Early Praise for The Sensei Way at Work
In my last meeting with Taiichi Ohno, he gave me calligraphies for “Challenge” and “Beyond the Conventional Belief.” Living out his terms is a way of “Awakening.” I hope Dan’s book will help readers find such a moment and benefit many. Kiyoshi Suzaki, author of The New Shop Floor Management and Results with a Heart
Wow! In this great book, you will benefit from a clear understanding of lean thinking, leadership, and states of being. It’s like hanging out after work, a nice combination of compelling stories, deep learning, Zen and the Sensei Way. Kevin Coray, Ph.D. Extraordinary Teams Partnership
Lean managers are entrusted to both “Get the work done and develop your people.” Ambidexterity is required. But just how many ambidextrous pitchers have you known? John Shook, author of Managing to Learn, Chairman the Lean Global Network and Senior Advisor Lean Enterprise Institute
In The Sensei Way at Work, Dan shares a fresh perspective and a treasure of historical anecdotes, vivid teaching that enables the reader to grasp the value and practice of the Lean Sensei. Michael Orzen, co-author of the Shingo Prize-winning book Lean IT
It has been 25 years since Lean Thinking was published, and many enterprises are struggling to create a work culture like Toyota’s. Is there a secret Toyota hasn’t shared? There isn’t one. Problem is, to the western management mind, the critical element simply isn’t recognizable. It’s executives and managers with Kaizen Mind who lead, teach, and coach continuous improvement. In the Sensei Way at Work, Dan Prock provides a detailed guide to the ways of being, thinking, practices, and skills that leaders must develop both in themselves and in employees that make continuous improvement a way of doing business. Creating a culture of continuous improvement can’t be delegated. It has to be led, and this book gives an engaging and enlightening description of how to and by whom. David Verble, a former Human Resource Development Manager, problem solving teacher, and coach at North American Toyota, and currently a Partner in the Lean Transformations Group
The Sensei Way at Work isn’t just another spin on “lean.” It offers great insight on why something so conceptually simple is so challenging to sustain. The challenge is developing leaders with a low-ego, observant, ongoing curiosity, and who become sensei for others. Robert W. “Doc” Hall, a founding member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, judge for Industry Week Magazine’s Best Plants Program, and currently Chairman, Compression Institute