EARLY BIRD DISCOUONT: Get 20% off our new Masterclass Course.

Early Bird 20% Discount

Search
Tools & tips delivered to your inbox.

#100DaysOfChange | #1 – The Language of Change

Want to master Lean Thinking principles?

Join our Lean Thinking Business Course.

#100 days of change | #1 The role of language in driving organisational change

Organisations are navigating increasingly dynamic landscapes, from technological advancements to rapid shifts in consumer demands. We often focus on frameworks, strategies and tools to lead these changes effectively. Yet, there’s one crucial element that’s often overlooked but underpins every successful transformation – language.

Language isn’t just a medium is. It shapes how teams perceive challenges, align their efforts, and commit to achieving a shared goal. More than just words, it reflects the mindset and culture that can make or break an organisation’s ability to thrive in uncertainty.

Language defines the stories we believe about the company we work for, and language fixes the company culture we live in. If the language focuses on the office hero who works all night to resolve an issue, then the culture will encourage firefighting superheroes.

“When you have a large organisation that is firefighting, how do you start to encourage that ‘do it right the first time’ mentality, especially when surrounding teams are still firefighting and undermining the effort?”

This question goes right to the heart of why language matters. The key challenge isn’t just implementing new processes or systems; it’s transforming the way teams talk, think, and act about their work. Without a unified language of progress, even the best-designed strategies can fall apart.

If surrounding teams describe their work as “firefighting,” it’s likely an entrenched culture of reacting to problems rather than proactively solving them. This language reflects the mindset and can hinder broader transformation efforts. To encourage the “do it right the first time” approach, organisations must embed a new language that champions precision, accountability, and collaboration.

That’s why the language of Lean can be so powerful: “Issues” become “improvement opportunities”. A “mistake” becomes the concept of “muda,” which we all have a role in eliminating. Individual team performance is replaced by the performance of the “value chain.”

We need the language:

1) The language of the past to define the right future behaviours

2) The language of shared “concepts” connecting people in shared principles

3) The language of shared principles to break down language and build collaboration

4) The language of collaboration that shares results

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.