19MAY 2024It takes patience and courage to stand up to others and push for what you believe in. Standing up despite the majority rule and doing so in a way which inspires others to come along with you is much easier said than doneand with ample options. While helping to sift through the options, the resolutions found are often better than the answer I initially had in mind. This is how you empower teams and drive the business.Similarly, when you come across an idea that is at first glance bad, instead of saying an idea is bad, ask questions? For example:· How would this proposal address timing constraints? · What will we do for early builds? · How can we reduce waste?People are often quick to react to negative feedback by shutting down. Asking questions and attacking the problem instead of the person will keep the conversation going. At Honda, I came across a concept. The pursuit of the ideal. This is theidea that brainstorming should be done without restrictions. Throw away concepts of money, time, product specifications, etc. What is the best way to accomplish the task with minimal effort. This concept frees up the brainstorming process and opens to the door to ideas that might not have been there otherwise. The same should be done when working with others. Some of the best ideas have come from combining several options that at face value or standing alone were insufficient or inadequate.I find myself making fast friends and driving projects in the right direction when adhering to these rules and interacting with others.Today I lead my manufacturing teams at work, Cub Scouts BSA as a Cub Master for Pack 3043 in Holland, MI,and my family by doing my best to live my values in daily life.I leave you with a few of my favorite quotes. Not sure who said them, but I strive to abide by them.· Always support your team in public, regardless of whether or not they are right· Keep it professional, you never know who you might end up working for· If everyone in the room is agreeing, no one is thinking· Don't discount unsolicited feedback· Never stop learningWishing you and your family all the best!
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