Kaizen | A Japanese Philosophy You Can Use to Improve Your Team Structure

“Renew the heart and make it good”, Kaizen is a Japanese term that can be translated as, “constant improvement for the good”.

Kaizen is the philosophy at the forefront of Toyota Motor Company’s operations. It is considered one of the world’s greatest manufacturers. There is even a book written about “The Toyota Way”.

Kaizen: Constant Improvement


At the heart of Kaizen is teamwork, making the philosophy a team building strategist’s dream! Every employee is encouraged to share his/her ideas for improvement and the smallest changes will often get consideration and implementation. Team members at Toyota are encouraged to find the minor details that could use improvement, and to make the improvement. Unorganized filing system? Sort the papers, alphabetize, color code, done.

kaizen

That sounds pretty basic right? Elementary thinking you may say. Well, even the most common sense approaches might come to a screeching halt if management doesn’t deem them an appropriate use of time. For instance- purging files.

Many companies restrict file purging as part of the work process. However, ANYONE who works in an office knows how quickly paperwork piles up and gets out of date, rendering it obsolete and useless. With all that pile up comes clutter, physical and mental, and that stops up the works.

It can be time management battle just to get even a couple of hours out of an entire year to go through the clutter and get rid of what is no longer needed, but it isn’t rocket science. Giving your employees time each quarter to go through their paperwork, clean out their offices and start fresh is essential for optimum productivity.

When you focus on clearing the old you tie up loose ends and clear a little space on your plate. You’re team is sure to feel renewed and ready to face challenges ahead.

Kaizen works for many reasons:

  1. It empowers employees to be decision makers
  2. It eliminates waste for your company
  3. Low cost, high impact results
  4. Savings can be used for your next team building event!

There are many more reasons why Kaizen is a philosophy every company should consider implementing. There are courses and certifications available to learn the deeper philosophies. There are also several books written about it. Maybe this one would be a good for your team’s book club?!

What are your thoughts? Are you familiar with Kaizen?

Have you made any small changes that had a huge impact on your team’s morale? We’d love to hear from you, please leave a comment below!

 

Flora Baxter

Team Contributor

Subscribe

Sign up for tips on crafting the perfect team.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

Podcast

around the world podcast logo

Get ideas, inspiration and best practices from across the globe.

apple podcast logo spotify podcast logo

Be a Guest Blogger

Do you have any useful tips, tricks, guides, or valuable insights about company culture?

Learn more  

Sign up for tips on crafting the perfect team.

Less drama? Greater productivity and job satisfaction? Yes, you really can make an impact, and TeamBonding is here to help. Subscribe to our blog for useful tips, tricks and insights.

More great content based on your likes.

Innovative Workplaces: Physical Workspace Design to Spark Engagement and Creativity

Whether we realize it or not, our workspaces play a very important role in engagement, creativity, and overall business success.. Workplace design—physical and virtual—can significantly influence behavior, promote collaboration, teamwork, creativity, and foster a culture of innovation. 

Read More  

The Evolution of Corporate Jargon: From Buzzwords to Inclusive Language

Corporate Jargon is a staple in the world of business. No matter what industry you are in, there’s likely a long list of jargon that gets used daily. At its core, corporate jargon is language used in the workplace to convey other, often more complicated, concepts. It can come in the form of acronyms, phrases, metaphors, and more. 

Read More  

How to Handle Conflict Resolution in the Workplace

Conflict resolution in the workplace is something that many businesses struggle with. Conflicts are inevitable to an extent, and they can have negative effects on the business and workplace. They can create tension, slow progress, decrease efficiency, limit creativity, create toxicity, and much more. Resolving conflict in the workplace is essential if you want a positive and thriving business. 

Read More  

8+ Of The Best Spring Team Building Activities For 2024

The first day of spring is March 19th, but depending on where you live it might be here sooner than you think. It’s never too early to get out of hibernation and start planning something for your team to look forward to, especially after a long winter. Whether your team is remote, in-person, or anything in between there is a plethora of spring team building activities and ideas to bring everyone together.

Read More  

Questions? Need a quote?

Complete this form to get started or call 877-472-2725.

Loading Icon

Create Your Free Account

Get exclusive access to new programs from the TeamBonding Lab, save your favorite ideas, and track your upcoming events.
Already have an account? Login

Please wait...

Sign-in

Don't yet have an account?
Create a Free Account

Forgot Your Password? Password Reset