Lean 5S (sort, simplify, shine, standardize, sustain) are about creating work space to become more proficient, effective and productive. Lean 5S have many benefits like improvement of safety, reduction in down time, boost in morale of the employee, faster identification of the problems and establishment of best work practices. Lean 5S are also used to strengthen employees pride in their work, empower them to sustain a planned work area and promote effective communication among the employees.
Communication is a two-way process and it becomes effective when content is delivered in a way which audience finds interesting. Effective communication is majorly affected by Lean principles and concepts, including 5S. When the process of communication is executed in the right manner, it allows employees and leaders to work together.
It is important to understand how communication happens and what is communicated. The Lean principles are applied to communication as well and the 5S of communication are size up, simulate, seek, stabilize and sustain.
Size Up means to be open to understanding different types of personalities and individual needs. It also means to be trustworthy and transparent. It also means to be able to evaluate the preferred styles of communication of the employees and respond accordingly.
Seeking helps you modify the way you communicate to cater to individual preferences. Being resourceful also comes under seeking. It is the spirit to find out methods of connecting with others, encouraging innovation, creativity, and problem solving along with appreciating personality differences.Simulate is to improvise your communication skills and develop compassion to inspire employees depending their different needs.To stabilize means consistent application of effective communication by forming a bond with the employees and motivating them. For this, a leader needs to be persistent, willing to stand by the employees who are different, helping without being judgmental.
To sustain is to be skilled in communication practices to be able to encourage the employees as per their needs and connect at their level, consistently and effectively.
It is clear that effective communication plays a major role in proper functioning and implementation of lean principles and strategies.
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