Meet Our Employees Presenting at the 2021 Lean Transformation Conference
Interested in advancing lean and continuous improvement in state government? The 10th annual Washington State Government Lean Transformation Conference is planned for Oct. 26-Nov. 4.
The fully virtual conference is hosted by Results Washington and will feature three speakers from DES, among other public and private-sector lean and continuous improvement professionals. Registration is now open for all sessions. There is no cost to attend.
Each session is an hour in length. The focus of the conference is to produce an event that advances lean and continuous improvement in state government, creating and adding more value for agency employees and Washingtonians.
Meet our presenters
Heidi Loveall
Demystifying Visual Management
Oct. 27, 9–10 a.m.
Have you ever heard people talk about visual management and wondered what it really is? Or decided to get started but found yourself staring at a blank whiteboard? Or spent time developing a system only to find that it doesn’t get updated or used? Visual management is a powerful lean tool that can dramatically improve communication and performance on your team. This session will cover an introduction to the different types of visual management, give examples of how each type can be used, and go into tips for addressing the human side of making visual management useful and enduring. You will leave with the knowledge you need to get started or improve your current visual management efforts.
Jennifer Phillips
Quick and Easy Creativity Techniques to Get Unstuck
Oct. 28, 3–4 p.m.
Are your standard problem-solving approaches proving inadequate or too incremental for some of your projects and operational issues? It’s time for a dash of theory about why we get in a rut with the usual ways of thinking, along with an introduction to methods that can help us boost the level of creativity and innovation. These are fast to learn, flexible (use them in a hybrid environment, individually or in groups) and can help to elicit diverse perspectives and experiences. In this session, participants will consider opportunities for use within their projects and teams, be introduced to five methods and complete rapid practice with one. Additional methods and resources will be provided as takeaways.
Jessica Mobbs
Mentorship Programs: How to Elevate, Encourage, Engage, Empower Your Employees
Nov. 2, 3–4 p.m.
As the world is evolving around us, it is vital to attract and retain the best employees for your organization. Mentorship programs are proven to increase retention and job satisfaction, and they can build leadership and management skills at all levels of an organization. Mentorship programs also encourage the thinking that is key to promoting the principles that underlie lean methodology. In our session, you will learn why mentorship programs are an integral component to developing and growing a lean culture while promoting the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. We will follow the journey of the creation and implementation of the Department of Enterprise Services’ first-ever agency-wide mentorship program, which officially launched in July 2021. We will talk about everything it takes to create your own mentorship program, including how to get leadership buy-in, how to develop a compelling mission for your program, and how to put it all together. We’ll talk about lessons learned and get you excited about creating your very own mentorship program.
