Page 195 - FLL Virtual Binder 2018

Task Manager – You understand the task but push your employees to do the job your way only, even though they may have a better way to do the work. They will continue to do the job even if there are quality problems. Typically blame is assigned and problems are hidden.
Group Facilitator – You engage your employees well to improve, but it is difficult to challenge employees as you are unsure of what the work content is. This is a positive environment, problems will be presented, but there is a potential lack of direction due to the fact that there is not a full understanding of the job.
Team Leader in a Learning Organization – You engage your people through problem solving and asking questions on how the job can be done better. You do not assign blame, but challenge employees to find the root cause. You understand the job and can guide in the direction of the vision of the company. Employees are engaged, they bring problems forward and develop and implement effective solutions.
...Based on the four descriptions above, which best describes you as a Team Leader?
Whatever level you are at in an organization, it is important to understand what your direct reports do. It is important to engage them in thinking about how to do the job better; in this case what are the problems and how do we fix them, and to implement root cause solutions. It is about focusing on the process, not blaming the people in the process.
The focus is to ‘remove the people’ and focus on improving the process. Without a safe or a no-blame environment, you will never achieve your desired culture of stopping to fix mistakes.
ü Apply team problem solving practices to improve engagement in continuous improvement
ü Apply PDCA as a problem solving methodology
ü Understand use of process flow charts and value stream maps
ü Practice using the following common problem solving tools:
• Brainstorming to generate input and ideas
• Cause and effect diagrams
• Why technique to identify root cause
• Prioritization tool to improve decision making
• Check sheets to gather data
Summary of Key Concepts and Techniques
Front Line Leadership Module: Culture and Change
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