How to be more successful in everything: 7 kaizen principles to improve efficiency

It can be difficult to collect yourself and start to fulfill big tasks. Accumulated cases are frightening in their volume, and literally, you lose your hands, there is a desire to postpone for later. And the mountain of unresolved duties accumulates, turning into a real hard to conquer Everest.

Modern methods to improve labor productivity offer many options for solving difficulties. Some were compiled on the basis of Asian philosophical trends. They absorbed the best trends from there. One of them is the Japanese concept of kaizen efficiency.

What does the methodology include? Why it can easily be used in order and even in personal relationships? Let’s get to the bottom of it.

What is kaizen?

Kaizen means “change for the better” in Japanese. The concept is based on continuous improvement of production processes, development of auxiliary business plans to reduce the time to perform operations.

Kaizen resembles the well-known theory of “small steps”. The concept implies a continuous process of action, without delays or excuses. Tasks are not accumulated, but are accomplished to the best of one’s ability. Even if not immediately and not to the end, but with a certain periodicity.

Schematically, the concept resembles a plan written on paper. Every day you fulfill the items written in it. Operations that need to be done, gradually become a habit and are performed “on automatic”. And each new small step brings significant results.

History of the emergence of the method

Kaizen was invented at the end of World War II in Japan as a method to increase the productivity of employees in companies. After historical disasters, the country was in an economic crisis. There was a need to increase competitiveness on the world stage.

In 1949, a Japanese scientist, professor of Tokyo University Kaoru Ishikawa invented a method of quality management in production. It became a breakthrough and the whole world learned about it. Now it is used in many large companies. One of the first to implement the methodology was the automobile corporation Toyota.

Ishikawa realized that in order to increase demand for goods, it is necessary to work with its properties. Make them the most favorable compared to the rest. The professor developed a system of quality control, which he implemented at all stages of production – from design departments to workshops. That is, every employee in the company became a participant of the process and could contribute to its development.

Basic principles of the kaizen concept

The philosophy, which also later formed the basis of the QC methodology, had the main idea – lean production. It is based on eliminating processes that lead to losses. In kaizen, optimizing the work of each employee and focusing on the needs of the customer are important.

To achieve this, it was necessary to create a single coherent complex where both employee motivation and customer satisfaction would be preserved.

These principles helped to bring the methodology to the top and make it one of the most popular.

1. customer orientation

Any business should start with analyzing the needs of the customer.

2. Continuous improvement

The methodology assumes that you should never stop at what you have achieved.

3. Teamwork

All employees should work together towards a common goal and be involved in the process.

4. Supportive relationships

Every employee is valued and respected in the team. A welcoming workplace climate ensures a cohesive organization and increases productivity.

5. Personal discipline and self-control

One of the most important elements that ensure success in any business. According to the concept, everyone is capable of cultivating discipline.

6. Brainstorming groups

Groups are organized in the company, which include employees of different levels to exchange ideas and skills.

7. Delegation of Authority

Each employee improves within their area of expertise and has a designated amount of authority.

Where can Kaizen methodology be applied?

The implementation of the Japanese concept for more than 50 years has already been appreciated by many companies. In addition to the aforementioned Toyota Corporation, kaizen is successfully used to improve productivity processes in Siemens.

Russian production facilities have not turned to the Japanese methodology so long ago. But such companies as KAMAZ, GAZ, and Baltika are already actively implementing it.

In business kaizen is aimed at improving management and technological processes, improving the quality of goods and services, developing corporate culture, increasing labor productivity, strengthening leadership and teamwork.

However, the concept is also quite applicable in personal life. It helps to fight bad habits, improve physical and psychological health.

Kaizen can be an incentive to rethink life goals and attitude to oneself. Will allow you to develop emotional intelligence and stress resistance due to the attitude to the emerging problems not as difficulties, but as an opportunity to improve their skills and project.

Disadvantages of the system

The Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement teaches people to be structured and planned, suggesting that new things should be started in small steps, thus avoiding overload. This approach encourages gradual progress and consolidation of new skills and work system.

Business psychologist, clinical psychologist “Clinic of Dr. Anikina”

“Nowadays, this approach becomes the only right one to weed out the endless amount of notifications and concentrate on the matter at hand. From the point of view of an organization’s management, implementing kaizen principles brings a lot of benefits, because this philosophy teaches continuous self-improvement and openness to feedback.”

However, for people who prefer fast and radical changes, this approach may seem too slow and not ambitious enough.

The cons of kaizen

1. Speed of change. It takes some time to wait for results. Kaizen can slow down the implementation of necessary changes if you focus too much on small improvements.

2. Not applicable to a rapidly growing economy. There is a risk that a focus on incremental improvements may reduce the focus on radical innovation and major breakthroughs.

3- Human Factor. Often the negative sides of employees interfere with the company’s processes: laziness, unscrupulousness, greed.

Psychological aspect of kaizen

From a psychological perspective, kaizen supports the development of patience, discipline, and attention to detail. It teaches to value the process of achieving a goal, not just the goal itself. It helps to improve emotional well-being and reduce stress levels.

But it’s important to not just implement change in small steps. You need to do a lot of preventative work with employee anxiety. That is, not just to give tasks, but to explain in an accessible way about the upcoming changes.

Another important point that is emphasized in the kaizen concept is the motivation of employees. According to the concept, each employee in the company knows exactly the scope of the obligations imposed on him and the cost of his labor. And also the consequences that will follow for non-fulfillment. Transparency of processes in the organization makes employees more loyal.

By the way, the problem is ubiquitous in modern companies. Often managers do not bother to explain the processes of production. Hence, an uninformed employee can make mistakes and show himself not on the best side.

That being said, many managers are really smart and have a wealth of knowledge. But they often don’t realize that for rank-and-file employees, information about the company outside of the processes they are responsible for may not be interesting.

For example, a pharmacist can work 20 years in a pharmacy and not care at all about sales as a percentage of gross revenue. For the manager, this is a daily report, and when the sales plan appears, it is necessary to show why it is done, how the lay-out in the pharmacy will change, how the employee’s bonus for shelf design will change, and so on.

Therefore, dedicating employees to the company’s affairs at all levels is a very important step. It will help define the employee’s role in the process, understand their values and those of the company. This sensible and eco-friendly approach seems to be a drag to many, but it brings high results.

Thus, kaizen is a powerful tool for personal growth and business process improvement. It teaches us that even the smallest steps can lead to significant changes in life and work. This approach can be adapted to different areas of activity and personality types, making it a universal tool for success.