#NO HANSEI NO KAIZEN
Dear #CEO
Hansei – some critical thinking about yourself.
No HANSEI no KAIZEN because KAIZEN has to start with a self-reflection on the current state for a future state to be worth the change for the better. That usually means start with self.
Improve your self-consciousness as this will surely influence your thoughts and hence your actions.
Being a good person, particularly when it comes to managing or leading people, means in effect, you need regular quality time to switch off all distractions and focus on yourself.
Rewind the film of what you did and said during the day. Ask your right side to observe you all day, and then together, go through the film and do some sincere reflections.
Writing down your thoughts and reflections can clarify your thinking. What do you see in the lines you have written? What are you going to do about it for tomorrow?
In the business context we have been sold the idea to talk so much about quality for the customers, but we omit to talk about our quality in managing and leading others.
The film I refer to is actually your recording of your own Genba. Go to the film look at what you did and said at the Genba, ask, understand, find the true motives for all of it. Yes, perform the Genchi Genbutsu on yourself, the actual place and actual thing, as my Sensei would say.
A good leader should practice Hansei at least once a day. Some of the greatest leaders that have left their blueprint on mankind reflected regularly, some even five times a day, many great people still do today.
Many a lean continuous improvement writer, consultant speaker, become enamoured by the idea of Hansei, when in fact self-reflection has been prevalent in our Western Judo-Christian culture for centuries.
It surprises me how a Japanese Sensei can talk about Hansei and educated intelligent experienced people in business, even Westerners from Toyota, are in awe of their wisdom.
When in fact, the Messiah has been rejected by his own people whilst among us!
Make self-reflection your number one habit.
No honest and sincere self-reflection, no learning, no improvement, no kaizen.
