Ready, Set, Engage! : A Field Guide for Employees to Create Their Own Culture of Participation and Implement Innovative Ideas / McCarthy, Michael

All employees want themselves and their colleagues to be better engaged at work, but most just can’t get past the talking stage to actually developing an effective plan. This book is a step-by-step "how-to" guide for those who develop and complete projects – not just supervisors and continuous improvement professionals. Like instructions for "assembly required" projects, this book takes you one step at a time into creating a project that makes your work easier, better, and more satisfying. This book identifies the benefits of―and strategies for―developing engaged employees who will implement and sustain your Lean processes. You will learn and practice tools for creating and sustaining engagement and how to align your goals with your strategy, ensuring that your desired future becomes a reality. In addition, after reading this book, you’ll be able to: * Recognize barriers to building engaged teams and individuals, and then select strategies for overcoming these hurdles. * Practice communication and team relationship skills that will help you to nurture long-term process improvements. * Gain information about key listening skills, as well as steps to enhance recognition systems. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 “Make This Place Work Better and Make It a Better Place to Work” 12 Why Read This Book? 14 Introduction 16 Authors 24 Step 1: FIND Something to Improve—Something That Makes Your Job Easier 26 A. Go See for Yourself 27 B. Go See How Your Customer (Internal or External) Uses Your Stuff 28 C. The Project to Make Your Work Easier Is Likely Right under Your Nose, Annoying You Every Day. You Can Put Your Energy into Permanently Fixing That Annoying Problem, Rather than Being Annoyed by It Daily 30 1. Clean and Lean 30 Big Ears and Big Eyes 32 Summary Checklist 35 Step 2: Offer IDEAS On How to Improve a Process, Product, or Service. Ask Your Co-Workers for Their Ideas 36 A. Brainstorm to Get Improvement Ideas 37 B. Ask, “What Would Make the Process Easier or Simpler?” 39 C. Play with Ideas: Ask, “What if We Did It This Way?” 39 D. Volunteer to Test Your Idea 41 Summary Checklist 45 Step 3: TEST Your Ideas 46 A. Set Time Targets for Testing Your Ideas and Post Your Action Steps 47 B. Share Your Project with Your Co-Workers. Ask for Their Help and Ideas to Improve 50 C. Use a Measurement of Results as Feedback on Your Test: What Works? What Doesn’t Work? 51 What to Put on the Graph? 53 When Do You NOT Need a Graph? 54 When DO You Need a Graph? 54 Graphs for Project Feedback 56 D. Stuck about What to Do? “Level” Your Ideas So You Can Take Action 57 E. Arguing about What’s Best? Go Test! 61 Summary Checklist 63 Step 4: RECOGNIZE Your Co-Workers for Their Help 64 A. Why Give Recognition? 65 Two-Second Recognition 66 B. What to Recognize 67 C. How to Recognize 69 D. Create “Show & Tell” Recognition at Work and at Home 72 Summary Checklist 75 E. “Trebek ‘Em!”—Three Words: “That’s the Way!” 73 Step 5: SHARE the Skills Needed for the Improved Process 76 A. Why Share Skills for the Improved Process? 77 B. How to Share Skills 80 C. Acquire New Skills for Yourself 81 Summary Checklist 83 The 5-Step Method in Action 84 TRULINE INDUSTRIES 85 How Truline’s “Speed Cleaning” Video Maps to the 5-Step Method 85 Appendix I: Launch Guide: Ready? Set? Engage! 88 Appendix II: Checklist for Successful Brainstorming 90 Appendix III: Pick Ideas to Test 92 Appendix IV: Tips for Teamwork 94 Appendix V: Recognition 98 Appendix VI: Pinch Point Warnings: The Collection 102 Appendix VII: WD-40 Tips: The Collection 104 Appendix VIII: Forms 112 Definitions 118 Resources 120 Index 124 "All employees want themselves and their colleagues to be better engaged at work, but most just can’t get past the talking stage to actually developing an effective plan. This book is a step-by-step "how-to" guide for those who develop and complete projects – not just supervisors and continuous improvement professionals. Like instructions for "assembly required" projects, this book takes you one step at a time into creating a project that makes your work easier, better, and more satisfying. This book identifies the benefits of—and strategies for—developing engaged employees who will implement and sustain your Lean processes. You will learn and practice tools for creating and sustaining engagement and how to align your goals with your strategy, ensuring that your desired future becomes a reality. In addition, after reading this book, you’ll be able to:Recognize barriers to building engaged teams and individuals, and then select strategies for overcoming these hurdles. Practice communication and team relationship skills that will help you to nurture long-term process improvements. Gain information about key listening skills, as well as steps to enhance recognition systems. "--Provided by publisher Content: 1. Being Engaged: What's In It For You? 2. What is Engagement? 3. Find Projects that PULL Your Ideas In. 4. Use Graphs as Feedback to See if the Project is Working. 5. Set measurable Goals and Time Targets for Actions to Move the Project Along 6. Give Positive Recognition to Help Co-Workers Know the Value of Their Contributions. 7. Solve Communication Problems Promptly and Positively. 8. Grow Your Leadership Skills to Further Your Career. Authors Introduction: engagement : what is it and why do it? Step 1: Find something to improve : something that makes your job easier Step 2: Offer ideas on how to improve a process, product, or service and ask your co-workers for their help Step 3: Test your ideas Step 4: Recognize your co-workers for their help Step 5: Share skills needed for the improved process Appendices Definitions Resources Index.