During a recent visit to Germany to speak at a corporate leadership event, I found time to explore Frankfurt as a tourist. One Sunday morning, a walking tour took me past a monument to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and his birthplace (pictured below). I was inspired to do a little research on Goethe, and I found a number of quotes that resonated with me (thanks to the page on BrainyQuote.com).
Although I've admittedly never been an avid reader of classic literature, I discovered that several of Goethe's quotes resonate strongly with the principles of lean thinking and continuous improvement, as I'd like to share here.
Applying What We Learn: Action Over Knowledge
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”
I think this applies to learning Lean concepts, as it would apply to anything. Knowing about Lean methods and mindsets isn't enough. We must apply what we've learned… which deepens our learning.
The Role of Positive Correction in Coaching
“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”
I think that applies to coaching others–while we're training others or more broadly.
We shouldn't correct people in a way that discourages them or leads them to be disengaged.
Belief and the Mindset of Possibility
“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
I mean, believing you can fly doesn't mean you can make it happen. But Goethe's quote reminds me of a Henry Ford expression:
“Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.”
While you can't possibly do every wild thing that you can imagine, the opposite is true. If you've convinced yourself something is impossible (such as reducing hospital-acquired infections to zero), then that's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Respecting People's Potential
“The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become.”
That's a great “respect for people” quote. If you see the inherent dignity and value of every employee in your organization, you're more likely to believe in their ability to contribute to the continuous improvement of their work.”
Execution Over Mere Talent
“A really great talent finds its happiness in execution.”
Again, we can't just know… we must also do.
Time as a Valuable Resource
“We always have time enough, if we will but use it aright.”
That sounds like a Lean (and Lean Startup) admonition to not waste the limited time that we have in life.
The Value of Observation and Experimentation
“Thinking is more interesting than knowing, but less interesting than looking.”
In Lean terms, it means valuing observation and experimentation more than thinking or talking… which are all better than “knowing,” for example, the root cause of a problem when we really don't… leading us to be uncurious.
Local Ownership and Global Impact
“Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.”
I guess there's a connection to 5S there. This wisdom echoes the principles behind 5S and the kaizen approach to continuous improvement–start with one's own workspace. When each individual commits to small, local improvements, the cumulative effect can transform an entire organization.
Embracing Limitations to Reach Perfection
“The [person] with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.”
I think that also applies perfectly to organizations. The organizations that know they aren't perfect–the organizations that can admit their performance gaps–are the most likely to achieve (or get close to) perfection.
Persistence in the Real World
And I'll leave it at one final quote here:
“In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.”
I've always said that a Lean effort can only be in one of two states:
- We're still working on it and figuring out (or trying)
- We've given up and stopped
Final Thoughts
Goethe's insights, though centuries old, can help explain modern approaches to leadership and process improvement. They remind us that a Lean transformation isn't the result of a set of tools–it's based on a philosophy of action, respect, and continuous experimentation. I invite you to reflect on these quotes and consider how you might apply their wisdom in your continuous improvement efforts.
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