Author: John Weir

Pat Wardwell, COO of the Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership suggests ten New Year’s resolutions for Lean leaders. These are great suggestions and most I have been doing regularly.

The summary:
1. Set aside time each week to actively and openly nurture the Lean journey in your organization;
2. Get out of your office and walk the value stream at least once per week;
3. Resolve to use your eyes and ears more than your vocal chords when on the shop floor;
4. Ask 5 different people who work for you "what can be improved" at least once a week;
5. Participate in an improvement project team meeting, training session or kaizen event at least once per month;
6. Ask to be shown an implemented improvement idea from all areas reporting to you at least once per month;
7. Read at least one new Lean article or book a month;
8. Attend a conference, plant tour or participate in a webinar or podcast on Lean topics once per quarter;
9. Vow to visit at least one external customer or supplier each quarter;
10. Develop your own "Manager’s Standardized Work."

Sometimes you are not in a position to give your employees more in terms of tangible rewards. Increases in pay or benefits, for example, may not be possible. But there is no limit to the intangible rewards you can give them. These "psychological paychecks" require little effort and cost the company nothing. They represent an excellent way for you to compensate your people during times of transition and change.

Don’t underestimate the value employees place on simple things such as a word of encouragement or a compliment from you. Give them a listening ear and show empathy. Ask their opinions about things. Call them by name, ask about their family, say thank you when they have the right attitude and effort. Write a short note to the employee expressing appreciation for quality work, initiative, etc. When you hold staff meetings, single out individuals and give them a word of praise or commendation for good job performance.

If you take the time to be nicer, you will energize, and encourage your staff. This has many far reaching benefits, particularly during periods of organizational change. There is a real payoff for you, the employee, and your company.

Winston Churchill said,

"To every man there comes
in his lifetime that special moment when he is
figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a
chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and
fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment
finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which
would be his finest hour.”

Don’t expect luck to present you with your finest
hour. Remember, luck is when preparation meets
opportunity. What three things are you doing right
now to prepare for greater opportunity this year –
and to perhaps experience your "finest hour?" The
best person to predict your future is you.

Portrait artist James Whistler decided to paint his
mother when the person who had scheduled an
appointment with him failed to show up. (Don’t wait
on perfect conditions for success to happen; just go
ahead and do something.)

This should help those who get confused…

Finish = what we put on the floor.

Waxing = the verb used to describe the application of said finish.

Wax = What you apply to a car’s paint. Also  used to make candles.

Film = What movies were on before DVD’s.

We wax a coat of finish, that when dry leaves a coat of film on the tile. Now you know.

Finish is too Sticky or Tacky

Cause

Solution

Not enough drying time between coats.
Under normal conditions, finishes dry in 20-30 minutes. High humidity extends drying time.

Restorer not properly diluted or applied too frequently.
Follow label instructions. Overuse can leave a sticky residue.

Restorer/maintainer not burnished soon enough after application.
When dry, restorer/maintainer will continue to soften finish if not burnished

Floor not properly rinsed before application of finish.
Thoroughly rinse and neutralize floor after stripping. Use neutral cleaner in proper dilution.

Improper use of disinfectants.
Measure carefully and follow label directions.

Separation of finish.
Finish may have been exposed to prolonged heat or cold. Shake or stir before using.

Alkaline or detergent contaminated tile.
Make sure to rinse floor until pick-up water remains clear. When recoating, make sure no cleaner residue remains on floor – rinse with clean water to prevent problem.

Finish is applied too thick.
Apply thin coats and allow each coat to dry before applying the next coat.

There’s really no such thing as knowing too much about what you’re doing. The reason’s I joined ASHES, ASHE, The American College of Healthcare Executives, IEHA and APIC are many but all focus on one thing, staying informed.

Staying informed is a daily task, and challenge, considering how quickly our world is moving. But not keeping up is like agreeing to check out – please don’t do that. Plug in and learn everything you can. You never know when information will come in handy.

If I hadn’t studied,  I wouldn’t have been able to see the great opportunity that led to my first big success.

Resolve to move forward and to learn as much as you can – today and every day.

How to Develop Charisma: Twelve Key Moves

Those who study the phenomenon of charisma say while some people are innately more charismatic than others, there are certain things everyone can do to boost their charisma quotient. Debra Benton, author of Executive Charisma: Six Steps to Mastering the Art of Leadership offers the following pointers:

Expect acceptance.
Regardless of rank, expect to be treated as an equal. If you expect acceptance, you just might get it. If you don’t expect it, you definitely won’t get it.

Control your attitude.
Success in business is based more on mental attitude than on mental capabilities. Be optimistic toward yourself, others and life. Walk in to a room with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.

Perfect your posture.
Pull your ribcage away from your pelvis, roll your shoulders back and down, pull your stomach in and tuck your bottom toward your spine. Breathe deeply. You’ll not only look better, but feel more energized, alert and in control.

Think before you talk.
Think fast, pause, then speak purposefully. One CEO practices saying everything to himself before he says it out loud so that he will hear how it sounds and can change it if he needs to.

