There's a lot of interest in what the Coach/Learner dialog looks like when it's extended up-and-down across the levels of an organization. This SlideShare shows you how that works.

1. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 1
Mike Rother & Gerd Aulinger
Chain of Coaching

2. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
What TK Looks Like When it's in Place
2
There's a lot of interest in what the Coach/Learner dialog that's
built into the Coaching Kata and Improvement Kata looks like
when it's extended up-and-down the levels of an organization.
The book Toyota Kata Culture (TKC) provides an example.
Goal Deployment „Top-Down“
What We're Learning „Bottom Up“
TKC clarifies the
big picture!

3. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
The Question
Addressed by Toyota Kata Culture (TKC)
3
How are we supposed to
coach AND be coached
at each level of the organization?
The Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata are about
goal-oriented creativity. As an organization's teams pursue
goals they are united by a challenge, a method of working
and a resolve to succeed. Toyota Kata Culture is about...

4. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
The Improvement Kata /
Coaching Kata Pattern
4
Improvement
Kata
Coaching
Kata
Learner
Coach
Understand
the
Direction
Grasp the
Current
Condition
Establish
the Next
Target
Condition
Experiment
Toward the
Target
Condition
Coaching
Cycles
Instructing / Coaching
This is the pattern – the method of working – that
repeats up-and-down the organization

5. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 5
VIDEO OVERVIEW by Jeff Liker
Practicing the Improvement Kata
(3 minutes – on the next page)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfZmcv7WgOk

6. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
Meet the 5 Main Players
in the Toyota Kata Culture Example
6
"Gear Broach"
Operators
- Roger -
Responsible
for the process
"Gear Broaching“
- Steve -
Responsible for the
value stream loop
"Gear Machining“
- Nancy -
Responsible for
the "Gearbox"
value stream
- William-
Vice President
Responsible for
a Value Stream
Responsible for a
Value Stream Loop
Responsible
for a Process

7. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
Each Level Practices the Same IK Pattern
7
"Gear Broach"
Operators
- Roger -
- Steve -
- Nancy -
- William-
Responsible for
a Value Stream
Responsible for a
Value Stream Loop
Responsible
for a Process
But the content differs from level to level

8. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
These are the Practice Roles
The Coach-Learner pairing repeats across each level
LEARNER (or "Mentee")
Applies the Improvement Kata at the level for
which they are responsible. The Learner grasps
the current condition, designs the next target
condition and works toward it by conducting
experiments with PDCA and developing solutions
to obstacles, all in daily dialog with the Coach.
The Learner is responsible for the doing.
COACH (or "Mentor")
Ensures the Learner is working scientifically
according to the Improvement Kata pattern.
Conducts coaching cycles daily using the 5
Coaching Kata Questions. The coach’s job is to
develop the Learner by guiding the learner on
Improvement Kata procedure, not to improve
the process. The Coach is responsible for the
Learner’s results.
==========
2nd Coach (not discussed in this example)
Observes coaching cycles between the Coach and
Learner. Gives feedback to the Coach to help the
Coach develop their coaching skills.
8
"Gear Broach" Operator
- Roger -
Responsible for
the process
"Gear Broaching“
- Steve -
Responsible for the
value stream loop
"Gear Machining“
- Nancy -
Responsible for
the "Gearbox"
value stream
- William-
Vice President
COACH to
Nancy
COACH to
Steve
COACH to
Roger
COACH to
Operators
LEARNER
to William
LEARNER
to Nancy
LEARNER
to Steve

9. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
Each Learner Has a Storyboard
that looks like this
9
Start with this storyboard format. Eventually
your organizationʼs storyboard design may
evolve to suit the characteristics of your
environment and culture.

10. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
Learner
Coach
10
Improvement
Kata
Coaching
Kata
Understand
the
Direction
Grasp the
Current
Condition
Establish
the Next
Target
Condition
Experiment
Toward the
Target
Condition
Coaching
Cycles
Instructing / Coaching
The Improvement Kata / Coaching Kata
Process Has Two Phases
PLANNING EXECUTING

11. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 11
PhaseOne
PLANNING. Consensus on direction
and specific focal points is developed.
Goals and coaching topics are derived
mathematically and in detail "top down"
from the future-state value stream map.
Toyota Kata Culture Walks You
Through the Two Phases
EXECUTING. Once target conditions
have been developed: Frequent PDCA
cycles, coaching cycles and upward
communication of current condition and
lessons-learned begin.
PhaseTwo

12. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 12
Phase I: PLANNING
Consensus on Direction is Developed

13. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 13
Phase II: EXECUTING
Daily Experimenting and Coaching Cycles Begin

14. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 14
Coaching Cycles are built around these Five Questions.
This pattern of questions is utilized up-and-down the
organization. Here's an example of a Coach's 5-Question card:
The Five Coaching Kata Questions

15. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 15
What a Coaching Cycle Looks Like

16. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 16
Steve and Roger meet for at least one coaching cycle
every day related to Roger's target condition

17. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 17
What We're Learning
„Bottom Up“
Upward Communication
of Current Condition
and Lessons Learned

18. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
"Gear Broach" Operator
- Roger -
Responsible for
the process
"Gear Broaching“
- Steve -
Responsible for the
value stream loop
"Gear Machining“
- Nancy -
Responsible for
the "Gearbox"
value stream
In addition to acting as 2nd Coach, Nancy meets with Steve
daily for a value-stream-level coaching cycle. This likewise
follows the same pattern of the Five Coaching Kata Questions.
18
After I coach my team members from 9:00 to
10:40, I meet with Nancy daily from 10:40 to
11:00. Through her coaching I inform Nancy
about the current condition and improvement
activities in my value stream loop.
Nancy updates her value
stream map based on
what she learns in these
coaching cycles.

19. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 19
What is your target condition?
One level up, Nancy meets with Steve daily for a value stream
level coaching cycle related to Steve's target condition
"Gear Broach" Operator
- Roger -
Responsible for
the process
"Gear Broaching“
- Steve -
Responsible for the
value stream loop
"Gear Machining“
- Nancy -
Responsible for
the "Gearbox"
value stream

20. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 20
Summary

21. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
"Gear Broach" Operator
- Roger -
Responsible for
the process
"Gear Broaching“
- Steve -
Responsible for the
value stream loop
"Gear Machining“
- Nancy -
Responsible for
the "Gearbox"
value stream
21
Notice the Fractal Nature of the Coaching
The pattern of thinking and acting – which is reflected in the 5 Coaching
Kata Questions – repeats up and down the organization. The coaching
cycles are a connecting element in this layered, nested approach.
The person at each level is a coach to the level below and a learner to
the level above… all following the same basic pattern.
- William-
Vice President

22. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching
Responsible for: A VS Loop
Coaches: Processes Vice
President
COACH
to D
COACH
to C
COACH
to B
COACH
to A
LEARNER
to E
LEARNER
to D
LEARNER
to C
Value-Stream
Manager
Department
Manager
Process
Supervisor
Process
Operator
LEARNER
to B
22
The Fractal Nature of the Coaching
Organization's
Strategic
Goal
Value Stream
Goal
Value Stream
Loop Goal
Process
Goal
Responsible for: A Value Stream
Coaches: VS Loops
Responsible for: The Organization
Coaches: Value Streams
Note:
The 2nd Coach role is not shown in this diagram

23. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 23
- Roger -
- Steve -
- Nancy -
- William-
Longer TC
Date
Longer-Cycle
Experiments
Short TC
Date
Short-Cycle
Experiments
Doeltoestand
Focus Proces: Uitdaging:
Huidige Toestand PDCACycliRegistratie
Parkeerplaats
Obstakels
Vorige
Stap
Volgende
Stap
Doeltoestand
Focus Proces: Uitdaging:
Huidige Toestand PDCACycliRegistratie
Parkeerplaats
Obstakels
Vorige
Stap
Volgende
Stap
Doeltoestand
Focus Proces: Uitdaging:
Huidige Toestand PDCACycliRegistratie
Parkeerplaats
Obstakels
Vorige
Stap
Volgende
Stap
Doeltoestand
Focus Proces: Uitdaging:
Huidige Toestand PDCACycliRegistratie
Parkeerplaats
Obstakels
Vorige
Stap
Volgende
Stap
Planning Executing
Organization
Level
Value Stream
Level
Value Stream
Loop Level
Process
Level
The same
Improvement
Kata Steps
Learner
Storyboards

24. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 24
"Gear Broach"
Operators
- Roger -
- Steve -
- Nancy -
- William-
Responsible for
a Value Stream
Responsible for a
Value Stream Loop
Responsible
for a Process
One Level's Target Condition
is the Direction for the Next Level Down

25. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 25
For a Detailed Look at this System
see Toyota Kata Culture

26. Coaching Kata - Chain of Coaching 26
Best Wishes!
Mike & Gerd
The Coaching Kata
Chain of Coaching