How to Do a Gemba Walk: Coaching Gemba Walkers

A Gemba Walk to Go See, Ask Why, and Show Respect is a key way to more actively engage people in performance improvement activities. Even if you currently do Gemba Walks in all likelihood you fall short of what the best companies do. This 'how to guide' provides leaders a basic menu of options on ways to do a more effective Walk.   It includes "how to" info on doing an "Office Walk" and the "Coaching Walkers" chapter was expanded in this revised addition.

The guide describes three key reasons for doing a Gemba Walk:
1. Clarify Purpose: Gemba Walks provide a wonderful opportunity to learn if people inside the organization have a deep understanding of 'why' they are doing their work activities.
2. Process Understanding: Leaders can see, with their own eyes, how effectively work activities between departments and between work-groups are aligned with what the organization is trying accomplish.
3. Engaging People: The walks provide an opportunity for leaders discover barriers that inhibit people's ability to do great work.

The guide describes questions to ask for different types of walks and outlines an approach for leaders seeking to better understand the facts, to make better decisions, and to build consensus to achieve important goals.

Examples are drawn from organizations with outstanding improvement practices: Toyota, Autoliv, OC Tanner, Cogent Power and the author's experiences as Chairman of the Association of Manufacturing Excellence's Awards Council.

A respectful, effective Gemba Walk builds trust and lays the groundwork for a major transformation! It is amazing what one can learn during a walk! How can you be an effective leader and not want to do this?