Hansei: Reflection Before Improvement

Hansei, Reflection before Improvement

Hansei is one of the most powerful concepts I learned in Japan, and I love sharing it because it applies to every single aspect of our work. What I saw firsthand changed how I look at mistakes, systems, and improvement. If you stay with me through this blog, you are going to learn something that can transform your team and your culture.

A Lesson From Japanese Schools

When we visited Japanese schools, I was blown away. The kids were incredibly polite. I remember a moment that still sticks with me. I was standing at the back of the classroom and a small boy quietly stepped in front of me. He just looked up at me politely. He did not know English and I did not know what he needed. Then I realized I was standing in his way. I moved, he put his lunch pail away, and he quietly said thank you.

Their manners, habits, and routines are remarkable.

The students serve each other lunch. They wear little hats and masks, fill each other’s plates, and wait until everyone is served. Anyone with leftover untouched food returns it so none is wasted. After eating, they 5S their desks and clean the school together. There is no complaining. The parents join in too. It is joyful. It is disciplined. It is beautiful.

One of the first things Japanese kids learn early on is Hansei. Reflection.

Understanding Hansei

On our tour, Mommy san explained it this way. She said, “It is not simply reflection. It is acknowledging, this was wrong. I did this wrong.” But they do not judge the person. They judge the action.

In the United States, our first instinct is to get defensive. We think any criticism means something is wrong with us as humans. We feel attacked. We avoid accountability.

The Japanese separate the action from the human being. They say the behavior was wrong, the process was wrong, the system was wrong, the environment prompted the wrong decision. They never say the person is wrong.

I even heard a child explain how going back to get his hat during cleaning was a process problem. He said next time he would adjust the process and go straight to his chores. That is hansei in action.

Westerners often claim Japanese culture is a shame culture. I did not experience that at all. What I saw was support. Togetherness. Accountability without blame.

Where Hansei Shows Up in Lean and Construction

Paul Ackers, who is one of the top lean practitioners on the planet, practices hansei constantly. He will say forty-five times a day, “I did that wrong. That behavior was not accurate. I apologize. Here is what I will do now.”

It is not self-shaming. It is extreme ownership. He loves it because he knows that each reflection lifts a burden off the people around him.

In construction, we desperately need this. In Western cultures we throw people away. We blame the individual instead of the environment, the system, the circumstance, or the wiring of the human brain.

We say things like, “They brought it on themselves,” or “That person is just bad.” And when we do this, we miss the root cause. We miss the solution. We lose the chance to grow.

Seeing People As Good and Systems As the Problem

Here is what I believe. Human beings are inherently good. Even the worst actions have root causes in systems, environments, trauma, culture, or genetics. If we could stop blaming the person and start examining the system, we would see the truth.

When we do that, two things happen.

We stop throwing people away.

We finally get to solve the real problem.

If we want a better society, a better company, a better project team, we must stop attacking people and start improving systems.

Hansei in Daily Work

When I look at how this fits into construction, it becomes clear.

In companies, we identify, discuss, and solve problems. That is hansei.

In departments, we surface issues instead of hiding them.

On projects, we encourage trade partners to speak up instead of shutting down the most vocal ones.

With crews, after they finish a zone, we reflect. I will ask, “What could we do better? Was the generator in the wrong spot? Do we need a different ladder?”

This simple practice changes everything.

A Daily Challenge for Leaders

Paul gave me a challenge that I now pass on to you. As part of your daily leader standard work, can you say three things consistently?

Your idea is better than mine.

That behavior was wrong. I am sorry. Here is what I will do next time.

Let us bring all problems to the surface.

Hansei builds a culture of transparency, safety, accountability, and improvement. It is how we move forward. It is how we get traction. It is how we grow.

Key Concept

We do not blame people. We improve the process. We examine the system. We adjust the behavior. That is how societies evolve. That is how companies improve. That is how humans become better together.

I truly believe the Japanese have figured out Humanity 2.0. And we can learn so much from them.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog.