Occasionally people will express that a Lean project transformation will not work for them because “someone else” needs to also buy into the Lean approach. For a builder that someone else might be the project owner. For a trade contractor that someone else might be the construction manager.

Yes, of course the more players on a project that join the Lean approach the greater the extent a team can optimize across the project; and ideally everyone on the team is committed to following Lean principles.

No matter what role you play on a project there is a sphere of influence in which you can leverage Lean practices. It might be initially your own company, and then if you are fortunate a few followers who observe your success. Or, maybe nobody else on the project team will want to join. So what?

This is another opportunity to choose a narrative: Either “I won’t work according to Lean principles because XYZ isn’t,” or “I’m going to do my best to improve what I can and learn from this project even if others don’t follow a Lean approach.”