One thing stayed with us in particular: 4 improvement ideas per year from every employee.

Not so much because of the number itself, but because of what sits behind it.

Here, improvement is not a slogan on the wall or an initiative brought out once a year at a strategy workshop. It is simply part of the job.

Anyone can come up with an idea. They know where to record it, who to discuss it with, and what will happen next.

What struck us was how much openness and positive energy we could feel, even in such a precisely structured environment.

Toyota is known for its strong focus on processes and standards. But it is precisely these that help people understand how they can contribute and how an idea can make its way into practice. Structure is not a brake here. It gives continuous improvement a clear framework.

For us, the visit had another important dimension.

It was part of the preparation for a new bachelor’s programme at the Faculty of International Relations, Prague University of Economics and Business, which will be launching very soon.

Together with an excellent team of academics led by Pavel Hnát, we spent the past year developing the programme and used the summer to finalise its shape and the first workshops for students.

So the morning was all about inspiration at Toyota. In the afternoon, we were straight back to our own work.

At projectYOU, we work with leadership, talent, teamwork, innovation and change. That is exactly why it matters to us not to stay only in the world of workshops and methodologies.

We want to see how these principles work in real companies. What works. What requires discipline. And above all, what it takes for a good idea to genuinely become part of everyday business.

A big thank you to Ondřej Malínský, Dr. Robert Kiml, Monika Charvátová, Pavlína Markvartová and the whole team for giving us the opportunity to truly look under Toyota’s bonnet, for taking such good care of us and for sharing their experience so openly.

We truly appreciate it.