The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership

By: Jeffrey Liker, Gary L. Convis

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

The missing link to long-term Lean success! Despite the fact that companies worldwide have adopted Lean production, none has sustained the same levels of excellence as Toyota. Why? Leadership. In The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership, Jeffrey Liker and Gary L. Convis, a former executive V.P. and managing officer of Toyota, help executives and senior managers get employees to refocus their efforts - from simply performing their singular function to continuously improving in collaboration across the organization.

Case studies from Toyota clearly illustrate the methods that create powerful, effective Lean leadership. Jeffrey Liker, author of the popular Toyota Way books, is the acknowledged expert on Toyota processes. He is professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. After his executive leadership at Toyota, Gary L. Convis became the CEO of Dana Holding Corporation, a $6.1 billion supplier to the global automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets, and helped lead it to a successful turnaround from bankruptcy.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2011 Jeffrey Liker, Gary L. Convis (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

It Isn't What You Migh Think

Everyone is familiar with Toyota as a brand. Some are aware of the Toyota manufacturing process. Being aware of the process is not being familiar and being familiar does not imply one is conversant with how it really works. Along comes Jeffrey Liker (The Toyota Way) and Gary Convis with The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership filling any gaps in our understanding. Importantly, Liker and Convis use a narrative approach to presenting their material. They use multiple examples and anecdotes to illustrate the concepts they are reporting. Their use of vignettes to describe how lead leadership works, certainly nourishes the reader’s understanding. Readers interested in manufacturing, Japanese culture, leadership, adult education, and other related topics will find this volume most informative. There is no need to be an engineer, Liker and Convis make the topic readily available to the general reader. The narration of Jim Meskimen is very good.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

ONLY leaders should read, bean counters shouldn't

Good book on the origins of Lean Methodology and the Toyota system. Too bad most who practice Lean, Six Sigma, etc do not take in the whole education; as Americans we seem to short cut everything. Due to these short cuts, we have a lot of businesses that after recent economic circumstances are finding themselves at a point where they may not survive as a company. The recession was only the catalyst; shortsighted leadership was the true cause as most companies raced to the bottom in cutting costs to the point I fear a large number will not be able to recover. A tool is only as good as the craftsman that wields it. Needless to say Lean Leadership is all about leadership and has nothing to do with cutting costs. I would have recommended this book, but it is like handing a loaded handgun to a toddler."

12 of 16 people found this review helpful

Learn What Lean Management Really Is

Liker and Convis do a great job describing what Lean management and process improvement is really all about. Anyone in a position of leadership would benefit from listening to this audiobook and downloading the supplemental materials for reference. The narration by Jim Meskimen is excellent, he will keep your attention through out your time with him.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

how to turn around and become better

If you could sum up The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership in three words, what would they be?

Think simple, think in the customer and how they use your product.

What did you like best about this story?

the way Toyota saw a problem and how they use that to change or innovate their way of thinking

What does Jim Meskimen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jim brings the right tone of importance and motivation to the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

transforming the present, developing a better future

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good listen

This is Toyota's story from one insider. So it is a singular point of view. But a very detailed point of view.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not Much Here

Has The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership turned you off from other books in this genre?

First quarter of the book they explain what they are going to do and then never really ever get to it.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

So many takeaways to follow

It is a bible about best practices that you maybe have already read but the example and tips are great!

Great self help book on leadship

Great book on Toyota leadership and struggles it went thru during the hard times it did. Voice over was great as well.

Amazing Leadership Book

awesome book with interesting narrating style, very inspiring and gives you great ideas in managing people and improve your management style. I read it many times and every time I learn new things

Thanks

Amazing Book About Organizational Change

I would recommend this book for anyone looking to begin Change and transformation in any organization. The book has great examples and does a good job of discussing the concepts. I found myself loving that they constantly reiterated what each acronym meant. It’s a small thing, but I noticed it.

Very general content

What would have made The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership better?

This book is riding on the success of Toyota and the Lean Leadership but it does not offer many practical and actionable insights or advices if that is what you are looking for.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

interesting

quite comprehensive...if one wants to learn how Toyota works.
Also interesting to see how things are supposed to be and how they actually are in most of the other organisations.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Truly Inspirational!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! This is a must read book for anyone in any managerial position and/or anyone who wants to understand how business is run efficiently and why it is important to spend 'quality time' on the floor with the employees.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The founder of Toyota -

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The whole book was very interesting and it was full of insightful information from the very beginning to the end. Listened to it twice in a row!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

n/a

Any additional comments?

Brilliant book full of brilliant ideas!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great book for any Lean Enthusiast

I loved this book.Cleared a number of doubts in my mind.I will buy a hard copy as well.

same after same... boring...

same after same we know we need develop our self..but once to listen is good still amazing idea

Great book, but...

... The Lean Start up is a better version of this one. Less story & more useful content

Applies to all types of work

Don't pigeon hole this just for manufacturing. The principles apply to knowledge work as well as manual work.

Not for me, wanted it to finish after chapter 3

Maybe it's just not very related to mi business, I understand it should be relatable to all business but I struggled.

Practical; Helpful; Inspiration

Great book with some excellent examples and insights into the Toyota way - brilliantly narrated as well

Read and apply it all.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. it is simple to read and apply all the tips given in the book with ease...