Recently, a client told me that lean process improvement (lean) is coming to her organization, but she’s concerned her staff won’t accept it, because many people equate lean with layoffs. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this.

Lean manufacturing spread through the United States just in time for the recession of the late 2000’s. Many companies had to downsize just to stay alive. Unfortunately, the timing was coincidental and lean is often blamed for those layoffs.

How can we alleviate fears and get people excited about the possibilities lean brings?
read more: Lean or Layoffs? How to Relieve Employee Fears