Podcasts about continuous improvement

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams is joined by Brett Lesiewicz, Judd VanBergen, and Phil Ranck for a preview of their sessions at the 2026 Lean Solutions Summit. Together, they explore how stronger relationships, proactive planning, and better communication help organizations succeed in uncertain environments.The conversation highlights how Lean tools like the Last Planner System, takt planning, and visual management are transforming the construction industry by creating alignment, improving collaboration, and reducing uncertainty before work even begins. Phil also introduces the Seven Thinking Gears, a structured communication framework designed to make meetings more productive, uncover innovative ideas, and empower every team member to contribute to continuous improvement.Whether you're in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, or another industry, this episode offers practical insights into building stronger teams, improving communication, and creating more predictable results through Lean thinking.Key Takeaways:1. Strong relationships create certainty in uncertain environments2. Proactive planning prevents costly rework3. Better communication unlocks innovation4. Lean principles apply far beyond manufacturingLinks: https://www.findleansolutions.com/https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/

The Pediatric Lounge PodcastEvidence-Based Pediatric Office Emergency Preparedness: Practical Implementation and Real-World DebateHosts: Dr. Herb Bravo & Dr. George RoguGuests: Dr. David Mathison & Dr. Seth TobackIn this episode of The Pediatric Lounge, hosts Dr. Herb Bravo and Dr. George Rogu welcome Dr. David Mathison, Senior Vice President of Clinical Performance at PM Pediatrics, and Dr. Seth Toback, Chief Medical Officer at ARMR Science, for a timely discussion on evidence-based pediatric office emergency preparedness.The conversation explores the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2026 Technical Report, which updates and replaces the 2007 guidance on office emergency preparedness. Together, the panel examines how pediatric practices can translate evidence into practical workflows while balancing patient safety, costs, staffing realities, and the diverse environments in which pediatricians practice.Dr. Toback also discusses the science behind ARMR Science's investigational fentanyl conjugate vaccine, its potential role in addressing the opioid crisis, and the populations that may benefit if future clinical studies prove successful.The discussion focuses on preparing pediatric practices for the emergencies they are most likely to encounter—including respiratory distress, seizures, anaphylaxis, behavioral health crises, and diabetic emergencies—while emphasizing rapid recognition, stabilization, activation of EMS, structured communication during patient handoffs, defined team roles, simulation-based training, and continuous quality improvement through post-event debriefing.The panel also explores:How evidence should guide recommendations for office emergency preparednessWhether "essential" equipment recommendations should vary by practice settingThe costs, return on investment, and potential liability associated with emergency equipmentThe role of AEDs, CPR, PALS, and ACLS training in outpatient pediatric practicesWhy simulation training may be more effective than traditional mock codesRecognition skills for front-office staff and non-clinical personnelAppropriate stocking of emergency medications, including naloxone and epinephrineInnovation gaps in pediatric emergency preparednessThe growing challenge of pediatric behavioral health emergenciesCreating practical, scalable guidance for practices of every sizeWhether you are a solo pediatrician, part of a large health system, or responsible for quality improvement within your organization, this episode provides a thoughtful discussion of how to build an emergency preparedness program that is evidence-based, sustainable, and realistic.Episode Chapters00:00 — Introduction and Guest Welcome02:24 — Why Dr. Mathison Chose Pediatrics04:18 — Understanding the Fentanyl Vaccine05:56 — Dr. Mathison's Journey at PM Pediatrics08:40 — The Biggest Challenges Facing Pediatrics Today11:46 — Training Gaps and Effective Patient Handoffs15:02 — Reviewing the 2026 AAP Emergency Preparedness Guidance20:48 — The Debate: Practical Office Emergency Preparedness32:28 — Mock Codes vs. Real-World Readiness38:45 — Why Simulation Training Matters40:33 — Gaps in Current Training Standards42:15 — Teaching Front Desk Staff to Recognize Emergencies45:10 — What Every Office Should Stock—and What It Can Skip47:25 — Naloxone, Epinephrine, and Medication Preparedness50:32 — AEDs: Liability, Cost, and Return on Investment55:33 — The Public Health Role of Pediatric Practices58:03 — Should Offices Maintain ACLS Skills?1:03:40 — Developing Right-Sized Guidance for Every Practice1:06:22 — Debriefing, Continuous Improvement, and Future Updates1:10:59 — Final TakeawaysSupport the show

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Andy Olrich and Catherine McDonald sit down with Andrew Kettner to discuss why one of the most overlooked leadership skills, eye contact, can have a profound impact on trust, communication, and continuous improvement.Andrew explains how effective leaders must look beyond reports, dashboards, and data by practicing Lean's "go and see" mindset. Through genuine face-to-face interactions, leaders gain valuable insights into emotions, engagement, and the real challenges their teams face. The conversation also explores the connection between eye contact, empathy, emotional intelligence, and building stronger workplace relationships. Andrew shares personal stories from his military leadership experience and cancer journey that demonstrate how meaningful human connections can influence both leadership and life.Whether you're leading a Lean transformation or simply looking to become a more effective leader, this episode offers practical ways to strengthen your leadership presence by learning to truly see the people you lead.Key Takeaways:Great leaders practice "go and see" by engaging directly with people—not just data.Eye contact builds trust, empathy, and stronger workplace relationships.Emotional intelligence helps leaders better understand both people and processes.Small, intentional interactions create stronger Lean cultures and better leadership.Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewkettnerhttps://www.findleansolutions.com/https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/

Send us Fan MailHeylands Lowry is a globally experienced continuous improvement and operational excellence leader with deep expertise in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and organizational transformation. Over the course of his career, he has helped companies across medical devices, aerospace, and manufacturing build sustainable systems that improve efficiency while strengthening culture and employee engagement. Known for his ability to connect with people at every level of an organization, Heylands focuses not just on process improvement, but on creating lasting behavioral and cultural change.  Most recently, Heylands served as Director of Continuous Improvement at Intuitive, where he developed and deployed company-wide Lean and Six Sigma training initiatives that reached hundreds of employees across multiple events and workshops. His work included embedding DMAIC methodologies and Lean principles into core business processes while mentoring cross-functional teams on strategic improvement initiatives. One notable achievement involved reducing a surgeon payment cycle from three months down to fewer than five business days.  Prior to Intuitive, Heylands spent nearly fifteen years at Edwards Lifesciences, where he held leadership roles focused on business excellence and Lean deployment. During that time, he led numerous high-impact initiatives, including productivity improvements, throughput increases, inventory optimization, and multimillion-dollar Six Sigma projects. His contributions earned him repeated recognition as Top Talent within the organization, a distinction reserved for fewer than ten percent of employees.  Earlier in his career, Heylands led process improvement initiatives at Panasonic Avionics Corporation and served as a Six Sigma Champion at ITT Industries, where he was selected as one of only 48 employees out of 9,000 for advanced Six Sigma leadership training. Across these roles, he helped organizations streamline operations, prioritize high-value projects, and create scalable infrastructures for continuous improvement.  In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to sustain continuous improvement efforts inside large organizations, why cultural buy-in matters more than most leaders realize, and how engineers and technical professionals can become more effective problem solvers, mentors, and change agents inside their teams.  LINKS: Heylands Lowry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heylands-lowry-64211a99/ Heylands Lowry website: https://www.intuitive.com/en-us Aaron Moncur, host PDX 2026 is October 20-21 in Phoenix, AZ. Attendee tickets are 50% off August 3-7 only. Learn more and register at https://pdexpo.engineer/  Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 

The world is changing around us at a pace that is unprecedented in human history, and unless we change ourselves and our organizations at least as rapidly as the world we inhabit, we will fall behind. The implications are staggering. In this podcast, I share another of the 25 most important lessons I've learned over my 30-year career.  ************************************************************* Subscribe to Dave's Newsletters Check out the X-I Community

