In many organizations, there’s a gap between leadership and the front lines. Decisions are made in boardrooms, strategies are discussed in executive meetings, and reports summarize what’s happening on the factory floor or in day-to-day operations. But here’s the problem—data and reports can only tell part of the story.
That’s where Gemba comes in.
Gemba is a concept that translates to “the actual place” in Japanese. In business, it means going to the real place where work happens—whether that’s a production line, a distribution center, a hospital floor, or even a software development team’s workspace. Leaders who engage in Gemba walks gain firsthand insights into their organization’s processes, challenges, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
Why Gemba is Critical for Leadership
Many leaders operate with the best intentions, but without truly seeing and understanding how work happens, their decisions can be based on assumptions rather than facts. Gemba bridges this gap by allowing leaders to:
✅ See problems in real-time – Instead of relying on reports or secondhand information, leaders witness inefficiencies and bottlenecks firsthand.
✅ Engage with employees – Gemba walks show employees that leadership is invested in their challenges and success, building a stronger workplace culture.
✅ Identify opportunities for improvement – Observing workflows in person helps leaders spot waste, redundancies, and opportunities for innovation.
Too often, leadership relies on metrics without context—but numbers don’t tell the whole story. A drop in productivity or an increase in defects might signal a deeper issue, but without going to Gemba, the root cause remains hidden.
Gemba in Action: A Real-World Example
I once visited a manufacturing company struggling with high defect rates on a critical assembly line. Leadership analyzed reports, but the root cause remained unclear. It wasn’t until a senior executive conducted a Gemba walk—spending time directly on the production floor—that they discovered the issue:
Operators were missing key inspection steps due to unclear work instructions and time pressure. By seeing the process firsthand, leadership implemented a standardized work process and provided better training, reducing defects by 40% in just three months.
This is the power of Gemba—it connects leadership to reality and drives meaningful continuous improvement.
3 Ways to Make Gemba Walks Effective
Gemba isn’t just about showing up—it’s about observing, learning, and engaging with employees in a way that fosters respect and improvement. Here’s how to make the most of your Gemba walks:
1. Go with Purpose
Before heading to Gemba, define a clear objective. Are you looking to understand a specific process? Identify sources of waste? Address a recurring problem? Having a purpose ensures that your time on the floor is focused and valuable.
2. Listen More Than You Talk
The best leaders don’t just observe—they ask questions and listen. Engage employees with open-ended questions:
- “What challenges are you facing?”
- “What do you think could be improved?”
- “What do you need to be more successful in your role?”
When employees see leadership actively listening and acting on feedback, it creates a culture of trust and continuous improvement.
3. Follow Up and Take Action
Gemba walks shouldn’t be one-off events. If employees share challenges or inefficiencies, follow up with real action. Whether it’s adjusting a process, providing additional training, or implementing new tools, sustaining Gemba insights ensures long-term impact.
Leadership Starts at the Source
Leadership isn’t about sitting in an office—it’s about understanding, engaging, and driving improvement where work happens. Going to Gemba is one of the most powerful ways leaders can build a culture of respect, collaboration, and problem-solving.
So, the next time you find yourself making a decision based solely on a report, ask yourself: Have I seen this process in action? Have I talked to the people doing the work?
If not, it’s time to step out of the boardroom and into Gemba. That’s where real leadership begins.
0 Comments