Unlike traditional leaders who simply tell their employees what to do, lean leaders empower their teams to take ownership of their work and find better ways of doing things. This type of leadership creates a more collaborative and empowering work environment, where employees are encouraged to think critically and continuously improve their processes.

Standardized work is a key component of the lean manufacturing philosophy that supports the idea of continuous improvement and empowers employees to find better ways of doing things. By establishing clear and consistent procedures for each task, standardized work ensures that everyone on the team is working in the same way and following the same processes. This creates a common understanding of the work and helps to identify areas for improvement. Standardized work is an important tool for Lean leaders, as it enables them to help their teams "figure it out" and find solutions to problems on the work site. The use of standardized work supports John Shook's philosophy of Lean leadership, where leaders are hands-on and take an active role in working with their teams to improve processes and eliminate waste.

In conclusion, lean manufacturing is a production philosophy that emphasizes minimizing waste and maximizing value, with a focus on continuous improvement. John Shook's quote highlights the importance of leadership in creating a culture of continuous improvement in lean manufacturing, and the role of lean leaders in empowering their teams to solve problems and improve processes.