An excellent read for anyone ready to learn what leadership is really about!
This book caught my eye while at the library recently.
Published in 2007 by David Magee, this book is an easy read that gives an overview of the Toyota culture while weaving it into a time line of the companies growth alongside Ford, GM and Chrysler.
The book (only 225 pages) captivated my attention and showed why Toyota has been achieving success since the 1950's. Here's the secret: The company engages it's workers to think and solve problems on their own. It's called empowerment. It's about being the best not the biggest.
My favorite quote:
"Something is wrong if workers do not look around each day, find things that are tedious or boring, and then rewrite the procedures. Even last month's manual should be out of date."
-Taichi Ohno, former Toyota Executive Vice President
I think this book should be on the read list for every manager, director and executive I know because it shows that top down management is not a sustainable model for growth or leadership.
From this book you can extrapolate as to why Toyota is having issues now. It shifted it's long standing of customer first to money first and worked at becoming the biggest and not the best.
What I know is that Toyota has a history of learning from its mistake. I feel that the company will make the necessary changes to get back to it's core management philosophy which is codified in the Toyoda Precepts.
The Toyoda Precepts
1. Be contributive to the development and welfare of the country by working together, regardless of position, in faithfully fulfilling your duties.
2. Be ahead of the times through endless creativity, inquisitiveness and pursuit of improvement.
3. Be practical and avoid frivolity.
4. Be kind and generous; strive to create a warm, homelike atmosphere.
5. Be reverent, and show gratitude for things great and small in thought and deed.
