9 Lean Leadership Behaviors To Support Continuous Business Improvement

Over 90% of CEOs every year plan to increase their investment in leadership development. This is because they consider leadership as one of the most important human capital. 

 

Although everyone is aware of the importance of leadership, still it is not clear among leaders what traits of leadership should be developed and rewarded. However, a lot of lean leadership behavior will help you get results.

In this blog, we will discuss the important lean leadership behaviors that will benefit leaders. 

1. Be supportive

This is one of the most important lean leadership behaviors for developing a culture of continuous improvement. This will ultimately result in a stronger, healthier organization. 

Leaders that stand by their followers through their failures and successes create a culture of trust and respect that encourages innovation, productivity, and teamwork. Employees who feel comfortable seeking opportunities for improvement under such continuous improvement leadership build a stronger organization.

2. Operate with a strong results orientation.

Although communication, involvement, and goal-setting are crucial leadership behaviors for continuous improvement, they are useless without a clear emphasis on achieving results. 

Leaders who have a strong outcomes orientation promote productivity and efficiency, which eventually leads to better work, more advancement, and better results. They often say to focus on the process, but the best organizations also set goals and use a better process to get better results.

3. Seek different perspectives. 

Good leaders know that their opinions aren't always spot on. Sometimes their subordinates are better qualified to make an accurate assessment. A range of perspectives offer leaders a larger knowledge base & enable them to ultimately make better judgments.

4. Solve problems effectively.

According to many leaders, "problem solving is the process that comes before decision-making when information is gathered, evaluated, and examined."

 

While evaluating issues, even excellent leaders frequently lack access to all relevant information. So, it is necessary for them to delegate a portion of the problem-solving process to those team members who share the same kind of problem-solving perspective. 

 

Even the most effective executives are unable to monitor everything that occurs within the firm. They obtain information from front-line workers to make sure they have everything they need for proper analysis and consideration while also appropriately involving (and supporting) them. 

5. Lead with respect, honesty, and integrity. 

Respect is a quality that all successful leaders have. They are aware that respect must be earned. So, they must show their team members the same level of respect as they would expect from them. 

They acknowledge that every team member contributes something valuable and find a method to unleash the creativity and skill of the group through open communication and honest personal conduct.

6. Listen more and speak less. 

Those who are new to leadership positions believe they must know all the solutions to every issue or obstacle, which is just a big misconception. When making final decisions, great leaders aggressively seek the team's input, pay attention to what they have to say, and draw on all of their collective knowledge. They also make sure that the team is fully informed of the specific reasons why they chose one course over the others. Because they are aware that their opinions were taken into account during the decision-making process, the employees are better able to appreciate and respect the choice. 

7. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. 

Many believe that true lean leadership behavior emerges when you are losing, not when you are winning. Sometimes, your team may make poor choices, and on occasion, people will think less of you as the leader. In certain situations, true leadership is required. 

Great lean leaders admit that they are responsible for a loss or failure rather than looking for someone to blame. They encourage the group, get them ready for the next task, and express gratitude for their efforts. 

8. Consistent behavior is key.

Everybody experiences highs and lows, and some days are better than others. Despite this, lean leaders need to maintain consistency in both their words and deeds. The ability to push through the difficulty and move on is what great leadership is all about, even when times are difficult. 

9. Always look to improve.

Every employee and leader in the world aspires to excellence and works to enhance their performance. A leader should have the same attitude. They should ask individuals around them for feedback on their performance in the same way that athletes ask their coaches for an outside view of their performance.

A leader should continually seek feedback from those above them in the chain of command. In order to identify chances for growth from many perspectives, the leader should also directly request feedback from the team they oversee.

Conclusion  

This is what all you need to know about lean leadership behaviors. If you want to learn more about these things, contact a professional organization such as Lean Leaders Plus. We are a leading lean consulting company, helping businesses grow with lean practices. Visit the website to learn more.