Table of contentsForeword Part I: About Obeya and leadership What is Obeya? What to know before you get started How does this relate to other methods? Leading With Obeya - Reference model What does an Obeya look like? How does Obeya work in practice? Obeya and Leading with Obeya (LWO) Part II: Obeya for leading organizations The function of leadership Obeya is a means to execute strategy, but what is strategy exactly? Four common challenges for leadership Part III: Seven principles Think in Systems & Ownership Share Context & Problems Visually Develop People Rhythm & Routine Go & See Keep Improving Cascade & Connect Part IV: Five visual areas Five leadership tasks, five boards Two examples of Obeya layouts Strategic direction Performance Plan to Value Act & Respond Tough problems Part V: Getting started Step 1: Approach Agreed Step 2: Obeya Explained Step 3: Commit Step 4: Set the Stage Step 5: Refine Step 6: Starting the Routines Step 7: Continuous Improvement Having effective Obeya meetings Virtual Obeya and remote collaboration Finally, some tips from the trenches Appendices A final word and thanks Glossary About the AuthorLooking for a way to boost your management / leadership team effectiveness? Teams across the globe are adopting the Leading with Obeya (LWO) management method for instant results.Is your leadership team truly performing at its peak? Turn management meetings into momentum—and strategy into results.When meetings drag, decisions stall, and strategy drifts from reality, progress suffers. But what if meetings consistently fueled progress, decisions were swift and aligned, and strategic goals seamlessly translated into daily action? For directors, managers, project leaders, or coaches guiding leadership teams, this vision is within reach. Leading with Obeya (LWO) is a proven management method that makes strategy visible, aligns teams, and accelerates execution.Originating at Toyota as a visual nerve center for product development, Obeya has been transformed by Tim Wiegel—leading Obeya author, speaker, trainer, and founder of the LWO method—into a complete, practical approach any organization can adopt. In this significantly updated Second Edition, Wiegel distills years of global experience into a definitive, how to guide.The LWO management method gives you the potential to:•Achieve seamless alignment and sustained focus across teams•Transform status meetings into fast, problem solving sessions•Make better, faster decisions from shared facts and visual flow•Drive strategy execution with clear ownership and cadence•Replace firefighting with continuous improvement built into the workInside you’ll find the core tasks of effective leadership made concrete; field tested tips; critical pitfalls to avoid; and step by step starts for programs, portfolios, and leadership teams.Move beyond firefighting and start leading with purpose. Leading with Obeya (LWO) provides the framework to unlock your team’s collective potential and deliver exceptional results—consistently.VISIT LEADINGWITHOBEYA.COMAccess an expansive library of free templates, tools, digital Obeyas, e-Learnings, trainings, certification and a global community of practitionersIn 2014, when Tim Wiegel first encountered the concept of Obeya, everything fell into place: finally, a practical solution to the everyday challenges of leading teams and organizations. Originally developed by Toyota in the 1990s to create the iconic Prius, Obeya (Japanese for “big room”) uses physical or virtual visual management to drive effective collaboration and swift decision-making.Instead of constantly firefighting and chasing problems as individuals, Obeya empowers teams to align their performance toward a shared higher goal. But the true power doesn't lie in what hangs on the wall—it comes from seeing, learning, and doing together. The visual space is simply a reflection of the team's collective thinking and interaction.Inside this guide, you will find:Leadership & Setup: How to design, build, and run an effective big room for your team or entire organization.Visual Examples: Practical illustrations showing exactly what an active, functioning Obeya looks like.Implementation Roadmap: Clear guidance on how to get started step-by-step, along with key pitfalls to watch out for.Unlocking Potential: How to maximize human leadership potential across every level of your organization.Leading with Obeya is your practical blueprint for transforming visual management into genuine human connection, alignment, and drive.