STANDARD WORK FOR CEO

💡 Can Standard Work Apply to the CEO Role? Absolutely! 💡

Have you ever been told that some types of work, like the CEO function, can’t have standard work? Well, I recently had an eye-opening experience that proved this belief wrong.

🔹 A Surprising Lesson from the CEO

I was visiting a healthcare organization when the CEO invited me to follow him and see the impact of our previous work together. At first, I was surprised because we had only briefly met at conferences, and I had facilitated a workshop for him a few years ago. When we reached his office, he showed me documents displayed on his office door, facing the hallway.

🔹 Applying CEO Standard Work

He had applied the principles from the CEO’s standard work workshop we had discussed. By laying out his key activities and identifying the purpose behind each one, he was able to stay focused on his value-added tasks. The standard work document served as a tool for his weekly reflection, allowing him to:

• Identify activities for elimination, simplification, or delegation

• Recognize and analyze process defects, like activities that didn’t go as planned or were not completed.

🔹 Leading by Example

What was truly remarkable was how the CEO made this process visible to his team. He posted the standard work document on his office door to hold himself accountable and encouraged his C-suite team to follow his lead. This shared approach allowed the CEO to regularly review the standard work of his leadership team and support them in improving their routines while eliminating inefficiencies and process defects.

🌟 Standard Work for Everyone

This experience proved that standard work isn’t just for production or operational roles—it can apply to the CEO and leadership teams as well. By creating transparency, staying focused on purpose, and continuously improving routines, leaders can drive significant improvements in their own work and in their organizations.

💭 Your Turn:

Have you ever implemented standard work in an unconventional role?

How did it help drive improvement and accountability?

Share your thoughts in the comments! 🌟

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