From Eiffel Tower Post-Its to Real Impact

Ever-So-Lean Podcast

In this enlightening episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jan Otterbach, a distinguished business change leader and Vice President - Head of Process Transformation, renowned for driving strategic change across both commercial and technology sectors. Jan’s commitment to fostering collaborative, cross-functional approaches has made a significant impact on the organisations he has worked with.

Jan reflects on his remarkable career, discussing his role in transforming sales and commercial processes at Elavon Europe, mentoring teams to achieve transformative change, and establishing effective team structures and governance models. His approach, grounded in the principle of going to the Gemba, engaging directly with frontline workers and making problems visible, has been instrumental in identifying inefficiencies and fostering real-time problem-solving.

In our conversation, we explore Jan’s insights on the importance of focusing on a manageable number of key initiatives, regularly assessing the value of meetings, and prioritising empathy and engagement in leadership. Jan also emphasises the benefits of blending various methodologies, such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile, to address an organisation’s specific challenges.

Central to Jan’s philosophy is the belief that "respect for people is paramount." We delve into best practices for creating sustainable ways of working, uncover the concept of the "sexy 20%," and discuss what it means to move towards the "80%."

This episode is a must-listen for leaders, change agents, and anyone interested in business transformation. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion filled with practical insights and real-world examples from Jan’s extensive experience in driving impactful change.

Key Takeaways:

1. Go to the Gemba and Make Problems Visible: Engage directly with frontline workers, observe their challenges, and involve them in identifying inefficiencies. This hands-on approach builds credibility and ensures real-time problem-solving by making issues visible through tools like post-it notes or virtual whiteboards.

2. Regularly Assess Meeting Frequency and Necessity: Continuously evaluate the value of recurring meetings. If they aren't productive, consider spacing them out or cancelling them to avoid time wastage and maintain relevance.

3. Focus on a Manageable Number of Key Initiatives: Avoid spreading resources too thin. Concentrate on a few impactful projects that align with organisational goals to achieve better collaboration and higher quality outcomes.

4. Prioritise Empathy and Engagement in Leadership: Leaders should prioritise understanding the people involved in change processes. Directly engage with team members, listen to their frustrations, and involve them in the change process to foster ownership and commitment.

5. Blend Methodologies to Suit Organisational Context: Don’t rigidly adhere to a single framework. Blend different methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Agile) to adopt best practices tailored to the unique challenges of the organisation.

6. Respect for People Is Paramount: Above all, the greatest takeaway is that respect for people is the foundation of successful leadership and change management.

🔗 Jan's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/janotterbach/

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