Efficiency and cost savings aren't what makes operational excellence last. People are.The leaders who create enduring, high-performing organizations are after something beyond business results. They want a company where people end the day more capable, more confident, more energized than when it began. That's the difference between a workplace that wears people down and one that builds powerful people.Gary Peterson spent more than 30 years building that kind of culture of continuous improvement at OC Tanner. But the hardest part wasn't creating the systems or processes to get better outcomes. It was his own transformation — coming to see how, without meaning to, he'd become the leader getting in his people's way.Put people first, and the results follow. And the deepest transformation you'll ever lead is your own.You'll Learn:Why operational excellence only lasts when leaders focus on building people, not just cutting costs and eliminating wasteWhy the best leaders make an identity shift from being the expert with every answer to creating the conditions for others to solve problemsWhat it takes to move managers from enforcers to coaches and make continuous improvement something your team never fears, even as roles and headcount shiftHow to influence real organizational change when you have no authority to make anyone followWhy so many leaders give up on culture change too soon, and how long it really takesABOUT MY GUEST:Gary Peterson spent more than 30 years at OC Tanner, where he held leadership roles across manufacturing, marketing, and operations, most recently as Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Manufacturing. He led the people-first transformation that earned OC Tanner the Shingo Prize and made it one of the few companies Toyota holds up as a global showcase for its system outside automotive. Gary is an Association for Manufacturing Excellence Hall of Fame inductee.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/79 Connect with Gary Peterson: linkedin.com/in/garypeterson Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletter Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.com Join me on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantripTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:44 Why Toyota saw something different at OC Tanner05:02 The real purpose of operational excellence07:19 How Gary knew the culture was changing09:00 Creating people who change the world12:13 The outcome every leader should want13:07 Two pillars that shaped the journey14:26 Breaking a culture of fear and control15:35 The five-minute habit that changed everything17:15 Redefining what it means to be a manager19:12 Why transformation takes longer than you think20:05 What to do when leaders don't support the change22:26 The experiment that almost got shut down24:19 Helping managers make the coaching shift25:23 When people outgrow their leaders28:28 Why improvement should never threaten jobs30:23 The manager who couldn't stop yelling32:23 The leadership habit that destroys ownership35:35 Becoming the leader you never wanted to be37:00 The habit that was holding people back38:01 The executive behavior that shuts people down40:07 Proving your worth vs. creating conditions45:37 Showing results isn't the same as showing people49:53 Where transformation really begins51:16 The question every leader should ask about their people53:34 When helping starts limiting growth55:14 The shift that made everything else possible

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams sits down with John Dyer to explore the thinking behind the Lean Excellence World Championship and why it has become one of the most engaging learning experiences at the Lean Solutions Summit.The conversation dives into how the competition gives participants and observers the opportunity to see Lean in action. From process mapping and visual management to problem-solving, teamwork, and customer focus. John explains why process mapping is the foundation of every successful improvement effort, how it helps teams visualize workflows, uncover hidden waste, identify bottlenecks before implementation, and create stronger future-state processes. He also shares why every organization, regardless of industry, can benefit from making process mapping a core part of its continuous improvement strategy.Whether you're new to Lean or looking to strengthen your continuous improvement efforts, this episode provides practical insights into learning Lean through hands-on experience and applying process mapping to improve any process.Key Takeaways:1. Process mapping is the foundation of improvement2. Lean is learned best through hands-on experience3. Customer focus drives better decisions4. Great Lean cultures embrace problemsLinks:https://www.findleansolutions.com/https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/

"If these masters are still continually trying to improve their own craft, I don't have any excuses."The world's best don't reach the top and stop learning—they keep refining their craft. David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass, has spent years sitting across from elite performers, athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs—and he's discovered that excellence is less about talent than a relentless commitment to growth. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, he joins Matt Abrahams to share lessons from building a company around learning, persuasion, and communication. From earning the trust of high-profile talent to leading creative and technical teams, Rogier reveals why curiosity, adaptability, and authentic relationship-building are essential communication skills.Takeaways:Lead with curiosity. Build trust by asking thoughtful questions and focusing on the other person's needs, not your own. Never stop improving. The world's top performers continuously seek feedback, refine their skills, and embrace lifelong learning.Activity:Study an expert. Watch a communicator you admire—a speaker, leader, or interviewer—and identify three techniques they use to engage their audience. Try incorporating one of those techniques into your next presentation or meeting.Printable Extended Takeaways & ActivitiesEpisode Reference Links:David RogierMatt's MasterClassConnect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (00:39) - The Power of Learning (01:28) - Building Trust (04:21) - Creating Great Content (07:23) - Leading Different Teams (09:45) - Learning from Masters (10:54) - Communicating with a Stutter (14:00) - The Final Three Questions (17:39) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.To see what Scribe could look like for your organization, head to scribe.how/thinkfast and mention Think Fast for your first month of Scribe Capture free. 

Most companies don't have a transportation problem. They have a management problem. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton, together with co-host Kim Humphrey, President and CEO of AME, is joined by Onu Okebie, CEO of HTL, for a straight-talking conversation on freight, entrepreneurship, and what it actually takes to build a logistics company from scratch in one of the most volatile markets in recent memory. From buying his first truck to completing five acquisitions in five years and growing HTL 15X, Onu brings a grounded, finance-first perspective to questions most operators avoid. Kim adds her continuous improvement lens to the mix, drawing connections between change management, organizational culture, and the kind of problem-solving mindset that separates companies that adapt from those that stall. The conversation covers a lot of ground: how the freight recession really unfolded and what's actually driving the current shift in pricing, why transportation remains the most mismanaged cost on a shipper's P&L, where human judgment stays irreplaceable even as AI reshapes logistics, and what it looks like to build a company where entrepreneurial instinct and operational discipline coexist. If you're leading through change, thinking about growth through acquisition, or trying to figure out how to position your organization for what's coming next in freight and technology, this one is worth your time. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (02:44) Onu Okebie's background and entrepreneurial origins (09:30) HTL's growth story and five acquisitions in five years (16:27) Lessons from M&A and how people embrace change (20:27) Balancing entrepreneurial culture with systems and scale (24:10) The freight market breakdown and what's driving the current shift (29:19) Human judgment vs. AI in logistics and why both matter (35:19) The five-year outlook and going AI-led as an organization (39:37) Key takeaways on mindset, people, and embracing change Additional Links & Resources: Connect with Onu Okebie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onuokebie/ Learn more about HTL Freight: https://gohtl.com/ Connect with Kim Humphrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlee-kim-h-5977474/ Learn more about AME: https://www.ame.org/ Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/ WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/how-entrepreneurial-leadership-drives-growth-innovation-supply-chain-1603 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode of the Lean Solutions Podcast, Catherine McDonald sits down with Kathy Miller to explore why successful transformations are driven by people, not just processes.You'll learn how trust, meaningful work, optimism, and strong relationships create lasting cultural change, why consistency is essential for leaders, and how simple daily leadership habits can increase engagement and continuous improvement across any organization.Whether you're leading a Lean transformation, managing a manufacturing team, or looking to build a stronger workplace culture, this episode offers practical insights for creating lasting change through people-first leadership.Key Takeaways:1. Great transformations begin with trust2. People need purpose—not just processes3. Culture changes through consistent leadership4. Positive psychology strengthens LeanLinks:https://more4leaders.com/linkedin.com/in/kathy-miller-mapp-mba-acchttps://www.findleansolutions.com/https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/

In this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin is joined by Bret Stevens, director of medical education and associate designated institutional official (DIO) at McLaren Oakland, and Reanna Benedict, director of GME operations and assistant DIO at Lexington Health. Drawing on their leadership experience and service on the ACGME's Coordinator Advisory Group, they explore how community-building and professional development can strengthen job satisfaction, resilience, and long-term success for program coordinators and other GME professionals. Bret and Reanna discuss the importance of building connections at the institutional, regional, and national levels, particularly for those working in smaller programs or organizations with limited local support. They share practical strategies for engaging with professional organizations, seeking mentorship, developing peer networks, and creating opportunities for collaboration and learning. The conversation also highlights the value of giving back to the GME community through mentoring others, sharing resources, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The discussion further examines the evolving skills needed in the coordinator role, including navigating new technologies, leveraging residency management systems, leading difficult conversations, and supporting learners through challenging situations. Throughout the episode, the speakers emphasize the importance of asking for help, embracing lifelong learning, and extending compassion to oneself while navigating the complexities of GME. Listeners will gain practical insights into how community, mentorship, and ongoing professional growth can enhance both the coordinator experience and the broader clinical learning environment. Podcast Chapters (00:00) – Intro & Guest Introduction (00:45) – Community and Professional Development in GME (04:00) – Finding Support Through Professional Networks (05:28) – The Value of Conferences and Peer Learning (07:25) – Mentorship, Leadership, and Giving Back (09:02) – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (10:50) – Growth Mindset and Continuous Improvement (13:27) – Embracing Change and Lifelong Learning (14:50) – Technology, AI, and Working Smarter (17:15) – Creating Coordinator Communities (20:16) – Developing Communication and Leadership Skills (25:00) – Self-Compassion and Final Reflections (25:38) – Closing & Resources

