People at the heart of Lean and continuous improvement in business

The Lean approach is based on the continuous improvement of procedures to achieve results in terms of business performance. However, it is often reduced to the implementation of tools and methods without taking the human aspect into account.

We must not forget that the company is made up of a group of individuals who are at the heart of all these changes. It is often because this human aspect is overlooked that the Lean approach is sometimes criticised and demonised.

Every employee is key to the success of a Lean approach

The challenge and the success of a Lean approach are indeed to put people at the heart of the projects, and to do this we must not see a resource as being adjustable but as an intangible asset that is difficult to quantify.

The employees in the field are those who have acquired and consolidated their skills over the years in the field, so the Lean approach must be based on listening to them and analysing what is their area of expertise and what can be standardised.

That’s why it’s important to bear in mind that change management as part of a Lean approach aims to develop people and teams through their involvement, responsibility and participation.

For your approach to be a success, you need to combine a theoretical approach with expertise in the field.

Giving meaning to human action

The meaning we give to our daily actions is one of the main motivating factors in moving forward in our lives, so it’s essential to know that what we do has meaning.

It is essential that everyone is involved and follows the objectives assigned to them in this perspective of collective action and intelligence. By taking the time to communicate, to simplify work and to spend time resolving operational problems, the Lean approach makes it possible to give meaning back to work and to satisfying customer needs.

In this way, employees can situate themselves within an organisation while directly witnessing the impact of their actions on the company as a whole.

Creating dialogue between the men and women in the company building trust

Valuing, respecting and recognising the work done are essential sources of motivation. Rather than excessive control, prefer listening, dialogue and trust. This requires the Lean manager to possess certain qualities: support and guidance for his team, regular presence in the field, and an interest in the individual as much as in the work he does.

This creation of dialogue and a climate of trust reduces the distance between managers and employees, so that each individual can express him or herself within the team to make the process as successful as possible.

In conclusion, the Lean approach is primarily a human approach. Once the right communication channel has been found, people listen to each other, understand each other and work together to find the best solutions.

Our world is constantly changing, and technology is changing with it. So we need to make this change part of our corporate culture, by adopting a Lean approach and by supporting people in this approach, which will be the key to your success.

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