Pull a rabbit out of your hat!

If you have experienced any sort of Kaizen event, rapid improvement event, blitz, or deep dive, was it a good or a bad result? I have been fortunate enough to participate in some great improvement activities. I have also been fortunate enough to participate in a few activities that did not go as well. Although there are a number of factors that contribute to an event's success or failure, there is one that weighs heavier than the approach or outline or team size. That is preparation. Majority of significant improvements that I have seen made were the result of thorough understanding and intentional execution.

Most people make it to a professional level of sports or performing arts through practice and hard work. There are very few cases where the individual just shows up and is great, every time. Similarly, investing in the hard work up front to know your approach, to study the process, and to analyze the data are key to repeatable improvement efforts. For every hour of workshop or kaizen event, there was probably 2 hours of equivalent time preparing for the event. My daughter recently got a magic kit for her birthday. The slight of hand and special props create an experience that is perceived as supernatural and an audience often wants you to "do it again". Yet, there was also practice and timing and sequencing of the tricks. Likewise as continuous improvement professionals we can't just show up on the scene and "make magic happen". This isn't voodoo magic, it is discipline and focus. This creates a frustration for last minute requests from business to swoop in an facilitate an event ... within their defined timeframe ... with no preparation. Likewise it is errant to accept those "opportunities" and trust too fully in your talent to deliver without preparation and structured approach.

A final note on the oft sought magical improvement events it that of sustainability. A good business partner should always seek to coach and develop. The improvements achieved in a kaizen event cannot be sustained without transfer of knowledge and understanding. Therefore, it is important to also convey the level of preparation and deliberate approach that achieve significant and sustainable events. Operating as the Wizard of Oz (a man behind the curtain) promotes the thinking I am arguing against here.

COVID-19 Edit: As many businesses transition to a virtual environment and remote work (for an indefinite period) with the global corona virus pandemic, the need to prepare and develop timing with new skills and technologies is amplified. Expecting to simply shift the old methods to a virtual means and get the same results is flawed. It will require more preparation to be engaging and get results.