The conversation delves into the impact of recent NBA trades, including Giannis to Miami and LaMelo Ball to Minnesota. It also explores the comparison between Jalen Brown and Giannis, as well as the perception of Jalen Brown's status in Boston. Additionally, it discusses Anthony Edwards' potential displeasure and the team-building efforts in Minnesota. The conversation delves into the theme of valuing oneself within an organization, dealing with feelings of being undervalued, and the internal processing of such situations. It then transitions into the mindset of proving oneself, seeking appreciation, and challenging oneself in the pursuit of career progression. The discussion further explores building confidence, receiving feedback, and the dedication to improvement, followed by the importance of continuous improvement and patience in personal and professional growth. The conversation delves into the themes of patience, artistic pursuits, pursuing passion, balancing patience and action, the complexity of sports decision-making, and the challenge of balancing competitiveness and safety. It concludes with a reflection on the episode and the connection between sports and life.TakeawaysImpact of recent NBA tradesComparison between Jalen Brown and GiannisPerception of Jalen Brown's status in BostonTeam-building efforts in Minnesota Valuing oneself within an organization is crucial for personal and professional well-being.Continuous improvement and patience are essential for personal and professional growth. Patience is a powerful virtuePursuing passion and creativity can lead to opportunitiesThe complexity of sports mirrors real-life challengesChapters00:00 NBA Trades and Reactions07:20 Miami Heat's Contention and Roster Considerations17:06 Jalen Brown's Comment and Perception25:31 Anthony Edwards' Displeasure and Team Building33:37 Building Confidence and Receiving Feedback38:39 Dedication to Improvement and Setting New Goals49:21 Continuous Improvement and Patience58:20 The Value of Pursuing Passion

Have you poured months into a strategy your team couldn't bring to life? Or watched capable people work harder than ever, and still struggle to pull together as a team?High performance isn't about a better strategy, more talent, or longer hours. It's about how your team works together, every single day.Karina Mangu-Ward, author of Teams That Meet the Moment, has spent more than a decade helping complex organizations redesign the messy day-to-day of how people actually get things done together. Her belief: good everyday teaming habits are both good for people and good for results. You don't have to choose between them.Making this real doesn't require a reinvention. You just need the right structure and the intention to show up differently. In this episode, Karina shares simple, tangible practices you can use in your very next meeting or strategic project.You'll Learn:The three lies leaders tell themselves about teamwork, and why believing them holds your team backHow the framework of the "Even Over" ends the swirl when your team is stuck choosing between two competing optionsWhy creating a "Safe to Try" process gets a team unstuck when you're chasing consensus and certaintyWhat a steady team cadence unlocks when everything around you feels like an emergencyThe instinct nearly every high performer has to unlearn before they can build a team that thrivesABOUT MY GUEST:Karina Mangu-Ward is a partner at August Public, an organizational change consultancy that helps large, complex organizations build more human-centered ways of working, whose clients include PepsiCo, Planned Parenthood, and Sundance. She's the author of Teams That Meet the Moment: 9 Practices for Unlocking Performance and Growth in Uncertain Times. Karina's passion is helping groups navigate complexity, gain insight, and unlock highly complex challenges.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/78 Connect with Karina: linkedin.com/in/karina-mangu-ward Purchase a copy of Karina's book: Teams That Meet the MomentLearn more about Karina's company: aug.co Take the Team assessment: assessment.aug.co Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletter Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.com Join us on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantrip TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:01 Why great strategy still fails04:13 The hustle culture myth that's burning teams out05:20 Everyday habits drive extraordinary teams07:11 Meeting the moment in uncertain times09:13 The "Safe to Try" mindset that breaks gridlock11:18 Setting guardrails without limiting innovation12:06 Why small bets outperform big risks13:29 Unlearning the need to have the answer15:17 Why sticky practices beat complicated frameworks17:16 Simple retrospectives that strengthen learning20:19 The surprising cost of treating everything like an emergency22:09 Using "Even Over" to make better trade-offs25:28 Intention over reaction in decision-making30:32 When perfection becomes procrastination31:53 Why working in public accelerates learning34:22 The power of stories over instruction37:08 Intention + practice = better leadership39:14 What trade-off do you need to make?

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Catherine McDonald and Shayne Daughenbaugh welcome Michael Parent to discuss SIPOC, one of the most effective tools for understanding and improving business processes. Michael explains how SIPOC (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers) helps teams define process boundaries, identify stakeholders, and maintain focus on delivering customer value.The conversation explores different approaches to building a SIPOC, including why Michael prefers starting with the customer before mapping the process itself. They also discuss how SIPOC fits into Lean and Six Sigma problem-solving, how it helps prevent scope creep, and why it serves as a strong foundation for process mapping, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement efforts.Whether you're leading a process improvement project or trying to better understand how work flows through your organization, this episode provides practical guidance on using SIPOC to create clarity and alignment from the start.Key Takeaways:1. SIPOC provides a high-level view of a process and helps clearly define project scope and boundaries.2. Keeping the customer at the center of the discussion ensures improvement efforts remain focused on delivering value.3. SIPOC serves as a powerful starting point for process mapping, stakeholder analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.4. The most effective SIPOCs involve the right mix of stakeholders and subject matter experts while avoiding unnecessary complexity and scope creep.Links:mparent@sixsigma-consulting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/parent-michael/https://www.findleansolutions.com/summit-2026/https://www.findleansolutions.com/

Send us Fan MailEpisode SummaryIn this episode of the Enterprise Excellence Podcast, Brad Jeavons speaks with Chris Warner, author of Flick the Switch and co-author of the award-winning book Why Care.Chris shares insights from over 30 years in the automotive and mining industries, exploring the powerful connection between psychological wellbeing, leadership, and continuous improvement. Together, they discuss psychological safety, psychosocial hazards, leadership responsibility, systems thinking, and why thriving individuals are essential for creating thriving cultures of improvement.Whether you're a leader, improvement practitioner, or executive seeking better performance and engagement, this episode provides practical guidance on creating workplaces where people feel safe to contribute, innovate, and thrive.Key Topics Discussed• Psychological safety vs psychological health and safety • Understanding psychosocial hazards in the workplace • Why psychological wellbeing drives continuous improvement • Leadership as system architecture • Creating psychological capacity for innovation and problem-solving • The importance of Go See, one-on-one engagement, and systems thinking • Reducing workplace stress through better work designAbout Chris WarnerChris Warner has spent more than three decades leading operational excellence and continuous improvement across automotive and mining industries. He is the author of Flick the Switch, co-author of Why Care, and a passionate advocate for psychological wellbeing in the workplace.Connect

Every process problem is a customer problem in disguise. CI teams are good at finding waste, reducing variation, and improving flow. Customers experience those same breakdowns as uncertainty, frustration, effort, and broken trust.Slides, the resource list, and the full recording are on the episode page: https://www.kainexus.com/customer-signals-continuous-improvement-webinarThis episode is the audio from a recent session of the KaiNexus Continuous Improvement Webinar Series. Annette Behrensmeyer and Volker Probst of Resonance Growth Partners make the case for a second lens on improvement work: the customer signals already hiding inside your operational data. Repeat contacts, transfers, escalations, and frontline observations almost always show up before a survey score moves or a complaint lands. This isn't about replacing voice of the customer or launching another program. It's about enriching the signals you already use to decide what to work on next.In this conversation:Why solicited feedback (surveys, interviews) arrives late and carries an effort tax, and where unsolicited signals fill the gapA three-step approach to connect customer signals to your improvement system, plus a simple way to weigh customer value against business valueHow a 32-bed med-surg unit turned its daily huddle into a 15-minute patient signal huddle and compressed a 60-to-90-day feedback loop into daysHow a med tech company cut call volume by 30%+, saved over $10M in shipping cost, and recovered $20M+ in annual recurring revenue by making an opaque process visibleFour things any CI leader can start on this weekAbout the guestsAnnette Behrensmeyer and Volker Probst are managing partners at Resonance Growth Partners, where they help organizations connect customer understanding, employee insight, and business performance. Annette is a Forrester-certified CX professional with more than a decade designing enterprise CX strategies and feedback-to-action operating models. Volker brings more than 25 years turning customer insight into action at enterprise scale across CX and operational excellence leadership. Hosted by Mark Graban, senior advisor at KaiNexus.

