LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT!
PART OF THE LEAN MINDSET
Leave it Better Than You Found it
“Leaving things better than you found it” is a great mindset to have when working. The basic idea is that you leave a something or somewhere in a better condition and state than when you started. It is a simple way of showing respect to your workspace and colleagues. It is about being considerate and leaving things in a state that makes it easier for the next person to work.
There’s a great example from our company in the video. The person who went to use the sink noticed it was a little messy and could do with a clean. Once the person was finished, they gave the sink a wipe-down, re-stocked the paper towels and left it looking so much better than how they found it!
Example
A great example is just borrowing tools. You have borrowed a tool from a different department. Once you have finished with it, you give it a good clean and return it to its proper home. That is a simple way of leaving it better for the next person.
However, if you left it on the wrong workbench and didn’t give it a proper clean, that isn’t leaving it better. That person now has to find the tool where you left it and give it a quick clean before using it. You’ve made their job slightly harder to save yourself some effort.
If everyone in your company is following this, you’ll create a generous work culture. You will have a team where people are actively trying to make each other’s lives easier.
