What makes a leader effective? Learn about leader standard work!

The effectiveness of a leader depends on the efficiency of performing daily tasks. Leader standard work helps you organize your work time and positively affects the functioning of the entire company!

What makes a leader effective?

Being effective is an action that leads to the intended goal. How often does it happen that leaders take actions that do not lead to the intended goal? Or they lead to the goal all the way around. Or they lead to the goal, but too slowly. They may also carry out very intense actions that lead to one specific goal, but at the same time limit or stop actions on other important goals. Being a leader is constant action on various fronts. Is there a tool that can support an effective leader in this constant struggle, that will make the leader effectively take control of the storm of daily activities? Yes, that tool is the leader standard work.

What is the leader standard work?

The purpose of the leader’s standard work is to maintain standards, and – to improve performance, develop the team, support its members in implementing changes, monitor results, etc. The most conscious leaders see the standard work of a leader as a resource in building the company’s potential. This is because they understand that very good processes allow outstanding people to achieve the best results.

According to David Mann, author of Creating a Lean Culture, the amount of standard time will vary from 80% for leaders in production to 25% of the time for production managers and directors.

Standardization of the leader work

Standardization of work is a tool that gives us a benchmark for further change. One of the main roles of a leader is to check that standards in the company are being followed. Getting employees to adhere to the best methods of work by the leader ensures consistency and preserves the knowledge gained by the organization. During standard work, the leader should refer to documentation that addresses key aspects of the processes being reviewed. For example, safety, quality, production, material flow costs and others. The leader’s review of the process is standardized and systematic, appropriately designed for the type of work being performed, and focused on confirming compliance rather than – looking for non-compliance.

Support for employees

Another role of a leader is to talk to employees to support them. Through his decisions, the leader should facilitate problem solving and help implement ideas that are difficult to implement. Through such cooperation, a leader quickly gains respect and appreciation among his employees.

Documenting the leader work

The standard work of managers and leaders is documented and made available to all employees. As in the case of standardization of work in production, and in the case of the leader’s standard work, it should be regularly checked to see if it is being followed. When the rank-and-file employees see that the leader is working according to the standard, they have respect for him and also work according to their standards (this is a motivating element for the leader, who cannot demand discipline when he himself does not follow it).

The standard work of managers and leaders makes it possible to maintain the management system when the leader is absent. His deputy is able to quickly perform, without too much thought, all the activities required for effective management. The standard work of managers and leaders is also used to train new leaders and improve over time.

Gemba walk

The most important element of leader standard work is the gemba walk. Leaders go to the production floor or other place where the actual work is performed and, observing the conditions there, gain an in-depth understanding of the process. The knowledge thus gained is a source of inspiration and future improvements.

There are many types of gemba walks, but no matter which type we use, we should approach each one with heart. Gemba walks are not just about “ticking off” a check list. Gemba walks engage participants and make them think. They are an excellent way to transfer knowledge to younger employees.

The differences between process checking and gemba walk can sometimes not be very apparent. Checking a process involves confirming compliance and having to react when non-compliance is found. A gemba walk is designed to examine the condition the management system is in, to see how the process actually works.

Leader standard work – where to start?

To define a leader standard work, write down all recurring activities and schedule them on a calendar. These can be weekly or monthly schedules. Every day, for two hours at the same time, perform activities according to the standard.

An example of a leader standard work schedule:

Leaders can synchronize their standard work to discuss certain topics together, such as production efficiency, shortages, complaints, savings. Meetings can be built into the standard work and limited to 30 minutes or 1 hour. Scheduling the meeting in a graphic enforces time discipline and forces constructive discussion. Standard process questions can be prepared for each topic block, starting with: what, who, where, when, why, how much and how. Another important element is a review of the results, which should be visualized at the process sites so that you can instantly know whether today is a “good day.”

Benefits of the leader standard work

Leader standard work keeps the process of continuous improvement alive. Daily work on multiple processes yields tangible benefits. The leader’s systematic work builds the organization’s culture and improves processes. It becomes the mindset of all employees, so that positive change happens gradually every day. And after all, that’s the point right?