Core Truth
Lean fails without Lean leadership. Processes improve fast. Leadership habits improve slowly. Leader Standard Work (LSW) is the system that forces the shift.
What LSW Is (And Isn’t)
| Is |
Isn’t |
| Daily/weekly routine |
Checklist in a drawer |
| 80% at Gemba |
80% in meetings |
| Coach + observe |
Direct + command |
| Aligned to True North |
Aligned to firefighting |
LSW Purpose (4 Reasons)
- Stabilize leadership → reduce variation
- Expose problems → deviations = signals
- Build habits → training wheels (Liker)
- Model respect → leaders follow standard work too
LSW Structure (Daily Template)
| Time |
Task |
Location |
Tool |
Std |
| 06:30 |
Safety Gemba |
Line 1 |
Board |
10 min |
| 07:00 |
Layered audit |
Zone A |
5S map |
15 min |
| 07:30 |
Huddle |
SQDC board |
Run chart |
12 min |
| 09:00 |
Coach 1 problem |
Gemba |
A3 |
20 min |
| 11:00 |
Action review |
Action board |
Sticky |
10 min |
| 14:00 |
1:1 development |
Desk |
IDP |
15 min |
| 16:00 |
Reflection |
Journal |
5 questions |
5 min |
Total Gemba time: 73 min/day (61%)
True North Alignment
| True North |
LSW Link |
| Safety |
Daily Gemba + audit |
| Quality |
Coach 1 defect |
| Delivery |
Huddle OTD review |
| Cost |
Action board close rate |
| People |
1:1 + recognition |
Implementation Framework (5 Steps)
Step 1: Define Current State (1 Week)
- Shadow 3 leaders
- Log time: % Gemba | % meetings | % email
- Typical: 12% | 58% | 30%
Step 2: Draft LSW (1 Day)
- 80/20 rule: 80% Gemba, 20% desk
- Max 7 tasks/day
- Co-create with peer group
Step 3: Pilot & Audit (30 Days)
| Week |
Focus |
| 1 |
Observe only |
| 2 |
Add 3 tasks |
| 3 |
Full LSW |
| 4 |
Audit % done |
Audit Sheet (daily)
Leader: _______ Date: _______
[ ] Task 1 done? Y/N
[ ] Deviation noted?
[ ] Reflection written?
% Complete: ___%
Step 4: Connect to Frontline SW
- Leader audits 1 frontline SW/day
- Frontline audits 1 leader task/week
- Mutual respect loop
Step 5: Reflect & Improve (Weekly)
- Friday 30-min review
- Pareto deviations
- Adjust 1 task
Coaching Kata in LSW
| LSW Task |
Kata Question |
| Coach 1 Problem |
1. Target? 2. Current? 3. Obstacle? 4. Next step? 5. When to see? |
Leader models kata → team copies
Metrics Dashboard
| Metric |
Target |
How Measured |
| % LSW done |
>95% |
Daily audit |
| % Gemba time |
>70% |
Time log |
| Problems coached |
1–3/day |
A3 count |
| Frontline SW audited |
1/day |
Log |
| Deviation actions |
100% |
Weekly review |
Results (12 Months)
| Site |
LSW % |
SW Compliance |
Ideas/Employee |
Safety Incidents |
| Plant X |
97% |
94% |
2.1 |
-51% |
| Plant Y |
61% |
68% |
0.4 |
+12% |
Plant Y: LSW = checklist, no Gemba
Common Traps & Fixes
| Trap |
Symptom |
Fix |
| Firefighting rewarded |
LSW skipped for crises |
Block LSW time in calendar |
| No deviation logging |
100% green |
Random leader audits |
| Desk-bound |
<50% Gemba |
KPI: % Gemba time |
| No frontline link |
Leaders exempt |
Frontline audits leader |
90-Day Rollout Plan
| Week |
Action |
| 1–2 |
Shadow + draft LSW |
| 3–4 |
Pilot 2 leaders |
| 5–8 |
Train all, audit daily |
| 9–12 |
Connect to frontline SW |
| 13 |
Certify (95% + reflection) |
LSW Reflection Questions (5 Min EOD)
- What deviated today?
- Why?
- What will I change tomorrow?
- Who did I coach?
- What did I learn?
Leadership Mindset Shift
| Old |
New |
| Hero |
Coach |
| Direct |
Ask |
| Office |
Gemba |
| Firefight |
Prevent |
| Blame |
Learn |
Final Framework
True North
↓
LSW (80% Gemba)
↓
Coach + Audit
↓
Reflect + Adjust
↓
Stable Leadership → Stable Process → Sustained Lean
Your Turn: List your top 3 LSW tasks below. We’ll align them to True North.