How Work-Out Sessions Solve Pressing Organizational Issues – Quickly
Work-Out Sessions originated at GE during the Jack Welch years. It was a process they used to solve pressing issues and problems. The new GE Chairman Larry Culp has brought back LEAN and is driving it across the company. They are now having “LEAN Workouts” almost every week across GE. Other companies like Frito-Lay, Phillips, Bristol-Myers, and Novartis have also adopted these principles.
Work-Outs are used especially when –
- stakes are high,
- there is urgency,
- the problem isn’t being solved.
I was introduced to Work-Out Sessions early in my career at GE’s Air Craft Engine Group in Cincinnati. Shortly after getting my MBA and joining GE, they made me a buyer of materials for jet engines in R&D. I helped engineers find suppliers for materials and processes that sometimes didn’t even exist. Some of the requirements seemed often impossible, yet we had to find a way to make it happen. That required getting the engineers together to solve a problem quickly. We didn’t have time to waste to get the job done.
Have you ever had the impulse to do something different to solve a problem quickly?
Work-Out Teams go around the business-as-usual way of doing things, make a decision, and get it done. The Work-Out process can get you quickly through problem-solving and rapidly move to action planning. It works because we use a tested and accelerated process with a skilled facilitator.
There are four key components to Work-Outs.
It starts with Critical Business Issues. These are problems that you know you need to deal with, but for some reason, nothing happens. They get stuck in your bureaucracy or tabled because of the lack of time typically required. The focus is typically bottom-line oriented, and the outcomes result in cost-savings, productivity gains, or new revenue generation.
Hi-Performance Teaming gets teams out of the long-term mindset. The selection of team members is very important and we guide you to create a team that will solve the issues. We often conduct an assessment and/or conduct team training to help the meetings run Work-Outs smoothly and productively. A skilled facilitator keeps people and the process on track.
Accelerated Leadership Decision-Making is critical to the success of Work-Outs. The sponsor is often a part of the sessions and asked to make decisions throughout the process. There’s no bureaucracy allowed in Work-Outs. Decisions are made quickly and the action planning process gets started.
Facilitation is critical. A skilled facilitator moves the session along and keeps it on track. We can also train others in your organization to help them learn how to facilitate Work-Out sessions. Because Work-Outs are so successful they don’t go away. After experiencing success they become a part of the culture of the company.
How it Works
Work-Out Sessions are typically a half-day or full-day session. Our typical session is one to two days. It’s ideal for a get-away meeting or retreat. Often companies conduct a session at the onset of the year to set the tone for the year ahead.
We use some highly effective facilitation, executive coaching, and management tools to help the team move rapidly and efficiently through the process. You will be amazed about what you can achieve even in a half or full day on a particular issue. If you are sick and tired of something and the way it’s working in your organization, I can help you make this issue go away.
We’ll customize a program for your organization and help you throughout the whole process from planning through implementation.
To learn more –