I was recently overseas for a work commitment in a country popular for Salsa music and dancing. One evening, as I entered the hotel I was staying, I heard a salsa band playing really well, so I followed the sound to find it. It was a very uplifting atmosphere. There were several couples dancing away into the night. While enjoying the scene, the music, and a cocktail (a Mojito, as one does) from the bar, I sent a short video clip to my wife thousands of miles away asking her “Do you want to Salsa?” A quarter century ago, we had a period when we enjoyed Latin dancing as a young couple.
As I was observing the dance floor something grabbed my attention. Despite dancing to the same song, the same beat, the same basic eight steps (or six if you ignore the silent steps), I noticed some key differences between couples. Some couples seemed to be putting in a lot of effort – their tense faces and somewhat mechanical moves suggested they weren’t quite enjoying it. In contrast, there were other couples that moved around the dance floor effortlessly with big smiles and flowing hips and tapping toes, almost defying gravity.
So, what’s the difference? It is about mastering the dance moves to a level where the multiple steps morph into one entire sequence and each partner knowing exactly what the other is doing.
I’ve observed the same dynamics in businesses trying to improve utilising Operational Excellence – some that put in a lot of effort but don’t get much out of it and those that deliver great results effortlessly.
Typically, in the first camp of those who put in a lot of effort in but not getting great results, it is because they tend to put too much focus on the tools, techniques and even technology. This is similar to the couples focusing on the steps in a mechanical way. In such businesses, generally there’s a lot going on – multiple initiatives, projects and even a bigger list of ideas yet to be implemented. Most leaders tend to get sucked into the daily chaotic vortex. This is certainly not an enjoyable work environment.
In the other camp, they’ve got effective systems to monitor and measure current status of different departments and the overall business – kind of being in sync with the music and your dancing partner. Improvements are done only to what’s needed, by involving people on the floor which improves overall engagement. Teams and individuals enjoy their workplace by avoiding stress and chaos.
Being in sync with the pulse of the business at all times is the key. Do you remember the scene from the ‘80s movie ‘Dirty Dancing’ in which Patrick Swayze’s character, Johnny, was teaching Jennifer Grey’s character, Frances (Baby), to dance for the first time? When Baby repeatedly misses the starting step, Johnny grabs her hand and places on his chest saying “The steps aren’t enough. Feel the music.” He taps her hand on his chest showing her the rhythm – “ga-gum, ga-gum” he said, helping her feel the music in sync with his heart beat. Then they dance away to the classic song “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen.
If you want to be like the couples dancing effortlessly and enjoying it with your business, then here are the two fundamental steps:
Focus on the Day-to-Day (D-2-D) – have effective huddles that provides a sense of ‘winning or losing’ to teams at all times.
Improve Quarter-by-Quarter (Q-b-Q) – involve shop floor teams to improve constrained and / or troubled processes, through a basic structured problem-solving process.
That’s it! The most important thing is that these happen in an effortless way until it becomes one continuous loop, not two separate processes. Draw an infinite loop in front of you, in the air. Go on, do it. Now do it again, and again until you can do it in one smooth flow continuously. Now imagine one side of the loop is D-2-D and the other Q-b-Q. When you are in a synchronised state you don’t stop to focus on any part. They both happen continuously, seamlessly, and effortlessly. It becomes as natural as breathing in and breathing out.
This is how you becomes world-class. Then the dance floor is all yours and all eyes are on you.
A few questions for you:
How good are your Salsa steps? Are you stuck in the D-2-D step of the Q-b-Q step? How can everyone in your team be in sync with the rhythm of your business?
