“Support Daily Kaizen” is the third pillar of the Lean Leadership Development Model (LLDM) described in Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels by Jeffrey K. Liker and George Trachilis. It calls on leaders to create the environment for ongoing improvement—in work, behavior, and mindset—every single day.
Purpose
- Take improvement directly to the front line.
- Make it leader‑supported, not leader‑driven.
- Grow problem‑solving capability in everyone.
- Make improvement habitual and sustainable.
The Three Core Responsibilities of Lean Leaders
- Enable: Give time, tools, and standard processes for Kaizen.
- Coach: Guide each person through PDCA cycles.
- Develop: Build thinking capability and self‑reliant teams.
Supporting Daily Kaizen‑6 Winning Habits
1️⃣ Go to the Gemba — “Big eyes, big ears, small mouth.”
Leaders must go where value is created. As Tom says, *“Spend time at the Gemba daily — watch the process, not just the outcomes.”* Observe with curiosity, not judgment, and let people feel comfortable sharing what they see.
2️⃣ Identify & Expose Problems — “Problems are treasures.”
As George reminds us, *“If it isn’t visible, you can’t solve it.”* Make issues easy to see through visual management and comparison to standards. Celebrate every problem found—it’s the first step toward improvement.
3️⃣ Facilitate PDCA Learning Cycles — “Plan, Do, Check, Act — then do it again.”
Tom explains, *“Too often people quit after the first failure. Don’t stop—adjust and run the next cycle.”* The PDCA cycle builds scientific thinking and helps teams learn through structured experimentation.
4️⃣ Provide Coaching & Feedback — “If your idea works, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it’s mine.”
This mindset creates trust. Coaching means asking open‑ended questions and fostering reflection. Leaders grow people, not by giving answers, but by helping them think through problems themselves.
5️⃣ Build Standard Work — “If you can’t see it, you can’t fix it.”
Daily stand‑ups, checklists, and leader routines help standardize our improvement rhythm. As George shares, *“Stable routines let us see what’s really happening.”* Consistency amplifies clarity and teamwork.
6️⃣ Recognize & Celebrate Improvements — “Out of sight, out of mind.”
Visible recognition sustains motivation. Celebrate small wins publicly, share lessons learned, and encourage peer‑to‑peer applause. These actions reinforce learning and demonstrate that Kaizen never stops.
“The role of a Lean leader is not to solve problems, but to develop problem solvers.”
— Jeffrey K. Liker & George Trachilis, Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels