|
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to Our Newsletter &
Get Loads of FREE Lean Content!
|
- Home
- Lean Training System
- Products & Services
- Lean Information
- Key Lean Terms
- About Velaction
|
|
Communication. Lean Depends on It. |
|
I have spent the majority of my waking hours for the last three weeks or so staring at my computer screen. My bloodshot eyes have gotten to really dislike re-doing any work I have already done once.
To prevent the waste of this rework, we at Velaction use a process to go over page designs before making any changes on the website.
So, we followed our standard steps, and I made some changes to the appearance of the entries in The Continuous Improvement Companion.
After much work, my coworker asked why I didn’t do make the changes we agreed on. I immediately got frustrated, since I had just spent an hour getting the layout perfect.
The problem? I did not interpret a comment she made during the layout design step of the process in the same way that she intended. I thought I did what she suggested. From her perspective, I hadn’t done something that she had asked for.
As it turns out, in retrospect, the problem was in our communication. Lean requires clear transmissions of instructions to be successful.
So, I got to do the work all over again. Despite the waste involved in the rework, it provided an opportunity to make the process more robust, and avoid even bigger problems in the future.
How could this have been avoided?
By using a briefback. It’s a communication tool in Lean that is far too underused. Basically, one person repeats back what the other person just said.
Had I used the tool with my coworker, it would have sounded something like this:
“If I am hearing you correctly, you want me to change the image on that page so it…”
She would have immediately clarified what she said.
A briefback is just a quick way to confirm that the message sent is the message received. If the briefback doesn’t match what the person had in mind, the rework is done on the communication, not on the work itself.
The added bonus: your communication gets better when you use briefbacks. You get immediate feedback on your words, and can put a countermeasure in place as soon as you identify an abnormal condition.
That communication sounds pretty Lean to me.
Share Your Thoughts |No comments|
© 2009-2012 by Velaction Continuous Improvement, LLC. All rights reserved.
Don't forget to sign up for my Gotta Go Lean Blog.
Via RSS
| Succeed on the Front Line of Lean! |
This is the book that's been missing from your Lean library. It's a two part 'how to' guide for those that face the challenges of practicing Lean principles every day. Make sure you--and your team--have the tools to succeed in Lean.
Learn More About Whaddaya Mean I Gotta Be Lean? AWARD-WINNING finalist in the 2009 National Best Books Awards and rated 5 Stars on Amazon.com |
Other Information You May Be Interested In...
- Communication Communication is the act of transferring information and ideas from person to person. It comes in many forms. Face-to-face conversations. E-mails. Phone. Voice-mail. Non-verbal communication (i.e. rolling of eyes). Pictures...
- Briefback The process of giving instructions often leaves a significant amount of room for misinterpretation. People are often distracted during the briefing, or skim the email containing instructions. Or, the recipient...
- Groupthink Groupthink is the condition in which individuals set aside their beliefs and concerns to conform to group opinion. This is most commonly done because people value the cohesion of the...
- Training (+Lean PDF) Download a 6-page Lean PDF file on different styles of continuous improvement training. Part of our Continuous Improvement Companion....
Login
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Register to get access to great user only content...
A Downloadable Lean Reference Guide
*Hundreds of Pages*
*Customizable*
Lean Forms and Tools
*25 Free Forms*
User Updates
*New Content Updates*
*User-only specials*
Checking Your Lean Progress
(5/23/2012, 9:10 AM-10:00 AM PDT)
 |
PowerPoint Presentations From $8.99 |
 |
DVDs of Narrated PowerPoint Presentations From $24.99 |
 |
Lean Tutorials From $8.95 |
 |
Lego Exercises From $69.00 |
 |
Improvement Forms FREE |
 |
Webinars FREE and Up |
| Download FREE Lean Training Now! |
|
|
|
NOTE: You will receive a confirmation email with a link that you'll have to click to activate your subscription. Once complete, you'll have access to your free downloads. We promise never to sell, rent, trade, or share your email with any other organization! |
Learn more about what's going on in the Lean community, and right here at Velaction. Plus, check out our special offers.