Quotex

Rules are the children of principles.

Whether we acknowledge them or not, the principles of operational excellence always govern the consequence of our leadership and management behaviors.

The cultural enablers category, the foundation of the Shingo model, includes 'Lead with Humility' and 'Respect Every Individual'. For most people, it's not hard to accept these two principles as fundamental truths since many of us recognize and understand their meaning and value as individuals and within organizations. Yet, understanding versus living these principles becomes one of the many challenges individuals and organizations face on the continuous improvement journey. Cultural enablers puts a focus on people. Let's explore the two guiding principles under this category.

Principles construct the only foundation upon which a culture can be built, if it is to be sustained over the long term.

The enlightenment principles that undergird free speech also prescribed that the natural limits of one's liberty lie at the precise point at which it begins to impose upon the liberty of another.

If we want an organization to behave in a certain way, we must understand what drives behavior and make this the starting point for change. A framework for sustainable improvement emanates from a series of guiding principles recognized and embraced by the organization to facilitate a common mindset and culture.

No rules are unbreakable. There will always be exceptions, there will always be a situation which requires a rule to be bent, there will always be anomalies. Whenever someone says always do x, apply some critical thinking to work out the principles behind that rule, and take and break the bits you need to.

Control the controllables

Action the enemy.

You get what you tolerate

Persevere through regular death marches

Let a thousand flowers bloom.

Choice, not chance, determines your destiny

Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious,

Has the eyes of a former dreamer

Everything you can imagine is real.

Life is nasty brutish and short

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

Do, or do not. There is no try.

Better to cultivate discipline than to rely on motivation.