Have you ever wondered what Toyota Kata really is and why it’s often mentioned in the context of continuous improvement culture?
Simply put, kata are repetitive, methodical routines of thinking and acting practiced daily by everyone in the organization — from operators to managers.
They are not spontaneous behaviors but deliberately shaped habits that help organizations systematically solve problems and adapt to change.
It is precisely these routines that have enabled Toyota to remain a leader for decades in process improvement, adaptability, and employee engagement.
It’s important to emphasize that Toyota Kata is not about production techniques, but about people’s behaviors that shape the organization’s culture.
Within the Toyota Kata framework, we distinguish two key behavioral patterns: the Improvement Kata and the Coaching Kata.
Improvement Kata – the foundation of organizational development
The Improvement Kata is a method through which every employee learns to solve problems in a structured, fact-based way.
Instead of relying on intuition, people learn to experiment, analyze results, and draw conclusions.
The goal is not a one-time improvement but continuous progress toward a target condition — step by step, every day.
This approach develops what is often called scientific thinking, which becomes the foundation of a learning and adaptive organizational culture.
Coaching Kata – how leaders support development
The Coaching Kata is a leadership routine designed to reinforce the Improvement Kata in everyday work.
A leader doesn’t provide ready-made answers — instead, they ask questions that help employees understand problems, assess situations, and reach their own conclusions.
As a result, the team learns not only how to solve current challenges but also how to build the capability for self-improvement and reflection.
What is Toyota Kata in practice
Both patterns — the Improvement Kata and the Coaching Kata — are universal.
They can be applied not only in manufacturing but also in services, administration, and even everyday life.
Toyota Kata is not a set of tools, but a way of thinking that teaches how to learn systematically, improve continuously, and lead effectively in a changing world.
Learn more about Toyota Kata and other improvement methods by reading our articles on Leantrix website.
Psychologist, consultant, trainer, and executive mentor with over twenty years of managerial experience. He specializes in developing leadership competencies in the areas of personal effectiveness and leadership, building functional teams, as well as organizational transformation, relationship psychology, and performance management.
He is an Assessment and Development Center (AC/DC) assessor and a lecturer at WSB University in Wrocław. Author and co-author of numerous articles in his fields of expertise.
