Expanding Excellence Blog

Have you ever worked so closely with a team that the work seems easy and even enjoyable? Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  It means we are even better together than if each one of us work individually.  I love finding the synergy in the workplace and at home for that matter.  That feeling when we have built relationships, gotten to know the team and their strengths, built robust processes and things flow nicely.  Ahh, synergy. 

  Here is the final "Tammy's Tiny Tip" for 2022. Next, you will see rebranded and new and improved tips relating to time management. As we are wrapping up 2022 it is important to reflect on the year and your accomplishments. I like to use the Monthly Reflection document that I shared at the beginning of the month and review the entire year. Reflecting makes me proud of what I have accomplished and motivated to plan for those things that I have not yet accomplished. These are a few questions I ask myself when planning my next year. If you are not clear on what those answers might be, consider enrolling in my popular Personal Paradise Builders Blueprint course where I teach you how to be your own Architect when building your Personal Paradise. Enroll today at www.expanding-excellence.com . If the times available do not work for you, or you would rather have a private session, no worries, just send me a message and we can work something out. While you are there, consi...

  As we are nearing the end 2022 and preparing for the new year. I wanted to share this simple wish with you all. Thank you for being part of my journey. I can't wait for more collaboration and exciting new experiences.

  A Value Stream Map is really the first step in the process improvement plan. It helps us diagram all of the steps involved in the entire process from when the customer contacts us for a product or service, through when they receive the product or service. As we build the Value Steam Map it is important to focus on the current state of the processes. You can start to see how future state ideas start to pop up while conducting this exercise - it's working! After the current state processes are mapped, then we will do another exercise where we will determine what processes need improvement and how to prioritize them.

  A client of mine recently asked me if there was some sort of class to learn terms that I often use like. "lean in", "circle back", etc. I giggled, because that is what I do, and explained that I learned these terms by osmosis, by being around other people who use these terms, I inherently start using the terms. Then it occurred to me, I should create a regular post where I slow down and share some of these terms and how they apply to our workplace in a manner that makes us better leaders. Since I just used the word, let's start with osmosis. Technically it involves moving molecules but how we will use it is in regard to absorbing information without trying. Take a moment to think about a time or times when you were listening to a conversation of any kind, even you were not interested in the topic, and you walked away with a new nugget of knowledge without trying, it just stuck. Now thing about other ways osmosis is working in your life.

  After I take you on a journey to better help you understand how and why you are spending your time on the things you do, I will review some of the most popular time-management tools currently out there so that you can be better equipped to find the one that will work best for you. If you are a beginner, we can start with a simple "to do" list. We will discuss pros and cons to using paper planners where I will share my favorites and some pro tips. Finally, I will introduce you to some of the best technology out there, how to use them, and share my top picks.

  I specialize in process improvements and change management, but I want to share a secret, it starts with the individual. This is why Mondays are reserved for my self-development or "Motivational Monday" posts. This short quote right here is the catapult of what is to come. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest or subscribe to my monthly newsletters where I will share in one quick swoop, all of the incites for the month. My posts are meant to me interactive and collaborative so please, comment, like, share. We have all have stories, what is yours?

  How do you know if implementing Lean is necessary? 1. Is your team failing to meet customer quality, cost, or time requirements? 2. Are there significant external developments in what your customers want, competitors’ behavior, and technology that may require adjustments to current processes? 3. Are there important changes within your organization like a new corporate strategy that may suggest the need for process improvement? 4. Have you seen evidence of silos and lack of cooperation or coherence within your team? 5. Are customers complaining about the quality of service they are getting from your team? 6. Does your team’s performance subpar compared with that of other teams in the organization that do similar work? 7. Are employees expressing frustration with their job responsibilities? 8. Do tasks often get done incorrectly the first time? 9. Are some tasks taking too long to complete? 10. Do certain procedures seem overly complicated? If you answered “yes” to most of these q...

  One of the biggest investments we can make is in ourselves through education. With open minds and a willingness to learn we can become more caring and empathetic humans. #education #selfdevelopment #empathy

  Here it is! This week's training launch is all about time management and it is just in time for the new year. Would you or your team benefit from time management training? In this course I will be taking you on a journey to better help you understand how and why you are spending your time on the things you are, so you can manage yourself within a set amount of time you have each day. I will be sharing some pro tips on how to make small changes in your everyday habits that will have big impacts. Now you can enroll on my website in any of my courses. If the times offered does not work for you or if you have a group that you would prefer more private training, no problem. Contact me and I will make it happen.

  Have you ever heard of Lean Manufacturing or The Lean Production System? Did you know that it can be used on all industries including healthcare, hospitality, government, banking, product development, etc.? Lean is all about the processes. The focus is on moving material, information, ideas, tools, and applications. Lean is not a program; it is a strategy, and it starts at the top. What does Lean strategies do? -Improves quality, cost and delivery of the final product to the customer, which increases customer loyalty and market share. -Reduces cost and establishes a competitive advantage that will enable sales and profitability to grow so we can sustain the competitive advantage. -Allows us to achieve growth and sales earnings by eliminating waste. -Improves stakeholder value and builds a culture where involvement and mutual respect encourage continuous improvement. Do you or your company want to learn more about launching a Lean strategy will do for you? Are you alread...

  It is a new month, and we are probably sitting here saying "Wow, where did this year go?" Am I right? One routine that I have been practicing for quite a few years is doing a monthly reflection. This practice has been rewarding in so many ways. It has helped me improve my self-dialog by reminding myself of my successes. It reminds me to savor my interactions with others and challenges me to create more - I am an introvert so this is a struggle for me. It reminds me to be humble and that I am always learning. Finally, it forces me to be honest and real with myself about my fears and hurdles that are preventing me from the things I have determined are important to me. Feel free to borrow this format. Pro tip: You can add a monthly task reminder to ensure you follow through each month. It is extra rewarding at the end of the year to review the whole year and see what you are capable of and how you have grown. Here's to new beginnings. Cheers!