The Sensei Way at Work: The Five Keys to a Lean Business Transformation

The Sensei Way at Work is a unique business book that identifies the five keys to successful lean production in Western enterprises, challenging the misunderstanding of the Japanese term kaizen mind and the need to develop new change leaders. It emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, creativity, and immersion in challenges to achieve lasting organizational transformation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 158 pages
Publication date: 13 October 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Sensei Way at Work, a remarkable addition to the plethora of successful business books on the Toyota production system, lean enterprise, and the Toyota Way, stands out as a unique and insightful guide. It delves into the five essential keys that sustain successful lean production in Western enterprises, a challenge that has perplexed business leaders, managers, and lean coaches for decades.

The first reason for our recurring struggle to maintain the initial gains of lean startups lies in a misinterpretation of the Japanese term kaizen mind. Many mistakenly equate it with a relentless pursuit of business efficiency and cost reduction. In reality, kaizen mind encompasses a psychology of mindfulness merged with creativity. Once evoked by a sensei, this mindset can be applied (without extensive training) when leaders mandate that employees and managers collaborate to solve quality problems and redesign work processes together.

The second reason for our inability to sustain progress lies in our need to cultivate new change leaders who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to drive transformative change. A sensei immerses prospects in a series of challenging experiences, empowering them to develop the mindset of a leader. This entails cultivating states of presence, flow, and compassion, enabling individuals to approach change with a deep understanding of its impact on people and the organization.

By embracing the five keys outlined in The Sensei Way at Work and realizing one fundamental aspect, organizational transformation becomes not only possible but also inevitable. This transformative journey enables leaders to unlock the full potential of their teams, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and achieve sustainable success in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367376147