What does it take to keep growing in a world that is constantly changing?In this episode of Empowering Yourself, host Sandy sits down with Andrew Tallents to explore the power of continuous improvement and lifelong learning in both personal and professional life.Together, they discuss why growth is not a destination but an ongoing journey. Andrew shares valuable insights on developing a mindset that embraces learning, overcoming the barriers that often hold people back, and using self-awareness as a tool for identifying opportunities for growth.The conversation explores the role of curiosity, feedback, resilience, and self-coaching in achieving meaningful progress. Andrew also explains how setbacks and failures can become powerful learning experiences, how technology can support lifelong learning, and why applying knowledge is just as important as acquiring it.Listeners will discover practical strategies for staying motivated, building habits that encourage continuous improvement, measuring personal growth over time, and creating accountability for long-term development. The episode also highlights how leaders can foster a culture of learning within their teams and organizations.Whether you're looking to advance your career, strengthen your leadership skills, or simply become the best version of yourself, this episode offers actionable insights to help you continue growing with purpose and confidence.Expert: Andrew TallentsHost: SandySound: Mahesh R.Producer: Archita Puranik

What You'll Learn in This Episode:Spotlight Episode!!As we continue revisiting some of the conversations that sparked meaningful discussions, we're bringing back this episode of the Lean Solutions Podcast with Patrick Adams and Shayne Daughenbaugh.In this conversation, Patrick and Shayne explore what new leaders should focus on when stepping into a Lean journey. Instead of jumping straight into tools and solutions, they discuss the importance of understanding the current state, building relationships, developing people, and creating the right environment for improvement.From creating a model area for experimentation to learning through failure, this episode highlights why successful Lean transformation starts with leadership, trust, and capability building.Key TakeawaysYour Role Determines Your StrategyStart with Listening, Not ImplementingCulture Before ToolsPerspective Changes EverythingLinks:Lean Solutions 2026 SummitLean Solutions Website⁠⁠Click Here For Shayne Daughenbaugh's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here For Patrick Adams' LinkedIn⁠⁠

What if the most important care in the entire healthcare system is also the most underfunded? While hospitals and inpatient reimbursements rise with inflation, the physician fee schedule has quietly declined roughly 33% in real terms over 25 years — and this year it's facing another cut. In this episode, Jamie Preston sits down with Your Health CEO Matt Staub, just back from Capitol Hill, where he spent a record-setting 95-degree day meeting with seven legislative offices to advocate for physicians, providers, and the patients they serve across rural South Carolina, Georgia, and beyond. What follows is part field report, part reflection on why preventive primary care saves money and lives — and why we plan meticulously for weddings, retirement, and vacations, but treat our own health with a "call us if something happens" approach. In this conversation: Why a 2.5–5% physician fee cut hits frontline rural practices hardest The bipartisan doctors' caucus and the real appetite for reform Why winning can come from a loss — the Kobe Bryant mindset on process over outcome How a Disney ride (Spaceship Earth) reframes humanity's whole story around communication The case for proactive, team-based primary care over reactive sick visits Press play for a conversation about advocacy, communication, and a simple, powerful idea: the change you need to make starts with you.

Most teams spend their lives trying to reach the top. Very few have to answer the question of what happens when they get there.The Penrith Panthers have won 4 consecutive NRL premierships. In an era designed for parity, they've achieved something almost unheard of in modern sport. Which raises a fascinating challenge.How do you keep people motivated when they've already achieved the goal?How do you maintain standards when success becomes normal? How do you avoid complacency when everyone around you is telling you how good you are?Dan Haesler, Mental Skills Coach for the Penrith Panthers, shares what it takes to sustain excellence after success.But this isn't really about rugby league. It's about leadership, culture, psychology, and human behaviour. Whether you're leading a team, running a business, building a career or pursuing your own goals, eventually you'll face the same challenge: how do you keep growing when you've already won?You can find Dan at his Website:https://danhaesler.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danhaesler/?hl=enLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danhaesler/?originalSubdomain=auBuy a copy of Dan's book: https://www.actofleadership.com/ Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcastIf you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/Joy isn't a perk. It's a business strategy.Have you ever wondered whether work has to feel this hard? Whether the team you've built can actually function without you? Whether there's a way to lead that doesn't burn you — or your people — out?Rich Sheridan built Menlo Innovations around one bold idea: ending human suffering in the workplace. The result is a company where joy isn't a slogan. It's how things actually get done. It's a place built on collaboration, human energy, and pride in what people create together.Joy isn't constant happiness. It's the long arc of meaning and contribution alongside people who care. And it becomes possible the moment you stop being the center of every problem and start creating the conditions for ownership, continuous learning, and yes, joy.You don't have to change the world. You just have to change your world.You'll Learn:The mistake most leaders make about mistakes, and why more mistakes can get you ahead fasterWhy what looks like a questionable decision from below makes sense from aboveThe difference between joy and happiness, and why most leaders are chasing the wrong thingWhy running a small experiment will move you further than creating the perfect planWhat it really takes to build a company designed to last a hundred yearsABOUT MY GUEST:Rich Sheridan is the co-founder, CEO, and Chief Storyteller of Menlo Innovations, a software development and consulting firm known for its people-centered culture and focus on joy in the workplace. He is the author of Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer and was inducted into the Shingo Academy in 2022 for his contributions to organizational excellence.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/77Connect with Rich Sheridan: linkedin.com/in/menloprezFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonSubscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletterCheck out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comJoin us on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantripPurchase a copy of Rich's books: Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy OfficerLearn more about Menlo Innovations: menloinnovations.comTugboat Institute: tugboatinstitute.comTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:02:37 When work no longer feels sustainable05:26 The moment Rich realized the problem wasn't technology07:27 What an 8-year-old noticed about leadership08:23 Why hero-based organizations scale through exhaustion09:39 When caring becomes carrying12:21 The codependency leaders develop with crises14:09 What joy at work actually means17:13 Working with pride and delighting customers19:17 Why human energy is a leadership responsibility21:00 What's the cost of not having joy?23:28 From constant firefighting to two emergencies in 25 years25:24 Joy vs. happiness: What's the difference?27:02 Why joy isn't happiness every day32:17 The phrase that keeps Menlo moving forward 34:15 The leadership lesson Rich learned from flying40:39 Why Menlo isn't chasing exponential growth43:02 The book that changed Rich's career45:18 Why crisis practices work when there isn't a crisis47:28 Why your system keeps producing the same results49:38 The shift from carrying to creating conditions for change leadership51:46 Why stepping in can hold people back Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Catherine McDonald and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss the practical realities of capturing, creating, and deploying Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in fast-growing organizations. Drawing from Shayne's experience leading SOP standardization across multiple locations, they explore how businesses can create consistency while maintaining a human-centered approach.The conversation highlights why SOPs are more than compliance documents. They serve as the foundation for customer experience, employee training, and continuous improvement. Shayne shares a step-by-step framework for identifying priority processes, working with subject matter experts, and leveraging video recordings and AI tools to simplify documentation and accelerate SOP creation.If your organization struggles with inconsistent processes, scattered documentation, or SOPs that nobody uses, this episode offers practical strategies for building documentation that is both useful and sustainable.Key Takeaways:1. SOPs should create consistency across locations to deliver a reliable customer experience.2. Video-based process capture preserves valuable expertise, context, and real-world best practices better than traditional written documentation.3. AI and transcription tools can significantly speed up SOP creation while reducing administrative effort.4. SOPs are most effective when treated as living documents that support continuous improvement, not just compliance or record-keeping.Links: Lean Solutions Summit Lean Solutions Website

What you'll learn in this episode: ● How to handle stress before it happens ● Why caring proactively strengthens trust and loyalty ● The difference between excuses and habits ● How to lead people who resist change ● The secret to consistency when motivation fades ● Why respecting challenges doesn't mean giving them power ● How to build a “pre-decision compass” for when life gets bumpy

