Tom De Pagie’s Post

'WHY' do you do what you do? 'WHY' do you want to change, improve, or scale? Take is from my friend Jake Lohse that launched brewery just in time for COVID to shut down the restaurant industry. You need to be grounded in your purpose to endure, to lead your team, to scale. Before setting out on your #operationalexcellence journey... BEFORE throwing tools and processes at your business, your people, Get clear on your why so you can lean into that and lead from that stability. When your Why becomes clear you'll focus to #improveLESS ... and get better results. #lean #sixsigma #processimprovement #continuousimprovement #management #resilience

☕ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐦 ☕ Ever tried brewing a perfect cup of coffee without a coffee maker? Just letting the beans and water “organically” figure it out? Spoiler alert: it’s a mess. Now, imagine trying to implement organizational change the same way. A year ago, a team decided to let change grow organically. Fast forward to today, and they’re drowning in resistance and frustration. They asked me, “Can you successfully implement change without appointing someone to take decisions?” Well, that’s like asking if you can make espresso without an espresso machine. Sure, you can try, but you’ll end up with a lukewarm, bitter mess. Here’s the deal: successful change needs 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫. Think of them as your barista – the one who knows exactly how to grind the beans, measure the water, and froth the milk to perfection. This person drives the change, creates direction, and inspires the team. They’re trusted, respected, and, most importantly, they get things done. So, if you’re letting change “brew” on its own, consider this: let the team appoint someone they trust to lead the charge. Then, get higher management on board to support this mandate. Remember, a great cup of coffee (and successful change) hinges on the right ingredients, the right tools, and the right person to bring it all together. In the end, it’s all about open communication, connection, direction, and proper mandates. Because, let’s face it, nobody wants to start their day with a bad cup of coffee. ☕🚀 #TomCoffee #Caffeinatedwriting #CreativeWriting #ChangeManagement #Leadership #OrganizationalChange #CoffeeLovers #Transformation #Teamwork #Inspiration #Coffee USG Professionals Belgium RGF Staffing Belgium IdeaLeap Prosci Prosci Europe

Step 1 in the Focus and Align Framework is 'WHY' No sense starting to change things until you can communicate WHY you need to change. #lean #sixsigma #processimprovement #continuousimprovement #management

Are you trying to eat the menu at the restaurant? In the face of complex problems and especially when dealing with change, many organizations I work with seem to fall into that trap. Complex problems cannot be tackled with more analysis, more planning and more exertion of control. That is a sign that you might be confusing the model of a thing for the real thing. The model you make of what is going to happen can only be as accurate as the menu at a restaurant: a list of ingredients and probably some highly subjective descriptions. And we are all aware that this is only a tool that we use anticipating what’s going to come: a hopefully flavorful meal that gives you an experience that goes way beyond what the paper in your hand can ever communicate. I think trying to overanalyze, plan and control is also often a fear-driven approach. The problem is: It might not only turn out to be pure overhead, it might actually negatively affect the actual results because there is an implicit drive to make reality match the plan even when the plan turns out to be wrong. Which it very likely will be, given the surprising nature of complexity… So, what to do instead? I think a certain level of planning is always helpful, and it can be done without getting too detailed about potential actions that you might or might not be able to take. Here are some of my favorite questions to prepare: - What are the outcomes we are trying to achieve? - How will we know we are moving the needle in the right direction? - What useful skills and resources do we have, or can we organize? - What are important relationships that we can leverage? - What are our key strategic moves? - Who needs to play which position? - What are important boundaries to keep in mind? And then we need the courage to start, take a few bites, asses our experience and correct course if necessary. Like if we’re trying a meal for the first time. Do you agree? — 🙋🏻♂️ Hi, I’m Daniel and I write about change for organizations, teams and leaders. 🛎️ Follow me and ring the bell on my profile to not miss any future posts. 🗓️ Book an appointment above to have a free chat regarding your change. #change #changemanagement #organizationaldevelopment #transformation #yeahchange

Another post from Daniel Hommel that activates a stream of words from me :) I think he is right, and I would even add to that. Not only do we want the meal we see in the menu, we think that we can easily get it if we use the recipe. And we assume that our ingredients will be the same as in the menu... By that I mean assuming that our environment is the same, and that all the people involved will be able to do what is needed to change/fix the complex problem. I especially like the question "What useful skills and resources do we have, or can we organize?" AND I think it will be very helpful to look at the other side of that: "Which skills and resources are we lacking?" Some companies believe in magic. They say "you are now an autonomous team", and it is expected that the people in the team will take responsibility, make decisions on their own, know how to collaborate and communicate, solve internal conflicts, get results. And people cannot always do all that. To quote my good friend Torbjörn Gyllebring "Things become better when we accept them as they are. Not as we want them to be.” Not that we should just accept things and not try to change, but that we need to accept how things are and then we can start improving on it. Like training the team in communication if that is where they struggle. We need to provide support for the people, just as we need to look at other resources we are lacking to make our meal.

