To Kaizen or Not to Kaizen
Apr 10, 2023
If I told you I could help you get to the next level, would you take the necessary steps to get there?
You may be thinking, I don’t know if I’m capable? The answer is you are. Everyone is capable of doing this but not everyone chooses to put the effort into doing it. You don’t have to be super talented, rich, highly educated or experienced. Are you ready to find out what the secret to your success is? It’s KAIZEN, the Japanese phrase meaning the uncompromising commitment to continuous improvement.
Masaaki Imai created the term. He was a Japanese management consultant who studied the Toyota Production System and its lean strategies. In 1950 a team of engineers from Japan came to America to take a close look at automobile plants. The Toyota team expected to be impressed with the American manufacturing giants but that wasn’t the case. They were shocked to find inefficiencies on the assembly lines. They put “kaizen” into practice back in Japan at Toyota and set out to beat the U-S at making cars and they did. Toyota is the largest automaker in the world.
So how do you and I put kaizen into practice? It starts with a growth mindset. No matter how young or old you are, you can always grow in your knowledge. There’s always more to learn and by intentionally looking for ways to improve, you can develop a growth mindset. If you don’t already have one it’s really as easy as 1,2,3.
First, you’ve got to choose to stay humble. No matter how much success you’ve enjoyed there’s always an opportunity to learn and create more. Here are some tips to help you stay humble. Ask for feedback from others on a regular basis. This next one goes hand-in-hand with the last. Spend time listening to others. Ask for help when you need it and be grateful for all that you have whether you have a little or a lot.
Second, you’ve got to stay hungry and I’m not talking about food. This is a hunger for progress. Get up a little earlier each day and think about what you want to accomplish. Spend time dreaming about the possibilities in your life. I’m an avid reader. I don’t feel settled if I’m not reading something. As a leader I can’t teach what I don’t know so I’m always reading to learn more in order to help others achieve.
The third and final step to help you achieve kaizen is to realize there is no finish line. You never arrive. We’re running a never ending marathon. And when life gets overwhelming and it often does, I channel that adorable little blue fish Dory, from Disney’s Finding Nemo and tell myself to “just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.”
Until next time, keep growing my friend.
Amy Burkett