This training room has hidden errors — can you spot it?

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December 16, 2025 | 12:00am

At first glance, the training room in the illustration below looks perfectly arranged — tables neatly aligned, podium ready for action, white screen positioned for visibility and of course, the sacred coffee-and-snacks station parked near the entrance like a magnet for the sleepy heads. You can’t see the projector? That’s not an issue. Imagine it’s attached to the ceiling.

Any manager and training facilitator would look at this layout and conclude: “All good. Nothing to improve.” Are you sure? Several months ago, I shared a version of this quiz with top management of Lyceum of the Philippines University during their strategic planning session.

It was a discussion starter for my presentation on Lean Education — the application of Kaizen for the academic sector. The idea was not limited to admiring a training room or a classroom that looks organized. It’s about sharpening the eye to spot inefficiencies hiding in plain sight. It challenges us to ask: Is the flow effortless? Is movement minimal? Is there anything we can improve without spending big money? This is where Kaizen outshines the typical “good enough” mindset.

Seeing the invisible

Consider the podium’s position. Is that the best location? The ideal set-up is to place it at the audience’s left so the presenter stands on the audience’s left side of the screen which is called stage right in theater terms.

In cultures that read from left to right, the audience’s attention naturally starts with the presenter on the left and then moves to the visuals on the right. This creates a natural flow where the audience look at the presenter first.

Kaizen philosophy teaches that improvement is not about acquiring expensive tools or launching grand renovations. It simply requires rearranging what you already have in a smarter way.

This is also true in training environments, where attention span, comfort and smooth facilitation are critical to learning. A poor layout can exhaust participants before the PowerPoint even loads.

So, can we improve this “perfect” room without spending much money? Absolutely. Let’s explore several opportunities hidden in the quiz.

1. Fix the doorway bottleneck. The swinging out door is a bit dangerous to hallway passersby. Without touching a toolbox or spending on carpentry, the solution is to alert passersby with floor decals in a bright, caution-color yellow with black stripes, placed in the shape of a half-circle to visually map out the arc of the door’s swing.

2. Bring the waste can near the door. The can is like a misplaced turned off microphone. Since most disposable items come from the snacks area, the trash bin should be relocated closer to that zone. This reduces wasted footsteps (waste of motion) that encourages a “clean as you go” behavior after a break time and the conclusion of the training program.

3. Improve the speaker’s control zone. The speaker’s movement is limited by the table placed in front of screen. This is like parking a dilapidated tricycle in front of one’s garage. Move the table sideways or closer to the wall. The facilitator now enjoys more space to engage participants, point at visuals or dodge bullets during the open forum.

4. Align the tables for better flow. The tables for two are neatly arranged, but their spacing may create narrow center walkways that may hinder the speaker who prefers to move around. A slight re-spacing improves visibility, comfort and movement. This also prevents participants from unintentionally practicing “chair collision drills” during breakout sessions.

What to improve next

This quiz illustrates a powerful Kaizen strategy: Perfection is not a state — it’s a direction. Even if everything looks fine, there’s always room for improvement. And often, the best improvements aren’t expensive, except they’re simply overlooked.

Kaizen thinking transforms employees from passive users of space into active efficiency designers. It urges people to observe, question and elevate everyday experiences — like the case of a public toilet with a men’s urinal that has a tiny fly sticker as a psychological nudge for those with “short tails” to step closer for a proper aim.

The result? Less splash, fewer spills and a janitor who suddenly has time to rediscover the meaning of life instead of mopping the floor every ten minutes.

Anyone can point out what is broken. Kaizen experts point out what could be better.

This quiz strengthens the habit of looking deeper. It trains the mind to seek smoother flows, safer spaces and smarter layouts. It encourages leaders to reward ingenuity — not for big heroic solutions, but for the small, everyday ideas that compound into transformative workplace culture.

With Kaizen, a perfect room isn’t one that looks orderly. It’s the one that works effortlessly because every movement has a purpose and every item is placed with intention. It’s your turn. What would you improve? The next time you step into a meeting room, pantry, office cubicle or the boardroom, ask yourself: What can be improved here without spending big?

You’ll be amazed at what your Kaizen-trained eye can see.

Rey Elbo is a quality and productivity enthusiast. Share your kaizen low-cost solutions to [email protected] or DM Facebook, LinkedIn, X or via https://reyelbo.com. Guaranteed anonymity for those who prefer to spend money to solve workplace problems.