(See below for the best Lean leadership books.)
The Role of the Lean Leader
John Shook stated that the role of the Lean Leader is twofold: 1.) to engage each person in an organization in improving the work they do and 2.) to ensure that each person’s work is focused on adding value for the customer.
Sounds simple? It just might be, but yet few individuals ever master the practice of Lean Leadership. Perhaps we simply do not understand what sets Lean Leadership apart from traditional leadership. (Hint: if you grasp the following image, you’re on the right track).
When it comes to learning what sets a Lean leader apart from other leaders, there is good news and there is bad news. The good news is that there are many excellent Lean leadership books available to get you started on your Lean leadership journey. The bad news is that there are also plenty of bad Lean leadership books out there.
So, how can you know for sure which resources are good enough to guide you on the path to Lean leadership? Simply read on!
The Best Lean Leadership Books
The three books above are each outstanding in their own way, providing unique perspectives on Lean leadership. The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership by Liker and Convis outlines the development of Lean leaders at all levels at Toyota. The Lean Turnaround by Art Byrne provides expert guidance for any Lean senior leader through a case study of Byrne’s turnaround of the Wiremold organization. Finally, the Lean CEO provides a look at Lean leadership through the study of the best practices of many of today’s top leaders.
Lean Leadership Books: The Best of the Rest
