Lessons from a Lean Consultant

8. Lean Leadership Made Simple

Assuming the task of leadership can change you positively or negatively. It can make you a demon or a saint, and it will make or break your effort to implement lean manufacturing in your organization.

A colleague of mine used to be a plant manager, and he earned a reputation for treating the people who worked for him very well. After several yeazars as their manager, he was promoted to a vice presidential position with the same company. Six months into his new position, we got together for lunch to discuss my plans to write this book. My friend was a much different person from the man I remembered. Corporate life had taken control of his identity, and he seemed genuinely disappointed with himself.

I remember clearly ...