Find more on the Daily Debrief Habit Builder DebriefAdvantage.com   Episode Summary Five-Step Debriefing Habit Model Jeff discussed his background in military aviation and his current work helping teams debrief to improve performance. He explained that effective debriefing requires developing a habit of regular reflection, particularly in Western cultures where self-reflection can be challenging due to vulnerability concerns. Jeff outlined a five-step habit model (G-R-E-A-T) for debriefing, starting with gratitude to create a positive mental state, followed by reviewing goals, and then evaluating performance through specific questions about what was done. Five-Step Debrief Model Presentation Jeff presented a five-step debrief model focusing on what worked and what didn't work, emphasizing the importance of recognizing both successful and unsuccessful aspects to drive continuous improvement. He explained that the model helps teams develop a championship culture by identifying successful dynamics to repeat and learning from failures to improve over time. Tyler agreed with the approach and discussed the importance of creating a collaborative environment for debriefs, particularly in sports teams where coaches often struggle with accountability and responsibility. Continuous Improvement and Visualization Jeff discussed a 5-step quick model starting with why they are glad to be present, emphasizing the importance of developing a culture of continuous improvement through consistent practice rather than perfection. He explained how fighter pilots use visualization techniques, including chair flying, to prepare mentally for missions by envisioning every aspect of the mission from start to finish. Jeff stressed that the goal is excellence rather than perfection, and that visualization helps condition the mind to see what good performance looks like. Chair Flying Debrief Strategies Jeff and Tyler discussed the concept of "chair flying" and its application beyond sports, including in personal and professional settings. They explored strategies for conducting productive debriefs, particularly when challenging conversations arise, with Jeff emphasizing the importance of starting with gratitude and self-identification of mistakes. Jeff outlined three key traits that distinguish good from bad debriefs: structure, appropriate length (five minutes), and regular, daily practice rather than only addressing failures. Combat Mission Debrief Experience Jeff shared his experience of his first combat mission in the northern Arabian Gulf during the initial ground waves into Iraq, where he provided close-air support to Marine Corps infantry units. He recalled the plane captain's words "This time it's for real" and the realization that years of training were about to be tested in a high-stakes environment. From this experience, Jeff developed his approach to helping teams debrief and improve, focusing on addressing the question of "what if I'm not good enough" in high-performance environments. Debriefing Process and Reflection Jeff discussed the importance of reflection and adjustment in debriefing processes, emphasizing that experience alone doesn't lead to improvement without these steps. When asked about advice for his teenage self, Jeff suggested focusing on the idea that "it's all gonna work out" and recommended reading "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey.

In this episode, Jason dives into why continuous improvement alone cannot drive success in U.S. construction companies. While the concept of Kaizen thrives in Japan, Jason explains that most companies in the U.S. are far from ready to improve, they first need to establish the fundamentals. What you'll learn in this episode: Why continuous improvement works best in a system that is already stable and standardized. The importance of respecting people and creating safe, organized, and inclusive environments. How one-piece flow and total participation form the backbone of effective operations. Why visual systems are critical for communication and alignment. How the U.S. construction culture differs from Japan and what needs to change before improving. Are you focusing on improvement or are you building the foundation first?   If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this special Lean Solutions Summit episode, Patrick Adams sits down with keynote speakers Richard Sheridan, Joe Dyer, and Jason Schroeder to discuss the summit theme: Better Together: People Plus Innovation.The conversation explores the growing role of AI, automation, and technology in today's organizations while emphasizing that sustainable success still depends on people, leadership, and culture. Each guest shares their perspective on innovation, explaining why human-centered leadership, respect for people, and continuous learning remain critical regardless of technological advancements.You'll hear insights on creating joyful workplace cultures, developing a stewardship mindset, and building organizations rooted in respect and stability. The speakers also discuss the importance of reducing fear during times of change, preparing future leaders, and creating environments where people can thrive alongside innovation.If you're curious about the future of leadership, Lean thinking, and how organizations can embrace innovation without losing their focus on people, this episode offers a powerful preview of the ideas and conversations that will take center stage at the Lean Solutions Summit.Key Takeaways:1. Innovation should enhance people—not replace them2. Great leadership requires stewardship, humility, and a commitment to developing others3. Respect, stability, and psychological safety are essential foundations for continuous improvement4. The future belongs to organizations that successfully combine technology, innovation, and human-centered leadershipLinks: Lean Solutions Summit Lean Solutions Website

Adam Marburger is a serial entrepreneur, author, Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, and CEO at Ascent Dealer Services. Adam helps leaders build wealth, win in business and lead with discipline and purpose. Along the way we discuss – the paper route (1:15), Jiu-Jitsu (4:15), White Belt Mindset (11:15), Pressure Management (14:00), Getting Out of Your Own Way (17:00), Unreasonable Hospitality (19:30), Auto F&I (21:15), Turn off the News (26:00), Tribe of Mentors (28:15), and Adam's Memo (30:00).  Access Adam's skills and solutions @  Ascent Dealer Services Grab Marburger's book @ You're the F*cking Problem: A Guide to Getting Out of Your Own Way Learn more about Adam's designated nonprofit @ Riverbend Rescue (Keys for Kids and Jiu-Jitsu for Joy). This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.  Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day. 