Why should you come on a lean culture tour? Check out this conversation and feedback with the leadership team from Sydney Food & Packaging Wholesalers Pty Ltd We had a great time together and enjoyed sharing our lean learnings and what it takes to build and maintain a vibrant lean culture! Imagine a world where every business embraced lean thinking! Lean is not just a business tool. Far from it! It is the ultimate human development system! The fastest way to transform people and get them to realise their full potential! It is the only way to get the most out of life! Not convinced? Book in for a lean tour here now! https://lnkd.in/g5wz7p8D You don't know what you don't know! And if we hadn't been curious about lean and how to transform our company culture we would never have discovered this amazing way of doing business and life! We love paying it forward and making a positive difference! We would love to see you soon! #tour #culture #lean #business #growth #success #development #people

Have you ever found yourself silently panicking 10 minutes before guests arrive, trying to make everything perfect? 🙋♂️ This situation reminds me of time management. It's not about how many tasks you have or even how well you multitask; it's about making deliberate decisions. 🕰️ Like hosting a dinner party, we can prioritize, delegate, and plan our work. When we don't, we end up overwhelmed and scrambling. Check out my colleague Susan Ali's brilliant blog in which she shares relatable experiences (and a few funny moments!) that show how small steps can make all the difference. Take control of your time — whether it's for your next project or your next dinner party. 🍽️ https://lnkd.in/ea8Fjtj6 #TimeManagement #Productivity #Planning #Leadership #Training #EffectiveDecisions #continuousimprovement #lean #leanhe #eisenhowermatrix

Warning ⚠️🚨 This is a Crap Analogy Imagine theres a burst sewage pipe in your restaurant. What’s your first move? Too often, people waste valuable time - Bemoaning the problem - Getting upset, - pointing fingers, - or opting for quick fixes like spraying air freshener to mask the odour. But here’s the truth You shouldn’t just react to the mess—tackle the problem at the root cause. “Grab the mop and bucket to clean up the immediate issue. Then, fix the pipe, ensuring the problem doesn’t return” It isn’t just about quick fixes; it’s about understanding the problem & addressing it with long-term solutions. It’s having a mindset that embodies leadership & problem-solving - Embrace change rather than resist it. - Train your team to be adaptable - Ready to act rather than react. - Communicate openly, - ensure everyone knows the plan. - Listen to feedback, even when it stinks! Be committed to continuous improvement, always seeking better ways to solve problems. Leadership means tackling challenges at their core, ensuring our operations and guest experiences are always at their best #Hospitality #hospitalityIndustry

Just wrapped up an insightful course on "Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement" by Vincent Mirabelli! 🚀 It got me thinking about how small, consistent steps can drive real, lasting change within organizations. 🌱 As Peter Drucker once said, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." This reminds me that no matter how strong our plans are, it’s the culture that shapes the outcomes. Let’s keep learning and building that culture together!https://lnkd.in/ggnSxVUi #BUMNLearningFestival #BLF-BNI #BNI-BLF #BNIUniversity

How can a flower teach us about change management? If you have ever been served a pot of butterfly pea flower tea or had a cocktail made with these beautiful blossoms, you may have experienced a sense of childlike delight when a squeeze of lemon was added to your drink. At this moment, a wonderful transformation takes place and the bright blue liquid becomes a vibrant purple. As magical as the change appears to be, there is science behind it. The flowers contain anthocyanin, which acts as a base indicator. This means that the addition of acidic lemon juice changes the PH level, and therefore the colour of the drink. Understanding the science behind change is essential for effective change management and continuous improvement. Going back to the tea, if you were unaware that the transformation from blue to purple required a PH change, you would be unlikely to be able to create the effect. Observing successful changes that other organisations have made can certainly be a starting point when it comes to creating change in your own organisation. However, if you don’t have a clear understanding of both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ that underpins changes that other organisations have made, you have no way of knowing if it is going to be either successful or even appropriate for your organisation. #changemanagement #continuousimprovement #leanonalfred