Stay connected, do the Gemba Talk

Why leaders should never underestimate insights from their teams

Look up, you might stumble if you stare too close, and if don’t check what’s happening around you. Another day in the office, stuck in endless video meetings or working towards a deadline. It’s natural to focus on what is on your plate right there. For leaders, it is even more important to remind themselves, that their role is not only about making their own deadlines or executing duties which come with a managerial role. Most importantly, it is looking around and understanding what is really happening in their business, with their people and with their customers.

I have spent a few years of my business life improving processes. I fell in love with lean management, a method to help reduce waste or invaluable steps in a process. Lean, originated from just-in-time manufacturing, often applies the concept of the Gemba Walk. It means that managers should take time to observe, understand and discuss the actual work in their teams. Gemba translated from Japanese literally means on-site. In a Gemba Walk, managers engage with their staff, truly want to understand what is happening, listen very carefully and identify ways for continuous improvement.

Curiosity will kill the cat, but a manager — if applied well — takes value, power and strengths from curiosity and the insights gained from that.

It has been 12 years since I last worked in a Lean process improvement project. However, I have been managing people for 25 years. I again thought of my Gemba Walks in my lean days when I spoke to a colleague at work this week. Besides enjoying the time speaking face-to-face, rather than on a video call, I realised afterwards that I have not done anything else then during my Gemba Walks back then in my lean days. The insights on his day-to-day working life were refreshing and surprisingly new to me. And the only thing I did, is just listen carefully while enjoying my coffee.

Leaders never stop learning. They never stop listening. They will never lose their curiosity. They do the Gemba Talk.