Lean Letters

In the Toronto airport waiting for my flight home. Lots of delays so I’m using my time to reflect and think! One of the things I’ve been thinking about is just how much I enjoy ‘going to see’ (in person and remotely)! After visiting new clients – or the wonderful people who aren’t clients but invite me to see their organization – people are often surprised, saying something like: “We expected you to tell us all the things we were doing wrong…but that didn’t happen! You helped us see all the good work we’re doing!” So I’ve been thinking about two things:

1. Why do we think so negatively? Assume that we’re going to be told what’s wrong…because when I visit people, normally I see that they are doing the best they can with the time and resources they have! And that they are doing a great job! And…

2. It also reminds me that when we ‘go see’ it’s important to remember to look for the positive, and speak kindly, especially when offering suggestions for improvement!

As I always say, “How we get there is as important as where we are going,” so please remember ‘go see, ask why’ and be kind to yourself and others!

Resistance is one of the most common topics I’m asked about in coaching. And people are often surprised when I say resistance doesn’t bother me. Why? Because resistance is simply part of human nature…and as coaches, since we are coaching people…human beings…we should expect it! Since I expect some kind of resistance at the beginning of asking people to work and think in new ways, I’m not surprised or disappointed when it happens. And I don’t take it personally. I know that part of human nature is to balk and dig our heels in when someone asks – or tells – us to do things differently. So what do I do when people are resistant? It depends. Sometimes I stay with them and lend them courage as they try the new way…sometimes I just give them time and space to process the request…and, sometimes I ask for leadership help. Whatever the choice, though, I always remember, the person I’m coaching is a valued and valuable human being…and that resistance is simply….HUMAN! What do you do when you encounter resistance? I’d love to know!

Do you know why I love having clients?? One of the biggest reasons is that they inspire me every day with (among many other things!) their learning and insights! Yesterday, here’s what Suzannah DiMarco from the #ACWay team at Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology said: “Why do people just keep giving the same updates over and over again each day? Because they don’t have an easy, visual way, to see at a glance, what’s happening and their progress!” Great observation and reflection! So, if you’re in a situation where you keep hearing the same updates and information stated over and over again, take a look around and ask yourself, “Is there an easy way for people to ‘see’ this at a glance?” And if not, create one! Thanks, Suzannah for helping all of us ‘see’ more clearly!

Excited to let everyone know that I’ve started a foundation! It’s called The Love and Kindness Project Foundation, and it’s the home for all the ‘love and kindness’ work that I’ve been doing. At The Love and Kindness Project Foundation, our mission is very simple. It’s to:

Foster projects that create love and kindness in the world.

So, if you want to order Love and Kindness Buttons, a Plant Kindness – Grow Love Yard Sign, start your own Helping Circle, or make a donation to support creative projects fostering love and kindness, visit us at:

The Love and Kindness Project Foundation

And don’t forget to order your copy of Big Karma and Little Kosmo Help Each Other! All proceeds go to fund the creative projects at The Love and Kindness Project Foundation!

It’s an exciting time at KRC! My family book, Big Karma and Little Kosmo Help Each Other, is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Ji86Do As a ‘family book’ it’s meant to be read by adults and children together! Then answer the questions at the back of the book and turn your ideas for helping others into action! Draw a picture of how your family helped, post it on social media #BigKarmaLittleKosmo and email your address to karyn@lovekindnessproject.org. Big Karma and Little Kosmo will send you a present to thank you for helping! All book proceeds go to my new Love and Kindness Project Foundation! (And thank you to Karen Light for the wonderful illustrations!)

Sometimes, I’m asked the question, Is Lean ‘kind’”? Or, a version of that theme, “Since Lean is about ‘respect for people’ that means people who practice – or teach – Lean, should be held to a higher standard than others, right?” This is always surprising to me, because I’ve never worked with – or in – an organization that didn’t have acting with integrity and respecting others as part of its values. Lean is a way of managing and working. And in Lean, respect for people – believing that everyone can be developed to do more than they ever thought they could do, and be more than they ever thought they could be – doesn’t simply mean treating people kindly, respectfully and in accordance with the organization’s values. Lean isn’t ‘kind’ or not. People are. And being kind, is the way we should treat everyone (people, animals and our world), each and every day. So, the question is, “How can we, as people, act more kindly?” At work. At home. Wherever we are. There’s always a way.

Happy Friday! And congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2019 KRC Creativity Challenge so far! Lots of fabulous, creative entries! Here’s the last Super-Quick Creativity Starter for this challenge: 1. Write the word HAPPY on a piece of paper! Change the shape of the letters, and add colors and other embellishments so that the word on the page looks..well…happy!! Post your response here, or send me an email: karyn@karynrossconsulting.com. I’ll be contacting the winner(s) of my new book, “How to Coach for Creativity and Service Excellence: A Lean Coaching Workbook” early next week! And…so you aren’t disappointed that the challenge is over…just when you were getting creative…starting Monday, May 6, 2019, I’m going to be hosting LIVE, ONLINE, Super-Quick Creativity Sessions by Zoom! Join me from 8:00 am – 8:15 am Central Time, every weekday: Register here: Monday: http://bit.ly/2GyjM0S Tuesday: http://bit.ly/2IJgifp Wednesday: http://bit.ly/2ZEfLRs Thursday: http://bit.ly/2XOPH4d Friday: http://bit.ly/2ZFILs3 All you need is a pencil and paper…and your creativity! Look forward to keeping the creativity going!

I know you’ve all been waiting with happy anticipation…so here it is! Day 4 of the 2019 KRC Creativity Challenge! For today’s Super-Quick Creativity Starter: 1. Create your very own Emoji! Think about your favorite emoji and add and/or alter it to make it your very own! Often, we are under the false impression that creativity means we have to come up with something brand new…it doesn’t! We can build on previous ideas and experiences from the past! (And…extra added bonus points for getting your kids to draw their own personal emoji)! Post your response here, or email me at karyn@karynrossconsulting to be entered to win a signed copy of my new book How to Coach for Creativity and Service Excellence!

It’s Day 3 of the KRC Creativity Challenge! You’ve all been inspiring me with your responses the past two days! Today, it’s time to inspire others – at work and at home – and get them involved! Often, we think we need to be responsible for every “big idea”…every complete “solution”. We don’t though! I’ve found that working together with others and putting together (synthesizing) small ideas from each person, allows us to create something more than any one person could imagine! And it’s totally fun! So, for today’s Super-Quick Creativity Starter: 1. Draw a line on a piece of paper! Pass it to a friend or family member and ask them to “imagine what it could be” and add a line or shape! Then have them pass it on! As each person contributes, you’ll create something more than any one person could create! 2. Draw the same line on 5 different pieces of paper and give them to 5 different people! (Children okay!) Ask each person to complete the drawing! Do you think each drawing will be the same? Or different? Post one of the responses here, or email me at karyn@karynrossconsulting.com, and I’ll enter you to win a copy of my new book, How to Coach for Creativity & Service Excellence! (And don’t forget to stay tuned for the exciting announcement Friday!)