The Leader Standard Work (LSW) for Managers

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective management is crucial for success. However, newly promoted managers often struggle with the transition from technical expert to a manager with a structured approach. This can lead to neglected essential activities and constant reactiveness to unforeseen issues, especially in industries facing labor shortages and high turnover rates. To address this challenge, companies need to establish a standardized set of management practices that encompass the principles of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), as well as the concept of YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) which focuses on the impact of content on users’ lives.

What is the Leader Standard Work (LSW)?

The Leader Standard Work (LSW) refers to the recurrent management practices, tools, and skills that managers should incorporate into their daily and weekly routines. It provides a structured framework for managers to effectively monitor objectives, collaborate with support groups, and ensure consistent performance across different shifts and sites.

How to Standardize The Frontline Leaders’ Work?

To standardize the work of frontline leaders, organizations can implement the following practices:

1. Standardize your management practices

Establishing standardized management practices helps ensure daily control, effective supervision, issue escalation, and improved communication between teams and hierarchical levels. It also guides managers in problem detection and corrective action follow-up.

2. Equip team leaders and directors with management tools

Traditional tools like SMS, email, paper-based inspections, whiteboards, and Excel can pose challenges in sustaining management standards due to administrative workload and information transcription. Adopting a digital daily management system enhances adherence to organizational processes and facilitates efficient management practices.

3. Establish daily, weekly, and monthly routines

Routine management practices, such as recurring inspections, audits, floor rounds, and daily meetings, should be established to provide structure and consistency in managerial activities. Monitoring adherence to these routines ensures their effectiveness.

4. Establish objectives and performance indicators

To effectively monitor departmental objectives, managers should establish key performance indicators (KPIs) within their daily routines. Objectives promote ownership and accountability, facilitating continuous improvement in management roles.

5. Promote the best management behaviors

Global manufacturing leaders emphasize the importance of promoting the best management behaviors among team leaders and supervisors. Tools and management routines, such as recurrent 1:1 meetings and regular coaching on the floor, enable more efficient, proactive, and accountable management practices.

Operator and Leader Standard Work

While manufacturing companies often standardize the work of operators through procedures, instructions, schedules, and performance targets, the standardization of managers’ work is often neglected. It is crucial to establish management standards and daily routines for managers, support groups, and directors to maintain consistency in approach and support the overall improvement culture of the organization.

What are the benefits of standardizing a manager’s daily work?

Standardizing a manager’s daily work brings several benefits, including:

• Standardized management performance between teams and departments.
• Increased support for frontline workers and operators.
• Encouragement of continuous improvement through a bottom-up approach involving all employees.
• Accelerated onboarding and employee training.
• Enhanced control over operations and faster problem-solving.
• Maintenance of a safer workplace and quality standards.

Why do digital solutions help sustain management standards?

Digital solutions play a vital role in sustaining management standards by reducing administrative workload, improving communication, and enabling efficient analysis of data. These solutions eliminate the need for manual transcription, word-of-mouth communication, and paper-based analysis, enabling managers to focus more on their standard work.

Managing Daily Operations with Tervene

Tervene offers a connected platform that empowers frontline teams and top management to achieve operational excellence through stronger daily management, collaboration, and problem-solving processes. Leading manufacturing and operation companies, including Safran, Mars Wrigley, Lactalis, Siemens, and Cascades, have already digitized their management practices with Tervene’s assistance.

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