In graduate school I spent a lot of time studying the theory of “Just in Time” manufacturing also known as JIT. The origin of JIT is not really known but the carmaker Toyota is credited with popularizing the system.

The idea is that by getting a handle on the production process from beginning to end and understanding that process fully, you can order supplies and have them arrive at the moment they will be used. The advantages of this efficiency are numerous, from not having to create space to store excess parts to no delays in waiting on delivery of needed supplies. Financially it also made sense, you paid for what you needed and used what you had, no overages, no shortages. The JIT concept came to America in the 60s and has been a staple of MBA courses since.

Today I want to talk about another JIT concept and that is Just in Time Learning. Similar to its manufacturing cousin, JIT Learning has many advantages that make it the learning theory of the future (and the future is now). JIT Learning is studying the lessons and concepts that you need to implement at the time of implementation and not earlier.

A quick example, in a year I want to add videos to my blog. I could take the time today to learn about YouTube and Vimeo and uploading video, purchasing lighting and editing, interview ideas, social media sharing and the list goes on and on. But I won’t need that knowledge until next year.

If I study video today I will use up time, which I don’t have, I will likely forget what I learn by the time I need the knowledge and next year the technology will probably be obsolete. JIT Learning says I should wait until next year and learn what I need as I need it. Just in Time Learning is more important today than it ever has been and here is why:

• We have access to so much knowledge- we can’t keep it all. Think of you mind as a computer with a hard drive and some RAM. The hard drive is for long term storage of ideas and the RAM is for ideas that you will use in the near term. The RAM is small and can only hold so much information, the hard drive has a much larger capacity but isn’t as easily accessible. As we continue to add new learning, we move thoughts and ideas from our RAM to our hard drive. The more we add to the RAM, the further the previous knowledge gets pushed into our hard drive. When it comes time to use knowledge previously learned, the further back in your hard drive it resides the longer and more difficult it will take to retrieve. Likely it will require a relearning to remember what you already learned. It is better to learn as needed and then implement it while the knowledge is still in your RAM.
• Not all knowledge is evergreen. You may be familiar with the term evergreen. It refers to the tree that no matter the weather or time of year remains green. This term can also refer to information and knowledge that doesn’t change. Most knowledge today is NOT evergreen. The skills and abilities you learned yesterday may not be applicable tomorrow. The time spent learning something before it is needed may be wasted. The technology you will need to accomplish your task in the future may not exist yet. Learning JIT ensures that you are always learning the most accurate, useful and applicable knowledge. If you learn processes before they are needed you run the risk of those ideas being obsolete by the time you implement them.

• Time is limited. You probably don’t have the time in a day to spend learning things that are not immediately important. The amount of information accessible is moving so fast that the time necessary to learn it all is impossible. If you spend your time learning lessons that “may” be applicable in the future you will not have time (or neglect) the learning and ideas necessary for today. If I spend time learning to create videos for my blog I will run out of time to learn the lessons necessary for my podcast. Time is a zero sum game- time spent here is time taken from there. By prioritizing your time you will realize that JIT Learning is the only efficient way to learn.
• Learning for tomorrow is just avoiding today. One of the reasons that many people spend time consumed with the lessons of tomorrow is so they can avoid taking action today. Creating a podcast is hard so I can avoid that struggle by spending time learning about tomorrow’s videos. Doesn’t make sense does it?
• Knowledge is easily accessible. Why spend energy and brainpower remembering something you can easily Google? I could memorize pi to the 50^th digit (maybe) but why? I could also just look it up when I need it. As information becomes more accessible the need to memorize it becomes less important.

The secret to progressing forward and creating success in your life and in your work is to do the things necessary for today….now. Knowledge is readily accessible and should be consumed and used at the time of implementation. Just in Time Learning is productive and efficient learning.

Question: What is your secret to Just in Time Learning? Leave your comments below or by clicking here.

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Are you the tortoise or the hare? If you said “hare”…. and you know the parable, then you know you will not succeed. Why’d you say that? You are going to be passed by the focused tortoise. Did you say “tortoise”…. sorry but you are not likely to win the race either. Surprise!

