Screaming Kindness

I’m convinced that the management principles of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and Total Quality Management were discovered by people forced to spend months on crutches. It is crystal clear to me now, after spending years in management discussing this stuff, that there is no other explanation as to the origins of these theories. Only someone not fully abled would devise such in-depth concepts around time and motion, process improvement and waste minimization. I have become a black belt in the art.

Life is slow, but full when you spend it on crutches. Every footstep is considered, every access path negotiated. Movement is filtered through the eyes of MUDDA: the removal of waste, in particular, unnecessary or excess motion. Forward planning from one end of the kitchen bench to the other, or from the bedroom to the laundry is paramount. Value adding has become the number one priority. Big gains are to be made through accurate planning and timing. Efficiency becomes an asset, the number of steps taken a liability.

In amongst this reduction of activity and the removal of “waste”, the outside noise has dimmed and quiet takes its shape. It’s not the quiet of serenity or tranquility. This would have to be associated with a deep-seated sense of inner satisfaction and sense of place. Rather a hush, calm, noiselessness brought about by the contraction of activity, busyness and movement.

The quieter things become, the more that can be heard, and the louder things sound. It has become particularly apparent that quiet amplifies kindness. Words of encouragement in the supermarket “I have three favourite customers, I have seen two of them. You are the third but I haven’t seen you in such a long time, I was beginning to wonder”. A ‘walk’ along a bike path “Keep up the good work, you will get there. It’s looking good” from a total stranger. The empathic bystander, “Let me get that door for you”. A co-worker “Can I make you a coffee?”. It’s clear when you lose something, the loss can often be underpinned with gain. One only needs to listen for it.

The otherwise business associated theory of Kaizen – small, measurable improvements; has become part of my every step forward, a change for the better, analysis for enhancement, review for today and tomorrow. A chain of continuous improvements in which kindness binds, frames and ‘screams’ in the quiet.