Builder with Visual Sense of Humour II

 

Here we go with the builder across the road…he’s updated his sign!

Quite original, but only a minor distraction !

 

 

5S and Eating Smarties

 

The other day, I was sharing a bit of a personal story on how I enjoyed Smarties.

For those in the know, these were originally made by Rowntree Macintosh in the UK and are now owned by my friends at Nestle.

They are, to quote the packet, a crisp candy coated shell around a milk chocolate centre and are made in differing colours and packaged up in little boxes or tubes.

So here’s my confession, I always used to open the tube and empty the contents out. Nothing odd there you think?

At this point it goes a bit 5S, as I have just Sorted: by removing the packaging and put them on a plate for hygiene purposes.

I would then, before eating any, sort them into colours, arranging the sequence from highest to lowest.

This is of course a little bit of Straighten or Set in Order.

I then would eat them in reverse order of quantity, from Lowest to highest number, however I would always save the orange Smarties until last.

This is a Standard that I still adhere to today, why? That is obvious, because the orange Smarties taste of orange!

Finally, let’s discuss the final of the 5S’s, Sustain. I still maintain this Smartie ritual today, and although a few people have muttered the words OCD, I prefer to call it just simple 5S thinking 🙂

What are you 5S Smartie stories?

Postcard from Middlemore – I-Coffee?

With the spring finally showing it’s face and a hint of summer on it’s way I’m enjoyiong three good things at the moment.

The first good thing is an increase in Auckland based engagements for yours truly, which cuts down on travel and long days on the road.

Secondly my new Mac Air which is so easy to use and gives me a much appreciated boost in personal efficiency.
The third is my re-aquaintance with coffee.
So this postcard comes from Middlemore Hospital’s Wishbone Cafe, having an I-Coffee, with my Mac Air in celebration of three good things!

Lord Admiral Nelson was a Gemba Guy

Nelson by Lemuel Francis Abbot

 

In this blog I reflect on something I saw on a history programme charting the 2,000 years of British history from Roman times to modern day.

I was interested to learn that the major innovation that the British made was the ability to essentially die cast cannon out of iron in a way that they would not crack on firing.

The long story short is that they were lighter, cheaper to produce and more deadly than their continental enemies, notably the Napoleonic French and Spanish.

I also learnt that Admiral Horatio Nelson spent hours below decks talking through tactics with all ranks to discuss and involve them in battle preparations. he then always brought his Captains together to explain and get feedback on the battle plans, maybe the origins of the stand up meeting?

Nelson was obviously a master of leader standard work?

This was notably the case the night before the battle of the Nile, when the British dealt a knock out blow to the French who were finally routed after a cat and mouse chase around the Mediteranean.

So there you have it, Nelson was a Gemba guy. He spent a large proportion of his time with the troops in an early form of Leader Standard Work!

Back to the most notable battle, Trafalgar.

The Battle of Trafalgar was fought on the 21st of October 1805 off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast, between the combined fleets of Spain and France and the Royal Navy. It was the last great sea action of the period and its significance to the outcome of the war in Europe is still debated by historians.

The British were out numbered but had approximately double the firepower and half the reload time of the Spanish and French.

The only option was to break the enemy lines head on, risking huge casualties on the approach. Nelson, aboard the Victory, took the lead at the head of his fleet and then when the victory broke their line and sailed in amongst the enemy, he gave the order to unleash their superior firepower to devastating effect.

The British lost no ships and the French and Spanish forces lost 17 ships, effectively wiping Napoleon’s naval power out in one fell swoop.

Unfortunately, as history reminds us, Nelson didn’t make it, but his deeds and bravery are all part of the founding of the British naval empire that spanned over 100 years.

Subliminal Marketing Coffee Style

The other day I was running a workshop at a venue which had a coffee shop as part of the function room facilities.

Having return to the fold so to speak, I now imbibe the occasional flat white, after a 15 year abstinence.

