Lean Back to Move Forward

Late 2006, I fell in love. First with Lean, and soon after, even more deeply with Continuous Improvement. During an introductory session on the topic, I felt butterflies in my stomach and an overwhelming urge to learn more. It was like traveling and coming home at the same time. A whole new world opened up, and I knew I had found what I had been searching for.

Shortly after, Continuous Improvement landed on the agenda of our management team, and I eagerly volunteered my department to get started. Over the next six months, we immersed ourselves in Lean, supported by external consultants. I found myself more captivated by the improvement projects than by daily management tasks. This led me to pursue a role that didn’t yet exist: Continuous Improvement Manager. By January 2007, I officially started, bursting with enthusiasm.

Fourteen years later, this work continues to profoundly influence my life and career. Continuous Improvement is rooted in personal learning, with reflection as its cornerstone.

The Power of Reflection in Change

Reflection, from the Latin word “reflectere” (to bend back), involves stepping back to thoughtfully consider an experience or topic. It’s about gaining deeper insights and learning from them. While often associated with analyzing past experiences, reflection can also be forward-looking, as in future thinking or philosophical exploration. Central to reflection are deep questioning and critical thinking.

Reflection differs from evaluation or problem-solving. It’s not about reaching a definitive conclusion or judgment but about exploring and understanding. As John Dewey famously said:

We do not learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience. - John Dewey

 

Reflection as an Underrated Leadership Quality

Reflection is one of the most underrated leadership traits, often associated with introverted leaders such as Gandhi, Einstein, Bill Gates, Angela Merkel, and Barack Obama. These leaders succeeded not despite their introversion but because of it. While extroverted traits like decisiveness and managing uncertainty are often praised, reflection rarely receives the same recognition, despite being equally crucial in today’s fast-paced world.

Introverts naturally excel at reflection. They gain energy from listening, observing, and understanding rather than engaging in constant activity. However, introversion is neither better nor worse than extroversion. Both leadership styles bring valuable strengths. While introverts are often encouraged to speak up more, extroverts are rarely urged to step back and reflect, even though studies, such as those from the University of Texas at Austin, show that learning is most effective during moments of quiet reflection.

Reflection as a Catalyst for Change

Regular reflection enables individuals, teams, and organizations to observe, learn, and make well-informed decisions about the future. This process can break the cycle of constant firefighting and create space for meaningful change. Yet, as the pace of life accelerates, reflection often takes a backseat.

To harness its power, we need to prioritize thinking time in our daily routines. Living on autopilot disconnects us from our inner selves and blinds us to opportunities for positive transformation. By leaning back, we can truly move forward.