They Just Don't Get It!

Trust and transparency: Do people speak openly about problems, or do they tell you what you want to hear? When you ask, “How’s it going?” do you get real answers or generic responses? Information flow: Is data visible, current, and meaningful to the people doing the work? Or is information hoarded, outdated, or irrelevant to daily decisions? Leadership presence: Do leaders spend time where the work happens, or are they mostly in offices and conference rooms? When they’re on the floor, are they listening and learning, or inspecting and correcting?

Cross-functional dynamics: Do different areas work together toward shared goals, or do they operate in silos

with competing priorities? Getting Outside Perspective

If you’ve been in your role for more than a year, you’ve probably adapted to your environment. What feels normal to you might look dysfunctional to fresh eyes. Consider inviting someone you trust—a peer from another facility, a mentor, or an outside consultant—to walk your plant with you. Ask them to be brutally honest about what they see. Their observations might reveal blind spots that have faded into your background.

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