The lean kōhai: meditations for strategy, practice, and balance in living change management
- New York Routledge 2025
- xv, 188 p.
Table of Contents:
About the Author Introduction 1. Title Tool: Your Library 2. Purpose 3. Pursuit 4. Opportunity 5. Self-Importance Tool: Quote Archive 6. Perspective 7. Role 8. Duty 9. Perception 10. Pretense 11. Work 12. Obstacle 13. Achievement 14. Reward 15. Humility 16. Versatility Tool: Pocket Cards 17. Diplomacy 18. Flexibility 19. Agility 20. Nurture 21. Intentionality Tool: Impact Matrix 22. Hypotheticals 23. Progress 24. Scope Tool: Envision Your Customer 25. Resurrect 26. Increments 27. Value 28. Dissent 29. Simplicity 30. Weaponization 31. Favoritism 32. Drive 33. Resources Tool: Force Fields 34. Conservation 35. Success 36. Unity Tool: Team-Centered Leadership 37. Strength 38. Acceptance 39. Elevation 40. Impact 41. Role Tool: Visualize Everything 42. Enmity 43. Control 44. Fault 45. Manipulation 46. Conceit 47. Substance 48. Gossip 49. Arrogance Tool: Perception Is Your Reality 50. Waves 51. Braggadocio 52. Ramifications 53. Experience 54. Learning 55. Coaching Tool: PIN Feedback 56. Introspection 57. Growth 58. Power 59. Ownership 60. Stewardship Tool: The Right Fit 61. Journey 62. Readiness Tool: 'Firefighting'--Rapid Reaction Change 63. Character 64. Ripples 65. Questioning 66. Evolution 67. People 68. Action 69. Honesty 70. Protection 71. Team 72. Practice Tool: Change Perspective 73. Accessibility 74. Commands 75. Effort 76. Advancement Index
This book consists of 76 statements on various issues and practices encountered by process improvement/operational excellence (PI‑OpEx) practitioners, managers, and leaders. Many of these issues are also encountered by those outside of PI‑OpEx. This book contains instructions, encouraging readers to write and journal in its pages. The key benefits of this work fuel the unending learning journey of PI‑OpEx practitioners and leaders.
Practitioners face issues regarding practice, methods, leadership, management, and purpose. The reflections in this book allow them to either tackle the issue upfront and be prepared or the reflections can act as jump-off points to develop an approach to an issue encountered, individually or as a team. For example, the practitioner may have a problematic team member, and using a reflection from the book and having the group discuss it may resolve the issue. Or, the practitioner can read a reflection and use their response to develop a strategy for handling the team member.
Essentially, this book provides readings that could form the basis of daily meditation, be consulted for perspective when a specific issue arises, or both. It seeks to instill a mindset of emotional intelligence that can then fuel the pursuit of meaningful, lasting change.