14 Toyota Way to Relationships - Part I
The Toyota Way is one of the most influential books on Lean Management and how Toyota was able to successfully drive inefficiencies from their processes. It talks of the 14 principles essentially.
6 weeks ago, I had no idea that such a management philosophy existed. 6 years ago, I definitely would not have cared enough, the corporate world is the last field I had even an ounce of interest towards. But here I am today, pursuing my second year of study in a Business School and actually seated mouth half-gaping in my Operation Management Classes at how wrongly systems are designed.
Of course, having a natural inclination towards the social sciences , governance and socialism, my first thoughts of application went to the public hospital of my home country. However, as I sat in front of a YouTube video that summarized the 14 Toyota Way, I could not fail to prevent my mind from associating these 14 principles to human relationships. It soon dawned on me that the Toyota Way is an effective guide to turning normal human relationships to the more soulful and spiritual level, to the Godly level. You must have imagined my exhilaration at that. So, I just thought of penning my take down and sharing it here. If you do not belong to the spiritual path, this can still be- I believe - an effective guide to managing your relationships, with others and yourself first. Take it as a conclusive manual after a few Emotional Intelligence classes!
#1 – “Base your management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term financial goals.”
Most businesses have the goal or intent to last for many years but have not established a long-term philosophy to do so. Basically, they lack a long-term plan.
Similarly, most relationships have the goal or intent to last for many years but have not established a long-term philosophy to do so. Basically, they also lack a long-term plan. We fall in love, get together, and ultimately take people we are in love with for granted. That chops emotional bonding down. It creates tremors and turbulence as the other ultimately feel disrespected.
Communication, Trust and Pleasure are short-term bargains. If you are looking for the long-term ingredients, go for Respect and Loyalty.
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#2 – “Create a continuous process flow to bring problems to the surface.”
The beauty of continuous flow is that it features stability, continuity, balance, and doesn’t waste time. And that's why you have to maintain the same level of investment as you would in the beginning stages of any relationship as the later ones.
You cannot try to create magic only to make the other interested and keep them committed and suddenly give slack to the the rope holding the two of you tightly together just because you are effusively done and need your own individualism. It is important to not confuse this with clingy-ness, being too present and crowding the other's personal space. It's about sustaining a consistent level of affection and attention, throughout.
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#3 – “Use ‘pull’ systems to avoid overproduction.”
The key concept of a pull system is to maintain small quantities of items that you know are needed, and replenish what is taken only when it has been taken. This helps to avoid overproduction and over-ordering. You replenish only what has been used, and reorder based on rate of consumption, delivery frequency, and minimum order quantities.
This perfectly has to do with trying to bombard your partner all the time, in a dose that can synthesize suffocation within the relationship. It's important to be alert to anyone's need, state of being and their moods. When clearly, there is no need for your presence, excuse yourself politely. If you are being called upon to be in a certain place or to be something they need, add yourself pleasantly. Don't try to overload the other by being more than what they want or desire you to be. You don't want to be an overwhelming presence or a burden.
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#4 – “Level out the workload (work like the tortoise, not the hare).”
Like with the fable about the tortoise and the hare, “slow and steady wins the race.” Maintaining optimal effort from operators is important, whether demand goes up or down.
Similarly, you do not have to live all the potential of what your relationship can be in one go. There is not a need to rush all the stages of being together. Nobody said that it is less romantic or less right to take steps into a relationship gradually. Actually, the more you give take things slowly, the more you allow the magic and essence of your relationship to spread over a longer period of time. In that way, you get to enjoy the relationship wholly, with a minimal enthusiasm input.
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#5 – “Build a culture of stopping to fix problems, to get quality right the first time.”
This is why most people recognize that Communication is important in relationships. Take the habit of getting up and leaving the room for a small clarification. Make sure that you feel at ease at every step of the way. There's no point n going to bed and twirling from side to side with uneasiness built in the core of your heart. If you are in a relationship, both are you are fully entitled and responsible for each other's mental peace. What is the point otherwise to be together? Never go to bed with an inkling of doubt or trouble harbored in your head.
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#6 – “Standardized tasks and processes are the foundation for continuous improvement and employee empowerment.”
They have the same point of origin and same final destination, but follow steps that are completely different from one another. Your actions in a relationship should be standardised as much as possible. There ought not be any deviation also known as double standards in the choices that you make. It only goes to create confusion. Sure, if you are undertaking a change in the way you choose to behave, the change has to be an pre-informed one. The least you owe to your partner in a relationship is acknowledging your growth process, alone or together. Moreover, double standards should be towards each other. If one partner is allowed to be or do something, the same goes for the other. This without pre-constructed social judgements.
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#7 – “Use visual controls so no problems are hidden.”
Imagine a speed limit sign that features a radar detector and digital readout – it provides feedback to you on how fast you’re actually going but also gives you a basis of comparison to the allowable limit. I’ll bet you’re more likely to align your speed to the posted speed limit when you come across this sign. As such, it is good if both partners take the habit of making notes, self-notes, or relationship notes, of decisions they make together, of promises they undertake. As cliche and cheesy as it may sound, symbols help a lot in this.
