Quick Reminder: Don't forget the LinkedIn Live event that Elisabeth Swan, Karen Martin, and I are doing tomorrow on the topic of visual workplaces, visual management, mistake-proofing, and more. Learn more in this blog post. The recording will also be available.
Now, onto today's post…
As Christmas approaches, I'm getting into the holiday spirit. So far, I've avoided hearing the Wham! song “Last Christmas,” so I have not yet faced “Wham-aggedon.”
I was at my local northern Kentucky Kroger grocery store the other day. I'll admit to being confused — and making some incorrect assumptions — about what the red and green colored lights meant on the numbers for the check out lanes.
Because of my business background — and in particular my Lean management perspective, including “andon” lights at workstations — I thought:
- Green is good (the lane is open)
- Red is bad (the lane is closed)
I chose a green line, waited behind another customer… and then realized my mistake. The lane next to me, with the red light, was ALSO open.
These weren't visual indicators like you'd see in airport applications, where red or green lights show you:
- Which parking spots in the garage are vacant (green) or occupied (red)
- Which bathroom stalls are vacant or occupied
The visual indicator at this Kroger was the same as always — light on means open (but the lights are normally white) and the light off means closed.
When it was my turn to be checked out, the cashier greeted me.
I chatted and said, “You know, I thought the red lights on other lanes meant they were closed… and that green meant you were open, but…”
She replied, with a smile:
“Yeah you're not the only one who has been confused by that!”
I wasn't upset about this. It gave me a chuckle — a belly laugh and a “Ho Ho Ho!” even.
And it's a temporary problem that goes away after the holidays.
I asked the cashier if she'd prefer to work a “red” checkout lane that might not be as busy. “Nah, the day goes faster when I'm busy, so I like the green lanes.”
The colorful lights at the Kroger lanes were a lighthearted reminder of how easy it is to make assumptions based on past experiences and context. As Lean thinkers, we're taught to observe, ask questions, and understand before acting–but moments like these remind us that even small deviations from the norm can catch us off guard.
This grocery store episode highlights the importance of clear visual communication, whether it's for customers in a checkout lane or team members navigating a process at work.
During this holiday season, let's embrace the humor in our mix-ups and take these small lessons as reminders to improve clarity in our systems and interactions. And if you find yourself in a “red lane” moment, take it as an opportunity to smile and reflect–because learning can happen everywhere, even at the grocery store.
Have you had a similar experience where your expectations didn't quite match reality? Share your story in the comments!
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Check out my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation:
