I'll be sending out three posts with tips for transitioning to a LEAN office. You can read more about the LEAN philosophy here - but to put it simply, these are tips to reduce waste (time, money, stuff) and improve your productivity.
Tips for Facilitators, Trainers, and Presenters
If you need to present to groups, facilitate or train, there is some value in reducing the time it takes you to prepare for those events.
#1: Keep your "Facilitator Box" Packed at all times.
I used to spend an hour or more assembling supplies for each teambuilding session or facilitation, and it drove me crazy. Now I have a wheeled crate that contains all of my facilitation supplies. It includes three multi-level plastic organizers that contain my supplies. (I picked these up at Target.) One of those organizers is left empty, and it's large enough to hold hand-outs for up to 80 people.
Now I simply pick up any printed materials I need, place them in the right organizer, and wheel my crate to the meeting. Easy as pie. Here are some photos:
PS: Helpful "extras" include a clipboard, masking tape, memory stick, stopwatch, sticky notes, and bottle of water.
#2: Find and Use a Convenient Online Printer.
It is generally cheaper and more efficient to log into an online printer (Officemax, Staples, and Kinkos all offer this) and upload your print order than to spend an hour in the copy room.
If you are travelling, you can even have your materials delivered to your destination.
#3: Keep your Supplies in Good Repair
A few times a year, I test all my markers and throw out the ones that are fading and check my box contents.
Following these tips has reduced my prep time from over an hour to about ten minutes. (I upload my files to the printer, roll out my crate, and I'm ready to rock.) What are your time saving tips?
Congratulations on using Lean! But I would add, for those that don't know, that what makes the Lean approach unique is that it focuses on the customer. First find out what the customer wants and then take steps to eliminate the things that don't directly contribute to that end. So simple, yet so profound.
Posted by: Jay Johnson | December 17, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Well said Jay. It's true that organization is just the tip of the iceberg - LEAN is a very customer focused philosophy.
Posted by: Cheri | December 17, 2009 at 03:47 PM