Slow down.
Speed in speaking, moving, gesturing and walking looks nervous and scared. Scared people get passed over, not hired or promoted. Learn to speak in a comfortable, easygoing and welcoming way. Don’t waste time, but do speak as if you have all the time in the world for those you are speaking to.

Shoot straight.
Everything you say or write can be done in a simple, straightforward manner. Just do it.

Be a good storyteller.
People understand you better, remember what you say longer, and find you smarter and more interesting if you use anecdotes to make your points.

Be aware of your style.
Clothes don’t make the man but they do make a difference. Wear well-tailored, good quality clothes that make you look like you are in charge. But remember, it isn’t as much about your look as how you look at things and what people see when they look at you.

Admit your mistakes.
If you are error-free, you’re likely effort-free.

Don’t be bullied.
If you are unjustly criticized, don’t take the bait and get into an argument. Instead calmly ask: "Why do you think that?" "What do you mean?" or "What’s that based on?"

Be flexible.
Be able to stand out while still fitting in with the crowd.

Be at ease with yourself and others.
Look others straight in the eye, eliminate any defensiveness and take the edge off your voice. Never let them see you sweat!

Debra Benton is a best-selling author and internationally acclaimed speaker and coach who specializes in helping executives do a better job of presenting themselves. Her clients span 17 countries and include NASA, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Pepsi. Debra can be reached at: www.topspeaker.com.

Training

·   Verbally explain

·    Physically demonstrate

·    Use visual aids and include written instruction in employment policies and as envelope stuffers with payroll.

·   Use daily checklist to assist troubleshooting and accountability.

Then repeat everything.

Come with me to a third grade classroom….. There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives. The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I’m dead meat." He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy’s lap. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!" Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else – Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You’ve done enough, you klutz!"

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, "You did that on purpose, didn’t you?" Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too."

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good. Remember…..Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now,  but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the  faith.

Janitor’s Song

(Sung to the tune of "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly")

Lyrics by Wayne and Laurel Johnson

I know an ol’ lady

Who cleans at night.

With all her might,

She cleans at night.

But that’s all right!

I know an ol’ lady

Who earns her pay.

That’s the way,

She earns her pay.

But that’s all right!

Chorus:

To earn her pay

She cleans at night.

With all her might,

She cleans at night.

But that’s all right!

I know an ol’ lady

Who scrubs the bowl.

O what a toll,

To scrub the bowl.

But that’s all right!

Chorus:

She scrubs the bowl

To earn her pay.

To earn her pay

She cleans at night.

With all her might,

She cleans at night.

But that’s all right!

I know an ol’ lady

Who wipes the glass.

With a single pass,

She wipes the glass.

But that’s all right!

Chorus:

She wipes the glass

Then scrubs the bowl.

She scrubs the bowl

To earn her pay.

To earn her pay

She cleans at night……..

I know an ol’ lady

Who cleans the sink.

Quick as a wink,

She cleans the sink.

But that’s all right!

Chorus:

She cleans the sink

Then wipes the glass.

She wipes the glass

Then scrubs the bowl.

She scrubs the bowl

To earn her pay……….

I know an ol’ lady

Who mops the floor,

Such a bore,

To mop the floor.

But that’s all right!

Chorus:

She mops the floor

Then cleans the sink.

She cleans the sink

Then wipes the glass…….

I know an ol’ lady

Who washes the wall,

Frame and stall,

She washes the wall.

But that’s all right!

Chorus:

She washes the wall

Then mops the floor.

She mops the floor

Then cleans the sink…..

I know an ol’ lady

Who checks the drain.

What a pain,

To check the drain.

But that’s all right!

Chorus:

She checks the drain

Then washes the wall.

She washes the wall

Then mops the floor……

Just a few more days and another year is over. Goodbye 2009 and hello to a new 2010. This promises to be a great year as is is the start of a brand new decade. You still have time to work on your plan and goals for the new year. Get busy.

Scrubbing (frictional cleaning) is the best way to physically remove dirt, debris and
microorganisms.

Cleaning is required prior to any disinfection process because dirt, debris and other
materials can decrease the effectiveness of many chemical disinfectants.

Cleaning products should be selected on the basis of their use, efficacy, safety and
cost.

Cleaning should always progress from the least soiled areas to the most soiled areas
and from high to low areas, so that the dirtiest areas and debris that fall on the floor
will be cleaned up last.

Dry sweeping, mopping and dusting should be avoided to prevent dust, debris and
microorganisms from getting into the air and landing on clean surfaces. Airborne
fungal spores are especially important as they can cause fatal infections in
immunosuppressed patients.

Mixing (dilution) instructions should be followed when using disinfectants. (Too
much or too little water may reduce the effectiveness of disinfectants.)

Cleaning methods and written cleaning schedules should be based on the type of
surface, amount and type of soil present and the purpose of the area.

Routine cleaning is necessary to maintain a standard of cleanliness. Schedules and
procedures should be consistent and posted.