We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jim Lippens a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jim, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?
I worked 15+ years in production environment. My boss asked me if I wanted to become a plant manager of 108 employees. That time I had 1 direct report. I agreed. On my first day I was asked to fire 27 employees, and the plan was to fire them all in max. 3 months, as the department was loosing money since 30 years, there where accidents, violence, quality problems, absenteeism … etc. When I had to bring the message to the first 27, I saw the fear in their eyes. I could not live with this (abuse of power and injustice) and decided to do all I could to save these people’s jobs.
After 4+ years, this department delivered 85% of the total plant revenue, (with only 10% of the employees in the plant).
I could save all these people’s jobs and made a summary in 1 page how you can transform the worst company of the plant into a goldmine without any investment. The summary is the 4D Lean model, which became a digital scan later to measure the gap between employer and employee, the root cause of (lack of) engagement and productivity.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I worked 22 years in total in production environment. After I saved these people’s jobs, I was fired. I went to another company, but I missed the purpose I deeply felt in the period as a plant manager. I decided to become self-employed, founded my first company 4D Lean, based on the model I created.
During covid the model became a digital Scan.
I wanted to show the world that firing people is the easiest, but not the best solution at all. We organized the first ‘happiness at work conference’ in Belgium. It was sold out. After the 3rd edition we were world’s biggest corporate wellbeing & employee engagement event. We made it experiential, with music, aromas, visuals, lights, …
I decided to create my second company: 7 Generations, a company with 5 pillars, impacting the next 7 generations.
H: hope = foundation – goal is to donate 10 million by 2035
E: Experience = tour of experiential events
A: Academy: collection of trainings, based on the 4D Lean structure
R: Revolution = community with actions
T: tech: tools to make consciousness and wellbeing easier accessible
Any advice for managing a team?
It all starts with trust and respect. First of all you make sure safety and quality issues are solved, to take away rework, which is demotivating.
Then you look for teambuilding, participation, accountability, expertise, continuous improvement.
Next step is to stimulate autonomy, passion and talent, agility, open mind.
Biggest progress comes by creating a culture of belonging, vulnerability and by making people self-reliant.
Important to give people purpose, balance, and wellbeing. Explain why, and what’s in for them, the team, society and customers.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The moment I had to choose between my existing easy life as a continuous improvement manager and to become plant manager of the worst department ever. ‘something inside me’ told me to do it. When I was in front of these employees, waiting to hear if they were on ‘the list to get fired’, I got a flashback to my childhood, a trauma. When I saw the link, I understood why I said ‘yes’.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://4dlean.com ; https://7generations.world ; https://www.jimlippens.be
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jimlippens
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1S3HJbeKDPJxi2NK1P9aA