Asking “why” is one of the key strategies for achieving better “lean” practices.

If you are new to the company, you may see us doing something one way, and it seems like there is a better way. The tendency might be to step back and remain silent.

Most new people assume that the long-term employees have been doing it longer and probably know what they are doing.

But that isn’t always the case. It is human nature to work on solving a problem until it doesn’t feel like a problem anymore.

So, many times, the solutions we choose “work,” but they aren’t the “best.”

“Lean” thinking capitalizes on that mindset. It assumes procedures and processes were put in place because they worked.

Lean says if we systematically look at the things we do and challenge ourselves to examine them afresh, we can almost always find ways to improve them. Fresh eyes look at an old procedure as if it were a new problem and try to find a better way.

So, if you are new, speak up. If you are experienced, listen closely to the new team member who asks why. There may be improvements in their ideas.

And finally, if you’re experienced, try to look at what you are doing with “fresh” eyes. There is more meat on the bone.

-Howe Q. Wallace Jr