The toad and the hot water

Various biological studies have shown that if a toad is placed in a container along with water from his own pond, he will remain there, utterly still, while the water is heated, even when the water reaches boiling point. The toad does not react to the gradual increase in temperature and dies when the water boils. Fat and happy.

On the other hand, if a toad is thrown into that container when the water is already boiling, he will jump straight out again, scalded, but alive!

Sometimes we behave like the boiled toads. We do not notice changes. We think that everything is fine and that anything bad in our lives will simply go away - that it's just a matter of time. We are close to death, but still we sit, unchanging and apathetic, while the water around us gets hotter by the minute. We end up dying, fat and happy, without having noticed the changes going on around us.

Boiled toads do not understand that, as well as being efficient (doing things right), they need to be effective (doing the right things). And for this to happen, there must be continual growth, with room for dialogue and clear communication, room to share and to plan and to build an adult relationship. The biggest challenge lies in having the humility to respect someone else's views.

There are, however, boiled toads who still believe that the most important thing is obedience, not competence: those who can, lead, but those with any sense, obey. And where does this leave real life?

It is far better to emerge from a situation slightly scalded, but still alive and ready to act.

Copied From one of Paulo Coelho’s books

LEAN Behaviors

We keep talking about culture change when we refer to lean. In fact it's an attitude change.

I call it Lean Behavior.

 

Here are some differences in attitude between the Traditional thinking and lean thinking. Lean thinking is very optimistic. It engages people fully. They feel appreciated and trusted. Inner resources surface and motivation is strong.  They keep looking even more fervently how to get rid of waste that eats away at their wealth.

 

We’ve never done it before _____ We’ll be the pioneers

It’s too complicated ___ Let’s look at it from a different angle

We don’t have the resources ___ Necessity is the Mother of Invention

It will never work ______ Let’s give it a try

There-s not enough time _____ We’ll reevaluate our priorities

We already tried it _______ We learned from the experience

There’s no way it will work _____ We will make it work

It’s a waste of time ______ Think of the possibilities

It’s of waste of money _______ The investment will be worth it

We don’t have the expertise _______ We’ll benchmark those that do

We can’t compete ________ We’ll get a jump on the competition

Our vendors won’t go for it ____ Let’s show them the opportunities

It’s good enough ________ There’s always room for improvement

We don’t have the money __________ Can we afford not to?

We’re understaffed _____________ We are a lean machine

We don’t have the room _______ We better organize our space

It will never fly __________ We’ll never know until we try

We don’t have the equipment ______ Can the equipment be rented?

It’s not going to be any better ______ We’ll try it one more time

No one communicates _________ Let’s open the channels

Isn’t it time to go home? _____ Days go so quickly around here!

I don’t have any idea _______ I’ll come up with some alternatives

Let someone else deal with it ____ I’m ready to learn something new

It’s too radical a change _______ Let’s take a chance

It takes too long to approve _____ We’ll walk it through the system

Our customers won’t buy it _______ We’ll explain the benefits

It’s not my job ____ I’ll be glad to take the responsibility

 

I CAN’T ________________________ I CAN

 

 

 And that is lean thinking.

 

I picked this up from here:

http://www.implement-lean-manufacturing.com/lean-thinking.html