I picked up a cup of coffee, and once I had finished, put it down on the desk next to another when I noticed the subtle visual marketing, extolling the virtues of coffee…in think it’s quite a draw and almost poetic in its verse?

 

What do you think folks?

Builder with Visual Sense of Humour

I think Mt Eden attracts people that like to manage visually as now I have the builder across the road getting in on the act!

 

Typically this builder has his sign up to advertise their trade, however this particular builder is also treating us with an accompanying sign, which has already changed three times!

 

The first was “Caution, this building site contains traces of nuts!”

 

The second was “It’s not just the women around here that wear aprons!”

 

The third and current is….

Sowing the Seed – Summer is just around the corner!

It was a pretty rainy and wet weekend here in Auckland, however I have taken the plunge and have both selected the varieties I’ll be planting and also planted my tomato seeds, installing them safely on the kitchen window sill.

2014 Varieties:
Yates Roma: These were very strong croppers last year, they also started early and were the last to finish! I have planted 20 seeds, so will see how they go!

Small Fry Cherry: These are sweet and small and ideal for salads and just eating like grapes on their own. 8 of these should see me through.

Purple Calabash:: These are an heirloom variety and great to add flavour to sauces or chopped to colour a BBQ meal…they have a purple hue, hence the name. Again 8 of these in the mix.

Bush Cherry: These are slightly larger than Cheeries and great for Bruchetta. 10 of these will be handy.

Oxheart: Another heirloom and a reddish green fruit, great for suaces and high in nutrition. Another 8 for this season to keep the troops happy.

Mortgage Lifter: These were fantastic to add into the sauces last year and produce huge fruit. I only had 7 seeds left!

Hertitage Mix: The luck dip that could be anything from cheery or yellow skinned…pot luck with these late bloomers. I’ve chucked in 8 as a bit of a tomato Russian Roulette!

Pomodoro Cherry: These are Italian imports and although the best before is 3 years past, these are still producing seedlings…hopefully! Great for Bruschetta, dehydrating and ready to eat! Fingers crossed with 12 and see what comes up…literally!

So these are my picks safe and sound on the window sill!

Stand Up Meetings All Part of the Health Regime

I was in Wellington yesterday and lets say I was in the shadow of the Beehive 🙂

I saw this poster in their offices and thought that it did alot to feature the health giving benefits of the stand up meeting.

I always seem to have to debate the benefits for a team to get together to communicate on a daily basis, but I can now claim it’s good for your health!

Visual Management for the Commonwealth Games

So without revealing too much, but I live across the road from Sam Webster, well at least his Mum and Dad, here in Mt Eden.

They are pretty easy to spot, visually in any case, as the have a kiwi flag draped over the picket fence.

I walked past this afternoon and noticed a couple of Gold Medals added to the display…nice visual management as Sam of course has 2 Commonwealth golds!

True Coaching leads to True Potential

It is interesting to read some of the recent Lean releases which have shifted their emphasis onto how leadership needs to turn their direction to adopting the coaching style.

It is also pretty horrendous how many people claim to be a Lean Coach, with no comprehension or training in Coaching for Performance.

Personally I saw this as a weakness in the Lean Thinking system around 3 years ago, after discussing with a friend, who leads one of the leading Coach Training and delivery practices here in NZ.

With 25 years+ experience at the Gemba, I thought I could call myself a Coach, but on reflection, I was only just getting by.

Back in February and although I was a little uncomfortable to go back to the classroom, I took the time and invested my hard earned cash to be properly training.

I am now a certified coach, who although still under the watchful eye of coaches, am claiming a bit of a re birth as a true advocate of Coaching for performance in all aspects, not just in lean.

Already I am adding a whole dimension to my services to my clients as I blend Coaching with my mentoring, consulting and training.

So next time someone claims to be a Lean Coach, ask them to show you where, and how long did they train as a professional coach, and ask which qualifications body they are registered and certified with?