Quality in Everyday Life
What’s the best way to teach your kids about quality? Over the past 2 years, I have realized that what works best is to integrate simple techniques and methods into their common routines and decisions. I am certain that all parents encounter situations where the kids have to meet some objective (academic, sports or other) and it is always a challenge as to how to motivate, coach and support them to commit to an incremental process of reaching that objective. More importantly, how can we introduce simple yet repeatable and sustainable routines into their weekly schedule. I am a big believer and practitioner of Toyota’s Lean System and if there is one tool that I consistently use at home and work is the ‘Improvement Kata’. This kata works great for explaining to kids in simple terms on how to understand the objective or purpose and how to cultivate a mindset of experimentation and deliberate practice to reach that objective. My favorite visual representation (shown below) of this kata comes from Mike Rother whose aptly titled book Toyota Kata is the most authoritative work on this topic.
Now, if parents wonder whether implementing improvement kata requires significant time and effort and since they have to be a coach then the reality is that its not a big effort at all. Most parents to build a consistent set of routines for their kids to use so that they can begin to adopt a systematic approach to problem solving and continuous improvement. To accomplish this, there is nothing better than an improvement kata. As an ardent practitioner of improvement kata at home, I have seen a tremendous impact on the kids (and on the parents whose role in coaching is critical). When kids see incremental but visible progress towards their objective, then they are motivated to implement appropriate and timely corrective actions and consult with the coach where needed.
If we are able to motivate and enable kids’ appreciation for quality and for simple principles such as P-D-S-A (Plan, Do, Study, Act) early in their life then there is a much higher probability that they will begin to integrate quality practices in a more organic way into their actions and decisions.
“I’m part of the ASQ Influential Voices program. While I receive an honorarium from ASQ for my commitment, the thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are my own.”
