Gemba translated means: "The place where value is created." It is where the work gets done.
It is often referred to the manufacturing floor in some environments, but it can applied to all industries, even any place. These were some of the principles that were introduced post WW II and transformed Japanese auto manufacturing that led to culture breaking leadership practices as well.
Before Lean, Asian plant managers were king, everyone walked behind them in a plant. all were subservient to them. They knew all the answers and led with a top down mentality. With Lean, there was a complete 180 paradigm shift.... Managers began their morning walking the manufacturing floor--or the Gemba, and asked questions of all the teams of people making the products and asked how they could help them improve their areas, How they could remove roadblocks, add resource, give more autonomy and authority to teams and individuals to improve their work. It was all about respect for the worker. Leaders believed that there should be no undue burden on the worker and anything they could to to help them bring their best was in the best interest of the customer. It was a philosophy and belief that broke down the very strong traditional Asian cultural hierarchal norms. Since then, Lean has been incorporated into almost every industry across many organizations because of the great results the application of its principles have yielded.
Interesting... the place of value or of truth was not in the manager's office, No.... it was where the factory workers toiled.
Jesus, before he was known as the Christ, I imagine observed farmers, fishermen, shepherds and others during his informative years..... Before he taught, he watched, and walked in these "Gembas." He chose his 12 from these Gembas. He knew what they did. He knew their work, he knew their world, and he knew their hearts.
About 10 years ago I was asked to help guide some young men in our neighborhood in their spiritual development. As I pondered the best way to help them, I thought about applying what I had learned at work with what I believe Christ did in his ministry -- daily Gemba walks. I got a map of our neighborhood, and divided it up into geographical sections and called them Gembas, and assigned each young man to a specific Gemba. I then taught them the principles of what Gemba meant and then I shared with them what I believed Jesus did in his Gemba walks. I invited them to spend an hour per week just physically walking their "Gemba" but being quick to observe any opportunity to render service. We did it together first, and I modeled what I thought could be a good gemba walk. I picked up trash, I right-sided tipped garbage cans, I notices weeds in widow's gardens, I ran to help those that were unloading groceries, I said "Hello" to anyone out in their yard or driveway, I actually rang the doorbell on a few homes I felt impressed to. One elderly lady said her furnace went out. I made a note to share with church leaders. The first walk wasn't momentous, in fact it was unusually ordinary and simple. But after the walk we sat around on some grass and shared what they saw and witnessed. I asked them what else might they do on their gemba walk? As the obvious ideas came out it triggered some out of the box ideas to start to flow.....I will never forget one 14 year old who asked:
"Aaron, what if we said a quick prayer before our Gemba walk and as that we might be sensitive to spiritual whisperings in addition to physical things we see?"
I smiled..... (It is always very cool when someone really gets it. Do you know what I mean?).... I could feel the emotions coming to the surface. I said that would be a very special way to prepare for a Gemba walk. I invited them to have their own experience that next week and we would meet again on Sunday to share and see that they learned.
A week went by, and I prepared myself to lower the bar as I remember how motivated I would have been as a teenager to go walk the streets of a neighborhood by myself.... Not so much!
We met, and while some did not take the invitation, several did. One in particular was so excited to share. On their walk they noticed a lawn that was covered in leaves. They decided to rake up all the leaved. They went and got other family members to help them and they ended filling 30 hefty bags of leaves! It took several hours but they loved it because it was a direct result of doing their personal Gemba walk. He had found the place where value is created. Although entirely so simple, I would like to think he won't forget that first Gemba walk ever again.
This Christmas I have been thinking about Jesus. His ways and who he is. I have reflected on how he might of thought about his ministry. I wonder if he thought about how he would best connect with people. He must have been so thoughtful about the approach and pattern he took. At the appointed time, he walked his own Gemba. He had no office.....He just walked and never stopped.
It was in his Gemba walks that he taught about Love, Forgiveness, Kindness, Repentance, Life beyond physical death.
I would like to believe that he continues his Gemba walks even now. I don't see him, but I feel his influence often when I pay attention. It is almost always through a feeling or impression upon my mind or often through kindness of others. I wonder if he does what that young man did.... Begin his daily walk with a prayer for you and for me, wondering how he might lift us, how he might bring more light to our lives..... how he could create value for us, such as inspiring us to look another's way instead of our own and cascade any light we feel from him to others.
So my friend, whether you believe in Jesus Christ or not, do you think their is any power in embarking upon your own Gemba walk? Just think about it..... This season may be a great time to start one......What might happen if you tuned your mind and your eyes with a bit more precision to seek out opportunities to lift someone each day that you may not have thought of before? Could you surprise yourself? Not only that, but you might completely change someone's life with a simple choice to start one........
...........maybe even as small as one single solitary email response.
