Limited time: 20% off all our Lean Six Sigma Courses. Use "Summer20" discount code.

Discount Code: "Summer20"

Search
Tools & tips delivered to your inbox.

Principle 6: How Standardisation Can Grow Your Creativity | Principles of Lean

Want to master Lean Thinking principles?

Join our Lean Thinking Business Course.

Standardisation of Eggs in Tray
Standardisation is the foundation of creative thoughts

 

“Standardise what you do to create the space you need to change what you do.”

 

If you and your team are firefighting at work, the chances are that you have some great people, but you do not have standard processes. Only when you have well good, well-trained people and standardised processes can you get anywhere near good performance.

The fallacy around the idea of standardisation is that it removes the “creativity” from the team. But in fact, it’s the opposite. By having a standard process, just like driving along the road, you and your team are now free to use your capability and creativity, to solve more significant problems: you now have space in your head actually to think. 

Imagine when you are driving. Do you think about the trees on the side of the road? Or which side to of the road to drive your car? Or are you tuned in to the radio or perhaps an audiobook or possibly visualising an important meeting.

Standards create space for creativity.

In reality, it looks like this:

If ten people do the same activity differently, then any improvement is potentially valid for just one of those people. However, if ten people do the same process in the same way, then any change will give 10x the results.

Imagine a change that saves 1 hour a week. That’s 52 hours a year. What about if we could be replicate this across ten people – then we are talking 520 hours. What about across a team of one hundred people, well we are at 5200 hours. Now we are talking compound returns.

Standardisation is not the death of creativity; its the foundation. It allows for your intellectual capital to be focused on more exciting and better things.

Standardisation gives the space that allows creativity to begin to flourish.

See all Principles of Lean

Follow us on Instagram – @principlesoflean

10 Lessons on Driving Meaningful Change

Subscribe to receive this email series containing 10 of our best lessons for driving change in the modern workplace in 2025 and beyond.

Ready to talk?
I want to talk to your experts in Business Transformation so ...

Join Today

Get access to our Lean Thinking Business Course from just €10

Coach Reagan Pannell

Related Articles

Explore industry-specific case studies and insights showcasing success stories

3 Killer Questions v2

#100daysofChange | #4 – The Three Killer Questions

#100DaysOfChange | Day 4: Driving Change Daily
From Just Doing to Being Simply Curious

#100DaysOfChange | #3 – From Just Doing to Being Simply Curious

#100DaysOfChange | Day 3: Shifting from Doing to Curiosity
#2 - The Power of Curiosity

#100DaysOfChange | #2 – The Power of Curiosity

#100DaysOfChange | Day 2: Understanding Your Internal Value Chain
Contact us to get more information

Ready to talk?

I want to talk to your experts in Business Transformation so ..

LEAN SIX SIGMA Online Courses

Ready to start your journey into the world of Lean with this free course?

FREE COURSE

A Lean focused continious improvement certification course

only £119

Propel your career forward, tackle complex problems and drive change

Only £167

The ultimate fast-track for future leadership

only £849

Become an expert in change management and complex problem-solving.

Only £1649

TAKE OUR QUIZ

WHICH COURSE is right for you?

Take our short quiz to find out which of our courses is right for you. 

Register Your Interest

Please complete the form below for more information

45-MINS FREE COURSE

Start Your Lean Journey – For Free!

Join our free Fundamentals of Lean course and learn how to eliminate waste, improve processes, and drive real business impact.