Dec

Starting with Lean A3 Thinking in Marketing

How do you start using A3 thinking in you Marketing? The best way is to start is by solving your own problems. Take an A3 form (proposal, status or a problem solving report) and start writing. Let yourself be the audience and decide what is important and what is not.

It is no different as in other professions to become proficient you have to practice, if you want to be a carpenter pick up a hammer, if you want to be a musician – play, and if you want to be a writer – write. If you want to be an A3 thinker - __________. The key is understanding that it does not happen overnight. Learning to ask the right questions, who to involve and what data is useful takes time.

When you do solve your own problem, you create something that you take ownership of. Jason Fried of 37 Signals says it well:

“When you solve your own problems you create a a tool that you’re passionate about. And passion is key. Passion means you’ll truly use it and care about it. And that’s the best way to get others to feel passionate about it too.”

To become proficient at it may take a little reading and training but mostly it requires doing. As you get better and better at working with A3s, A3 thinking will become ingrained in the way you do your work. That culture thing.

P.S. Don’t start with a blank piece of paper. Click on the picture above, print and start writing. The thinking part will follow.