Question Everything #AtoZChallenge

I recently helped some of my co-workers realize that a process they'd been performing for over 10 years was no longer necessary. That sort of stuff makes me insanely happy.

How did this happen? Well, at least 10 years ago a manager dictated that this process be done and no one asked why, or it was still necessary, until about two weeks ago.

So, the moral of the story folks is to ask why. Question everything. This is the beginning of Lean thinking and it's something I hope to teach my daughter.

Minute... just one minute before you go - An Outlook Tip #AtoZChallenge

Have you ever sent an email and then instantly regretted it? Realized you left out something important, forgot to spell check it, forgot to cc someone, left off the attachment or realized you reacted too quickly?

Yeah, me too. But not anymore, now I have a minute delay on all outgoing emails and I cannot tell you how many times I have edited an email after hitting Send, but before allowing it to leave my mailbox.

Setting it up is easy:

•  In Outlook, click on “File”
• Select “Manage Rules & Alerts”
• Select “New Rule”
• Highlight “Apply rule on messages I send”
• Select “Next”
• Select “Next” again
• Click “Ok” to the dialogue warning you that this rule will apply to every message you send
• Check “Defer delivery by a number of minutes”
• In the lower area, click the “a number of” link and set it to whatever you like
• Click “Ok”
• Click “Finish”

After you hit Send, emails will sit in your Outbox folder for a minute before being sent. So, if you realize you need to make a change, look for your email there, change it and hit Send again.

Kaizen, Continuous Improvement and Lean Thinking #AtoZChallenge

Actually all three mean pretty much the same thing. About two years ago I read a book by Paul Akers, 2-Second Lean, and realized that I have always been a lean thinker; it's just who I am.

What does that mean? I am constantly trying to figure out better ways to do things, asking questions and trying to figure out the root of any given problem. I love problem solving.

It's...

If you're not sure where to start, I suggest clicking on that link above and getting that book (it's also available from Amazon and various other places) or the audiobook. You'll learn skills that will help you at home and at work. The book is short and fun to read, I highly recommend it.

You will also very likely clean out and organize your closet at home... it's a common side effect. :)

Continuous Improvement is (finally!) taking hold where I work, and it's really cool to see. How about you? Do you see an improvement movement in your world?