You see the parable got it wrong. We assume that the tortoise and the hare are the only participants in this race. If we do, we miss the real winner in the race to success- the person who has the focus of the tortoise and skill of the hare.

15 Traits of a Winner — Are You A Winner?

Think about yourself, think about your co-workers, and now think about a person you look up to who is succeeding and leading the way. Is that person slow and methodical but persistent or is that person fast and scattered? My guess is that he has qualities of both- fast and persistent. This mythical animal who actually wins the race is a leader. Here are 15 traits every winner must cultivate- the leader is:

1. Creative- In the world of leadership the leader must have the ability to think outside the box and see opportunities before they become apparent to others in their industry. They stay ahead of the competition because they think creatively.
2. Honest- The successful have a strict adherence to a code of ethics and honesty. They exhibit a courageous attitude and speak directly and clearly.
3. Inspirational- To lead you need to inspire. You will cannot conquer the mountain alone, you need your support team. This is one thing I really respect about cyclists in major races like the Tour De France. Each cyclist on the team has a role and each must function at expert level for the leader to win.
4. Teachable- Ever learning and increasing in ability. I recently told my daughter to study hard and work hard in school but not to focus too much on picking a career. Chances are by the time she enters the work force the career she had picked would no longer exist and the one she’ll end up with hasn’t yet been created. Knowledge and skills are evolving so quickly that an ability to continuously learn and improve will be invaluable.
5. Delegate- A leader has the ability to enlist the troops and share the workload. Every participant of a team should be functioning in roles that they are ideally suited to. The leader shouldn’t be stuffing envelopes and the new hire shouldn’t be calling on the most influential client.
6. Admits mistakes and (when appropriate) laughs- No leader is perfect and every leader will make mistakes along the journey. When you stumble or make a mistake be the first to admit, adapt, adjust and move on. A setback isn’t failure unless you let it stop your progress. If you can smile and shrug off setbacks you’ll be respected by your team.
7. Confident- When the decision is made, the leader has the ability to confidently execute. Zig Ziglar used to say that “timid salesmen have skinny children”. A leader that displays a lack of confidence has few loyal followers and sales suffer. But, there is a difference between confidence and arrogance.
8. Committed- The leader is committed to success and assumes the responsibility for attaining it. If you are only half “in the game” and if you bow out (quit) when the obstacles get tough you are not a leader.
9. Passionate- Do you have that sparkle in your eye? Do you take the steps two at a time? If you are not super excited to do your job you will struggle as a leader. The barometer I often use for passion is: What do you think about in the shower? If it’s how to improve and grow at work…you have passion. If it’s the finale of the latest reality show…you probably lack passion. If you don’t have it you can build passion but that is a topic for another blog post.
10. Intelligent- Hey smarty pants- you got to have the goods if you’re gonna lead. You must have industry and operational intelligence. You don’t have to be Einstein or know multiple languages but you do need a high degree of understanding about your business, your competitors and your industry.
11. Accountable- I have spoken often about the need for accountability and goal setting. Leaders hold themselves and those they work with accountable to perform. They do what is required to make sure the job is done efficiently, accurately and timely.
12. Positive- Coupled with a passion for what you are doing you can truly inspire and lead if you are optimistic. See the good in people, situations and the future. Pessimistic thinking never changed the world (tweet that!)
13. Focused- Follow One Course Until S A leader understands the assignments, responsibilities, clients and products that have the biggest impact on success, performance and the bottom line. They do not allow peripheral opportunities distract and derail effort. This is the hare’s vital error.
14. Communicator- A leader must inspire and that requires charisma. A leader stands in front of the team and communicate the rules, roles and opportunities. Clearly articulating individually and in a group is necessary for success.
15. Generous- I will follow a leader that invests in me and it is likely you will too. Generosity is the new enrollment mechanism. A leader that shares in the workload, the ups and downs, the blame and triumph will always have loyal followers. Be generous in praise and reward those who perform and you will be leading.

The world has a lot of wannabe leaders- those who will eagerly accept the title and ancillary incentives but what we really need is leaders who will lead. Those who can inspire and lead will change the world. Are you the tortoise, the hare or a leader?

Question: How many of the 15 leadership qualities do you have? Leave your comments below or by clicking here.

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