A lean leader

"I don’t sell vegetables, I sell values,” says Texas based Adil Dalal who has been "harnessing the power of lean technology” for the last 10 years through his books and talks. His 10-year-old consultancy firm Pinnacle Process Solutions International "has led over 300 lean transformations, mergers and acquisitions, strategic and tactical initiatives” for companies in different parts of the world, notes an introduction to the executive coach. The lean approach primarily seeks to add value for clients, employees and shareholders by optimizing on strategy, systems and services and minimizing waste. Dalal would like to assist organizations in India to enhance their output by showing them that there is a better way to perform. The role of a true leader is to "LEAD — Leave Everything Appreciated on Departure,” he reiterates.

He was in Bombay on June 26-27, 2014 to deliver the keynote speech at the World Quality Congress organized at the Taj Land’s End and to receive an award for "Outstanding Contribution to Quality and Leadership.” The subject of his talk was "The V Factor,” and the power of visualization which is also the topic of his next book. Among his earlier books, The 12 Pillars of Project Excellence was presented the 2014 Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award as also the Axiom Award Medal. Last year he authored another book, A Legacy Driven Life: Live a Legacy to Leave a Legacy.
The three important principles that Dalal reinforces through his spoken and written words are: "Lean is about people, not techniques. Lean is a mindset, not a toolset. Lean is a journey, not a destination.” His own learning experience continues to be a journey. After his early education at St Xavier’s School and St Xavier’s College in Bombay, he studied automotive engineering at the Bombay University, worked briefly for Godrej and then moved to the USA to study for his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Thereafter he joined a medical company and simultaneously pursued his second Masters in Engineering Management, notes his life profile.
Shifting from technical to human and moral development, Dalal is trying to live up to the motto of Pinnacle: "You are more than you can ever imagine.” The 46-year-old father of three is currently pursuing his PhD in performance psychology from the Grand Canyon University "to set a good example of high standards” for his two daughters Natashaa, Shainaaz and son Jehaan, all teenagers. In fact, Dalal is optimistic his daughters will collaborate to write a book Lean for Teens. His wife Jesmin is a pre-school teacher who considerably assists Adil in all his projects.
Brought up by his parents Farrokh and Armaity Dalal "with a great deal of emphasis on our Zoroastrian faith,” daily divo and kusti prayers continue to be a constant in his life. From an early age he would meditate and visualize and his Zoroastrian teachings helped him to work hard and achieve success in life, he acknowledges. There is "a higher purpose to our life,” states Adil who believes in a "spiritual, universal energy. Religions are templates, not to be put up on walls but to be followed. Our religion helps us find a path for ourselves, find ‘our true North’ using good thoughts, words and deeds… Zarathushtra found his path through metacognition, when his years of retreat helped him awaken his intellect to find the voice of Ahura Mazda.”