A practice in some meetings is to collect phones as people enter the room to prevent interruptions and keep the team focused on the meeting issues. It’s a drastic, if effective measure.
Even more important than checking phones is checking the temptation to lecture about concerns rather than address them as a team. The following comments were recently made in coordination meetings intended to be collaborative:
- “We’re doing our part, you foremen need to do your part.”
- “Let the workers know they are being monitored.”
- “Getting this work done is like watching grass grow.”
The concern with these comments is very simple. The Lean tools will not work effectively in an environment that chastises rather than supports. The language meeting leaders use is extremely important.
Most leaders, especially those wanting to lead collaboratively, are not aware they speak this way. So how do we change, given that our conditioning has led us to use language such as that above? If you are a meeting or team leader, designate someone on the team to monitor how you speak to others, and report to you at the end of the meeting or day statements that fail to be collaborative. Simple awareness goes a long way toward promoting improvement.
