Higher, faster, further – companies usually aim to generate as much turnover and profit as possible as quickly as possible. In the long term, however, this is not always the best. In order to achieve long-term success at a high level, many industries rely on lean leadership, as this is where corporate success is considered and optimized in a holistic and sustainable manner.
Lean leadership as a leadership style encompasses a holistic management philosophy that includes the entire company. Accordingly, not only are processes, production and procedures essential factors for success, but also employees. These five points describe the areas in which this is relevant:
1. Personal motivation
Lean leadership not only opens up new horizons professionally, but everything you learn here will also have a positive influence on your private life. Lean leadership is much more than a management style. The holistic perspective can be used in many ways in your personal, day-to-day life. These personal leadership impulses are ideal for strengthening your motivation to firmly establish yourself in the professional environment.
2. Social efficiency
Leadership affects everyone in the company, from management to trainees. Lean leadership focuses on all employees and executives. The human factor can also be extended to all suppliers, subcontractors and customers. Anyone who manages to utilize effective leadership to effectively and efficiently encourage everyone involved, make them aware of their impulses and then use them for optimization, will be successful. An example: Customers who actively use customer service notice necessary improvements before employees do. Those who receive this information as feedback and use it specifically and convert it into solutions will increase customer loyalty and reveal and address relevant optimization needs.
3. Optimizing process flows
In process sequences and production, factors such as process performance, error rate, lead times and costs are important factors in determining performance. With the help of lean leadership each of these factors can be optimized. In other words, companies that practice lean leadership experience less rework, more effective tools, lower error rates and fewer machine breakdowns. The thesis “Process excellence needs leadership excellence” is applied and put into practice.
4. Setting the focus
Doing the right things right is crucial for success. But what exactly the right things are, every company must determine for itself. However, this requires courage to make decisions, to commit to a handful of goals and pursue them. The power for making decisions can be acquired and expanded through lean leadership. Management improves its decisiveness and also the ability to make decisions.
5. Keep moving
Remaining still kills success! Those who rely on their status quo will quickly be left behind in today’s world. After all, change today is so fast and erratic that companies must keep up by moving along with it. This requires personal reflection and examination and allowing yourself to be objectively assessed from others. This is the only way to constantly adapt and pursue your own visions and goals. In lean leadership, attitude is transferred to leaders, employees, teams and the organization.
In our next blog article, we will explain what makes lean leaders how they contribute to the success of the company and what requirements they must fulfill.
Florian T. Hochenrieder
Florian T. Hochenrieder
Florian T. Hochenrieder is a Partner at Staufen AG. Prior to his career as an advisor and leader, he began his leadership journey as an officer in combat forces, where he internalized leadership, focus and discipline from a particularly effective perspective. His mission and passion for more than 20 years has been impactful excellent leadership as well as decision-making power, joy and competence.
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