displayed for all to see. With increased information-sharing and transparency come increased commitment.
4. Inclusion increases trust in the organization
By including employees in Lean activities and events that are occurring in the organization, they are exposed to others in the organization besides their immediate supervisor. They get a sense of how different areas of the business operates which increases trust.
Companies may have employees that are four decades apart in age working in an organization, each with different perspectives. Having these multiple generations work on improvement activities together increases familiarity and trust between employees.
These are a few observations to keep in mind as you begin your Lean journey and the wonderful impact it can have on your culture!
As always it is an honor to serve you. I hope that you and your company are getting better every day!
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