The Most Important Step in Lean – Changing Your Mindset

I have always been intrigued by the quote: “Your purpose in life is to serve and help other people.”—Paul Akers

If you’ve ever tried implementing the Lean Process, you’ve probably heard about eliminating waste, improving efficiency, and continuous improvement. Those are all great, but here’s the secret: none works unless you change your mindset first.

Many people think Lean is about using many fancy techniques—5S, Kanban, value stream mapping, and so on. But if you’re applying these like a checklist without shifting your thoughts about work, you’re missing the point. Lean is about rethinking how you do things to deliver value more efficiently and effectively. Lean is a methodology for continuous improvement.

So you ask, “What does that shift look like?”:

1. From “That’s How We’ve Always Done It” to “How Can This Be Better?”

If you catch yourself saying, “That’s just the way it is,” stop. Lean thinking challenges old habits and constantly asks, “Is this the best way?”

2. From Busy Work to Real Value

Being busy doesn’t mean being productive. Lean forces you to ask, “Is this task valuable to our customer, or is it just extra work?” If it’s not adding value, why are you doing it?

3. From Fixing Problems Later to Preventing Them Now

Instead of reacting to issues after they happen, Lean focuses on fixing the process so the problem never happens again.

4. From “It’s Not My Job” to “How Can We Improve?”

Lean organizations empower everyone to improve the process. It’s not just up to managers or leadership—it’s a team effort.

If your mindset doesn’t change, Lean will feel like extra work instead of a more innovative way to work. But if you truly embrace it, you’ll start seeing waste everywhere, finding better ways to operate, and ultimately making your work more effective and fulfilling.

So, before you jump into implementing the Lean tools, start with the most crucial step: change the way you think. Everything else will follow. At the end of the day, running a home service business isn’t just about getting the job done – it’s about building a system that works SMARTER, NOT HARDER. We coach contractors like you daily, helping you streamline operations, increase profit, and eliminate the headaches that slow you down. Reach out if you will allow us to work alongside you in your business!

I challenge you to share with me: What mindset shift have you made (or need to make) in your work today?

“Apply this technique in your day: How can I improve one person? You will win every time.”—Danielle Putnam