📍 By Lisa Lind, Founder of Glimpec
When I walk into a struggling plant, the first thing I hear is often about KPIs.
“Productivity is down 12%.”
“Waste is up.”
“We’re missing delivery deadlines.”
It’s natural. Metrics are easy to measure—and easy to blame. But they’re just the outcome. Not the cause.
👉 Metrics don’t move people. People move metrics.
For over 20 years, I’ve worked with manufacturing and process industry teams, from paper mills to automotive plants. And one truth has stood the test of time:
Operational excellence doesn’t come from dashboards. It comes from behavior.
The real drivers of high performance are found on the floor, in the daily decisions of team leaders, operators, and technicians. Metrics can tell us what’s happening—but not why it’s happening.
So if you’re trying to improve results, start here:
- Are your team members clear on what success looks like today?
- Are your leaders walking the floor and asking the right questions?
- Are small problems being solved before they become big ones?
If the answer is “not really,” no amount of KPI tracking will fix that.
🧭 Excellence is a daily habit, Not a project
Operational excellence isn’t a quick fix. It’s a leadership mindset and a team culture—built over time through consistency, clarity, and coaching.
Start by shifting your focus from numbers to behaviors:
- From "Did we hit target?" → to "How did we work today?"
- From "Who’s to blame?" → to "What did we learn?"
- From "What went wrong?" → to "How can we improve tomorrow?"
When you lead with curiosity instead of control, something powerful happens. Ownership increases. Engagement rises. And yes—your numbers improve.
🛠️ Take action
This week, ask your team this one question:
“What’s one small improvement we could make to make your work easier?”
Listen. Reflect. Act.
Because operational excellence starts with people—and it starts with you.
🙌 Want more practical leadership tips to drive operational results?
Connect with me on LinkedIn for weekly reflections and tools to lead with impact.