When I got into consulting, I was really drawn to organization development. I was a young international HR manager at the nonprofit where I worked. As I walked around the organization, I would always get confused by what was said on the break room walls and what was actually lived out. And I always wanted to bring those two things together. I think that's a lot of what drove me. And I think many of us want to bridge the gap between what organizations could be and what they are. That's part of what got me to form The Common Good Consulting & Coaching Consortium, you've heard me talk about… and today I'm bringing people from that group together to discuss whether or not we're all on the same page around what the heck a people-centered organization is, or what people-centered leaders are. I brought on three of the participants from this Common Good Consortium from different perspectives - from Lean, from OD, and L &D, and we're gonna have a conversation around what it looks like, around what we have in common, around our definitions, and where we have different perspectives and where we can piggyback on one another's expertise. Tune in to hear from Matt White around Lean and Continuous Improvement, Kristen Chase from OD, and Deborah Masak from L&D. Let's dive in! Where to Dive In: 00:00 — Are We Aligned on People-Centered Leadership and Organizations? 06:16 — Why Betsy Started the Common Good Consortium Conversation 07:38 — The Lean and Continuous Improvement View of People-Centered Leadership 12:46 — The Organizational Development Perspective on Culture and Leadership 18:30 — The Learning & Development Perspective on People and Business Results 20:49 — Why OD, L&D, and Continuous Improvement Often Work in Silos 36:26 — The Need for Better Cross-Functional Collaboration 45:20 — The Biggest Challenges Facing People-Centered Organizations Today 54:43 — Moving Leaders from Reactive to Responsive 58:25 — Final Thoughts on Collaboration, Culture, and Long-Term Impact Next Steps: Participate in a cross-functional group to share best practices across disciplines and a "Common Good Toolkit" of resources and approaches for creating balanced, people-centered decision-making in organizations. This group will be led by Kristin Chase, a seasoned OD consultant who founded the Greater Orlando Organization Development Network (GOOD). She has direct experience bringing a successful professional networking organization to life and will be getting the word out to more of our peers who share our vision and goals. You can let me know if you're interested in this group, or reach out directly to Kristin at kristin@chasetd.com Thank you again for all that you do to make a difference each day and for helping me further the conversation around what it looks like for us to more effectively partner with one another to influence organizations to truly serve the common good. Other episodes you may enjoy: How to Monetize Your Zone of Genius How to Use AI Without It Running The Show with Tamra Cajo To AI or Not to AI: The Question is When Not If Too Many Business Ideas? 5 Steps to Find Your Focus Consulting and Coaching in The Messy Middle How to Become a Confident Speaker with Dr. Christina Madison Do You Love Consulting or Coaching but Hate Marketing? About my guests: Matthew White: Matthew White is a continuous improvement leader and Lean practitioner who is passionate about servant leadership, leadership development, and helping organizations create more effective and people-centered workplaces. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and manufacturing, he leads continuous improvement initiatives while coaching and mentoring leaders and teams in Lean thinking, problem solving, and operational excellence. Matthew's leadership philosophy is rooted in humility, continuous learning, and adding value to others both professionally and personally as a husband, father of three, and youth baseball coach. Kristen Chase: Kristen Chase is an organizational development consultant, culture strategist, and executive coach with more than 24 years of experience helping organizations align culture, leadership, and talent for long-term success. Before launching Chase Talent Development, she built the Organizational Development function at Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal and Comcast, where she advanced to Senior Director of Organizational Development. Kristen specializes in people-centered culture strategy, leadership effectiveness, and executive coaching, blending strategic insight with practical, human-centered solutions. Deborah Masak: Deborah Masak is a transformational talent, culture, and learning executive with deep expertise in leadership development, workforce enablement, and organizational growth. She has led enterprise-wide learning and talent strategies for global organizations, helping align culture, leadership, and business priorities during periods of rapid change and expansion. Deborah is known for building scalable learning ecosystems, driving engagement initiatives, and partnering with executives to create inclusive, high-performance cultures that fuel long-term impact. About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling. Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/What does it really take to sustain a culture of continuous improvement –  through pressure for results, across generations, and into an era of AI?In this final episode of my three-part series with John Shook, one of the most influential leaders and thinkers in the global lean community, we turned to the questions on your mind. Before we sat down to record, I asked listeners to submit your questions. We cover four of them specifically here, though many others were addressed in Parts 1 and 2, and together they highlight the tensions change leaders and executives face every day.At the end, as we promised in Part 2, John shares his parting reflections and advice for all of us leading transformation to create people-centered learning cultures. It's not just what we should stop doing, it's what we need to continue. Starting with ourselves.If you haven't listened to episodes 74 and 75 yet, start there first as you won't want to miss hearing this conversation in full.You'll Learn:Why leaders should be patient for results but impatient for actionWhy getting to the assumptions that underlie your principles and values is where the real work of culture change beginsHow aligning around the real problem to solve helps close the gap across generations and perspectivesWhat the original intention of jidoka — separating machine work from human work — can teach us about navigating AI and keeping technology in service of peopleThe real purpose of kaizen and continuous improvementABOUT MY GUEST:John Shook spent eleven years with Toyota in Japan and the U.S., where he helped transfer the Toyota Production System globally. He later served as President of the Lean Enterprise Institute and Chairman of the Lean Global Network.John is the co-author of the award-winning books Learning to See and Managing to Learn, and wrote the foreword to my book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. As an industrial anthropologist, he brings a perspective that connects culture, systems, and practice to bridge deep thinking with real-world application.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/76Connect with John Shook: lean.org/about-lei/senior-advisors-staff/john-shook/ Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletterCheck out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comJoin us on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantrip Purchase a copy of, “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn,”: https://kbjanderson.com/learning-to-lead/ TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:02:28 [Listener Question] How do you balance patience with action?04:06 Avoiding solution jumping and analysis paralysis05:20 [Listener Question] What will matter most for the next generation of organizations?07:21 Why underlying assumptions matter more than artifacts08:28 The deeper level of hansei and reflection08:53 [Listener Question] How do you bridge generations without slowing improvement?10:43 Quick PDCA vs. long-cycle learning11:23 Aligning people around shared purpose13:56 [Listener Question] In our age of AI, how do we stay true to jidoka's original intent, separating machine work from human work?14:12 AI, jidoka, and protecting human work15:23 Four questions to navigate uncertainty16:17 Why respect for people still matters in AI17:15 Jidoka beyond “automation with a human touch”18:54 Curiosity, experiments, and learning with AI19:30 The promise and risk of AI thinking for us22:08 PDCA beyond engineering and problem solving25:39 The purpose of kaizen is to do more kaizen26:18 Creating conditions for people to think and grow27:00 Shifting from leading change to creating conditions Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams welcomes back Beth Carrington to explore the difference between simply executing action plans and developing true scientific thinking through Improvement Kata and Coaching Kata.Beth shares her journey from the automotive industry into Lean transformation work and explains how discovering Toyota Kata fundamentally changed her approach to leadership and continuous improvement. The conversation breaks down why organizations often over-rely on rigid action plans and how experimentation creates better long-term learning and adaptability.You'll learn how leaders can use simple coaching routines, PDCA cycles, and reflection questions to help teams think more scientifically, solve problems more effectively, and stay focused on outcomes rather than just completing tasks. Beth also explains why AI and emerging technologies make experimentation and scientific thinking even more important in today's business environment.If you've ever struggled with teams becoming too task-focused or wondered how to build a stronger culture of learning and experimentation, this episode provides practical tools and frameworks to help you get started.Key Takeaways:Action plans alone can limit learning and adaptabilityScientific thinking is built through experimentation, reflection, and coachingPsychological safety is essential for teams to admit uncertainty and learnAI and emerging technologies increase the need for experimental thinking and continuous learningLinks:Kata Matters WebsiteBeth Carrington LinkedInLean Solutions Summit Lean Solutions Website

Jennifer Katongole is a continuous improvement coach and facilitator based in Kampala, Uganda, working with Medical Teams International. With over 15 years in the nonprofit sector across Africa and the United States, Jennifer blends Lean and Kata thinking with facilitation to help teams break down silos, focus on what matters most, and deliver life-saving care in even the toughest environments.Through the teams she coaches, Medical Teams International has found practical ways to reach hard to access communities. From using donkeys to deliver nutrition supplies to remote villages, to redesigning blood donation systems in refugee camps, these improvements expand access, strengthen health systems, and save lives.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.

Jack sits down with Tapan Patel, Gearset DevOps Leader for 2026 and DevOps Lead for the Salesforce practice at Braze, a publicly traded omnichannel platform where every change management decision is subject to SOX audit scrutiny. Tapan brings a rare blend of project delivery experience, release management rigour, and genuine passion for building DevOps not just as a set of processes, but as a culture.The episode is a masterclass in phased, people-first DevOps rollout. Tapan walks through exactly how he's taken Braze from change sets and manual deployments to a governed, audit-ready CI/CD pipeline over the past year and a half — breaking it down into four distinct phases and sharing what actually worked, what took longer than expected, and where he's headed next. Tapan shares his rounded take on AI, including where it's already adding value in the pipeline today, why agentic autonomy in prod is still a way off, and how Claude, Jira and Gearset's reporting API are becoming a powerful combination for DevOps KPI tracking.00:01 – Intro & Meet Tapan Patel00:40 – Tapan's Journey: From Data & Analytics to Salesforce DevOps02:12 – What DevOps Actually Means as an Organisational Culture04:10 – DevOps in a SOX-Audited, Publicly Traded Company05:10 – The State of DevOps at Braze When Tapan Joined08:14 – Shifting Mindsets From Change Sets to a DevOps Tool10:32 – Precision Deployments: Why Page Layouts Break Everything11:49 – Stakeholder Visibility & the Value of Issue Tracking Integration13:36 – What Tapan Values Most About Gearset15:53 – The Four Phases of CI/CD Rollout at Braze19:16 – Phase Two: Stabilisation & SOX Integration20:30 – Phase Three: Automation Layers & QA Integration21:18 – Phase Four: Maturity & Minimal Intervention22:55 – The Admin Learning Curve for DevOps Adoption25:25 – Continuous Improvement as a Practice, Not a Project28:34 – Where AI Fits Into the DevOps Pipeline Right Now31:07 – Supplementary vs. Agentic AI: Why Tapan Is Taking It Slow33:14 – Using Claude + Gearset Data for Sprint Analysis & KPI Tracking36:00 – The DevOps KPIs That Matter at Braze37:24 – Closing Advice for Anyone Starting Their DevOps Journey

Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/Lean has always been about people. We just kept reaching for the tools, without understanding the human purpose behind them.In part two of my three-part conversation with John Shook, we go behind the scenes of Toyota's culture and leadership — sharing stories of the system-building leaders who actually made it what it is, and exploring what it really means to lead people-centered change.John shares behind-the-scenes reflections from his time inside Toyota that you might not have heard before. Drawing on his direct experience in the company and our shared experiences living and working in Japan and globally, we explore a critical feature that is often missed: lean has always been a socio-technical system. The tools only work when we understand the deeper human purpose behind them.In this episode, we talk about the people who actually built Toyota's culture, what John learned from his two very different bosses — including Isao Yoshino, the subject of my book “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn” — and what happens when we lose sight of the human purpose inside the tools we practice every day.In the previous episode, John offered a powerful reframe on lean's impact — and what question we should really be asking as change leaders. If you haven't listened to episode 74 yet, hit pause and start there first — then come back to this one to pick up where we left off.You'll Learn:Inside stories of how Toyota's culture was built and the system builders behind itWhat John learned from his very different bosses inside Toyota and how their styles shaped his own leadershipWhether you are a lean “mechanic” or “social worker” and what your answer reveals about your leadershipWhy every lean tool is already socio-technical — kanban, standardized work, A3, andon — and what we lost when we introduced them as primarily technicalThe concept of motainai — waste as a moral failure, not just a technical one — and why this matters for how you leadABOUT MY GUEST:John Shook spent eleven years with Toyota in Japan and the U.S., where he helped transfer the Toyota Production System globally. He later served as President of the Lean Enterprise Institute and Chairman of the Lean Global Network.John is the co-author of the award-winning books Learning to See and Managing to Learn, and wrote the foreword to my book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. As an industrial anthropologist, he brings a perspective that connects culture, systems, and practice to bridge deep thinking with real-world application.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/75Connect with John Shook: lean.org/about-lei/senior-advisors-staff/john-shook/ Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletterCheck out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comJoin us on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantrip Purchase a copy of, “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn,”: kbjanderson.com/learning-to-lead TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:04 Why changing culture is harder than copying systems04:05 John's question that still drives him: Why Toyota?05:10 How John found his way into Toyota and NUMMI06:15 Why Toyota endured while other Japanese companies faded07:10 Short-term leaders vs. long-term system builders08:15 The crisis that shaped Toyota's future direction10:05 John's experience learning from very different Toyota leaders11:15 Why conflicting feedback accelerated John's learning12:10 Bringing your own thinking into the A3 process13:15 Different cultures inside Toyota and how they shaped leadership14:10 Mr. Cho's powerful way of teaching through stories16:10 Katie's lion story and breaking the telling habit17:15 Adapting your leadership approach to the situation19:15 Reading both the technical and social sides of change20:20 TPS as a way to expose weaknesses and accelerate growth21:45 Are you a lean mechanic or a lean social worker?22:50 Identifying your leadership bias and growth edge24:05 Why process improvement and OD teams should work together27:10 Scientific thinking, humanism, and ethics in Toyota leadership28:55 Eliminating waste as more than a technical exercise30:05 Mottainai and the deeper meaning of waste32:25 Why lean tools were always socio-technical33:40 Kanban, standardized work, and the human side of lean35:10 The A3 as more than a problem-solving tool37:35 The most common failure mode in lean transformations38:30 When lean becomes the goal instead of the means39:30 Why lean isn't just for executives40:35 Improving work at every level of the organization41:40 Why empowerment without support falls apart42:20 The Andon system as a model for real support43:45 Where do you need to grow: technical or human? Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/

SAP SCM value doesn't end at go-live. Jacob Ladson and Dmitry Antonovich share how continuous improvement, clean core, KPI governance, and agentic AI help organizations keep supply chain solutions delivering value.Download the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠episode transcript⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠===== This week, LeverX's Jacob Ladson and Dmitry Antonovich join us to discuss what happens after go-live in SAP supply chain implementations. They cover operational drift, user adoption, clean core strategy, KPI governance, continuous improvement, and how agentic AI may reshape warehouse operations. Join us as we discuss the future of the supply chain! ===== Guest 1: Jacob Ladson, EWM Practice Lead, LeverXJacob Ladson is the EWM Practice Lead at LeverX, based in Houston, Texas, where he helps organizations modernize and optimize warehouse operations using SAP Extended Warehouse Management. He brings extensive experience leading warehouse transformation initiatives across implementations, enhancements, and optimization programs for complex distribution and manufacturing environments.Jacob partners with operations and IT leaders to translate business objectives into practical SAP solutions that improve throughput, labor efficiency, inventory accuracy, and operational visibility. He is known for delivering scalable, sustainable warehouse solutions that drive measurable results beyond go-live.Guest 2: Dmitry Antanovich, Solutions Director, SAP Supply Chain Management, LeverXTechnology and business leader with a strong focus on growth, strategy, and execution in SAP-driven transformation initiatives. As a Solutions Director, I lead solution strategy and customer engagement across complex SAP programs, helping organizations translate business priorities into clear technology roadmaps. I work closely with executive stakeholders, SAP teams, and partners to guide modernization efforts, moving from legacy landscapes to scalable, cloud-enabled architectures built on SAP S/4HANA and SAP BTP.Host 1: Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP's ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.===== Show Links:LeverX: https://leverx.com/SAP EWM Value Realization Program: https://leverx.com/services/sap-ewm-value-realization-programWarehouse Efficiency Check Up: https://leverx.com/services/warehouse-assessment Blogs: SAP EWM Optimization After Go-Live: Unlocking Hidden Warehouse Performance: https://leverx.com/newsroom/sap-ewm-optimization-after-go-live Common Post Go-Live Traps in SAP EWM: How to Move From Stable to High-Performing Warehousing: https://leverx.com/newsroom/common-post-go-live-traps-in-sap-ewmSupply Chain Management:  ⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠ ⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠       Follow Us on Social Media : Jacob Ladson: LinkedInRichard Howells: LinkedIn, SAP Digital Supply Chain: LinkedIn    Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!  ===== Chapters:00:00:00: Intro00:01:22: Guest's Introductions00:02:55: Why value stalls after go-live00:05:15: Common causes of post-implementation failure00:06:03: Why trust and knowledge transfer matter00:07:48: Keeping the system flexible as the business changes00:09:01: Why clean core and technical debt matter 00:10:40: Using new SAP tools to stay agile00:12:10: Revisit unused capabilities after go-live00:15:26: KPI governance after implementation00:17:00: Breaking down silos across supply chain teams00:18:49: Continuous improvement examples after go-live00:22:30: How can LeverX help in logistics implementations 00:23:42: What is the Future of Supply Chain?00:25:53: Outro

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Andy Olrich sits down with returning guest Adam Lawrence to explore why so many improvement efforts fail to stick and what leaders can do to create lasting, sustainable change.Adam shares the origin story behind his “Wheel of Sustainability” framework and explains why sustainability is ultimately a leadership process, not just a technical one. The conversation dives into the importance of preparation before a Kaizen event, including leadership alignment, clear expectations, strong sponsorship, and creating accountability systems before improvement work even begins.You'll also learn practical ways to strengthen sustainability after an event through audits, visuals, standard work, Gemba walks, and leadership engagement. Adam and Andy discuss why culture, trust, and respect for people are just as important as financial results—and how the true test of success is when employees start asking, “When can you come help my area next?”If you've ever struggled with improvements fading over time or leaders failing to stay engaged after an event, this episode provides a practical roadmap for building improvements that last.Key Takeaways:Sustainable improvement starts with leadership commitment and preparationKaizen events fail when leaders don't stay visibly engaged before, during, and after the workAudits, visuals, standard work, and accountability systems help improvements stickThe strongest sign of success is when teams ask for more improvement work in their own areasLinks:Adam Lawrence LinkedInPI PartnersThe Wheel of SustainabilityLean Solutions Summit Lean Solutions Website

In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent Clark sits down with former combat fighter pilot, airline captain, keynote speaker, and author Jeff "Bones" Bonner to unpack one of the most powerful habits behind elite performance — the art of the debrief. Drawing from years in Marine Corps fighter aviation, combat missions, leadership training, and high-performance team culture, Jeff shares how structured reflection helps individuals and teams improve faster, adapt under pressure, and consistently perform at a high level. This conversation dives deep into continuous improvement, leadership, mindset, gratitude, elite team culture, and why experience alone does not create growth. Whether you're a business owner, athlete, leader, entrepreneur, coach, or someone simply trying to become better every day — this episode delivers practical lessons you can apply immediately. Episode Highlights Why fighter pilots debrief every mission — even successful ones The hidden danger of "experience without reflection" How elite teams create a culture of continuous improvement Why gratitude is the foundation of high performance The difference between reviewing failures vs reviewing wins How daily habits shape long-term success Why adversity creates stronger leaders and performers The connection between perspective and performance Applying the debrief method to leadership, parenting, marriage, health, and business The power of 1% daily improvement Powerful Quotes From The Episode "Experience alone doesn't lead to improvement." — Jeff Bonner "Perspective precedes performance." — Jeff Bonner "We're not assigning blame. We're just trying to be better tomorrow." — Jeff Bonner "Championship teams are hard. You have to continuously improve to stay there." — Trent Clark "If we can improve just 1% every day, we'll be in a completely different place 365 days from now." — Jeff Bonner About Jeff "Bones" Bonner Jeff "Bones" Bonner is a keynote speaker, former combat fighter pilot and squadron commander, current airline captain, and Harvard-trained performance strategist. He is the creator of The Debrief Advantage™ System and author of The Daily Debrief™, a practical framework designed to help individuals and teams turn experience into continuous improvement. Jeff helps leaders, organizations, athletes, and teams build high-performance cultures through structured reflection, accountability, and elite-level habits developed from aviation and military leadership. Get Jeff's Free Daily Debrief Framework Jeff is offering listeners access to his free 5-step Daily Debrief framework and 30-Day Challenge.

Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/Has lean really failed?That question sparked one of the most listened-to conversations in the history of this podcast — my two-part series with Jim Womack in episodes 37 and 38.When I sat down with John Shook — one of the most influential thought leaders and practitioners in the global lean and continuous improvement community — we explored a different angle.John's perspective isn't a rebuttal. It's a reframe. A counterpoint to the question itself.John asks: what problem are we really trying to solve?His answer unfolds across three episodes — the first ever three-part series on Chain of Learning. And I think it will change how you think about your own impact as a change leader.You'll Learn:Why the question "how many lean enterprises have we created?" may be leading us in the wrong direction — and what we should ask insteadThe difference between "command and control" and what John calls "command and abandon" — and which one you're more likely doingWhy the key question in problem-solving is not "is this accurate?" but "is this useful?"How to recognize your span of influence and build systems at the right level that help people think, learn, and take ownershipWhy purpose → work → capability is the right sequence — and why most leaders start in the wrong placeABOUT MY GUEST:John Shook spent eleven years with Toyota in Japan and the U.S., where he helped transfer the Toyota Production System globally. He later served as President of the Lean Enterprise Institute and Chairman of the Lean Global Network.John is the co-author of the award-winning books Learning to See and Managing to Learn, and wrote the foreword to my book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. As an industrial anthropologist, he brings a perspective that connects culture, systems, and practice to bridge deep thinking with real-world application.Will you help me?I have a quick favor to ask. I'm conducting research for my next book and would love to get your insights on people-centered, learning organizations and the leadership that creates them. The survey takes just 5 to 10 minutes and your responses will directly shape the book and a future Chain of Learning podcast episode.-> Take the Survey here, open through May 22.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/74Connect with John Shook: lean.org/about-lei/senior-advisors-staff/john-shook/ Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletterCheck out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comJoin us on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantrip Grab a copy of, “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn,”: kbjanderson.com/learning-to-lead TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:00 Why John Shook believes we may be asking the wrong question about lean05:25 Why change leadership always starts with changing yourself06:40 The tension between influencing others and trying to control them08:15 What a people-centered learning culture actually looks like in practice09:05 Why John avoids lean jargon and starts with the problem instead10:00 The Toyota question that shaped John's thinking: “What problem are you trying to solve?”11:15 Why learning only matters when it's grounded in the work12:30 Toyota's “attitude toward learning” and why it changes everything15:05 Why leaders must create the environment for learning and problem-solving16:00 How organizations drift into “big company disease”17:05 Why purpose → work → capability is the sequence most leaders miss18:15 The risk of starting culture change with leadership behaviors alone19:20 Why focusing on the work reveals what's really blocking change21:00 Why John sees more “command and abandon” than command and control23:20 Focusing on your span of influence instead of waiting for senior leaders27:15 How every person at work already has “problem consciousness”29:00 The surprising truth about who is most frustrated in organizations32:15 Building systems at your level that create ownership and capability33:20 Why modeling the behavior matters more than pushing harder36:15 Why sustainable change starts with how you show up each day Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Shayne Daughenbaugh and Catherine McDonald sit down with leadership strategist and Army veteran Jonathan Pride to explore the SOAR mindset. A leadership framework built around storytelling, ownership, abundance, and resilience.Jonathan shares how leaders can move beyond compliance-driven management and develop teams through coaching, curiosity, and intentional conversations. The discussion highlights why storytelling is one of the most overlooked leadership tools and how leaders can use their lived experiences to build trust, connection, and influence.You'll also learn how practical habits like asking better questions, using the “three whys,” and starting each day with intentional praise can create stronger teams and more empowered problem solvers. The conversation emphasizes that leadership development starts internally through self-awareness, mindset, and personal growth, before it ever impacts others.If you've ever wondered how to become a more authentic, resilient, and people-centered leader, this episode offers a practical framework to help you start. Key Takeaways:Great leadership starts with owning your story and lived experiencesCoaching and curiosity develop better problem solvers than control and complianceSmall mindset shifts and micro habits can create meaningful leadership growthIntentional praise helps leaders build resilience, perspective, and an abundance mindsetLinks:Click Here for Jonathan Pride's LinkedInThe SOAR Mindset Website Lean Solutions Summit Lean Solutions Website 

It was a special Mother's Day as we honored moms, and Pastor Peter encouraged us to continue growing our faith as we look more like Jesus.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams, Catherine McDonald, Shayne Daughenbaugh, and Andy Olrich unpack the hidden costs that quietly erode margins, and why most organizations don't see them coming.You'll learn how these costs often live outside traditional financial statements, showing up instead as rework, inefficiencies, poor handoffs, and constant interruptions like “hot jobs.” The team shares real-world examples of how these hidden issues build up over time and significantly impact performance.The conversation highlights practical ways to uncover these costs, including going to the gemba, mapping processes, making data visible, and engaging teams through consistent one-on-one conversations. They also emphasize the role of leadership in either allowing waste to continue through workarounds or actively eliminating it by creating clarity, standards, and accountability.If you've ever looked at your financials and wondered where the margin is going, this episode gives you a clear and actionable approach to finding and fixing the leaks.Key Takeaways:Hidden costs don't show up on financials—but they directly impact marginsRework, poor flow, and “hot jobs” are major sources of cost leakageVisibility through data, process mapping, and GEMBA is key to uncovering issuesLeadership behavior determines whether waste is allowed or eliminatedLinks:Lean Summit | FindleansolutionsLean Solutions | Find Your Lean Solution TODAY!

The way you're leading transformation might be getting in the way of the culture you're trying to build.As change leaders and practitioners, we care about results. But in that focus, it's easy to stay on the outer work—processes, metrics, systems—and underestimate the inner work – our mindset, behaviors, and relationships – that actually moves people.Our passion can unintentionally pull us away from creating the conditions for learning, alignment, and growth, and taking ownership back by stepping in to do, to solve, and to own the work.To explore this, I'm joined by Richard Koch, who has spent 25+ years leading change inside large, complex global organizations—from frontline improvement to system-level transformation. We're connected by a shared belief: sustainable transformation doesn't come from pushing harder. It comes from creating the conditions for people to be successful.In this conversation, Richard shares what he's learned from being inside that tension including why the way many organizations deploy improvement teams can unintentionally prevent the problem-solving ownership they're trying to build.You'll Learn:Why daily work and small steps are where long-term change is actually builtHow separating leadership development and continuous improvement creates confusion—and weakens ownershipWhere improvement teams unintentionally take over the work and limit capability growthWhat it looks like to support leaders in owning change without stepping in to solve itWhy the leader must be at the center of transformation—and what changes when that responsibility is heldABOUT MY GUEST:Richard H. Koch is Managing Director of Serofia and works with leaders who want to create meaningful progress for people, performance, and the future they are helping to shape. Drawing on more than 25 years of international experience across strategy, leadership, operational excellence, innovation, and transformation, he brings together coaching, training, and consulting in a way that is both human and practical. His approach is grounded in systems thinking, deep listening, and helping leaders turn strategic ambition into real progress through small steps and real work.Will you help me?I have a quick favor to ask. I'm conducting research for my next book and would love to get your insights on people-centered, learning organizations and the leadership that creates them. The survey takes just 5 to 10 minutes and your responses will directly shape the book and a future Chain of Learning podcast episode.-> Take the Survey here, open through May 22.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/73Connect with Richard Koch: linkedin.com/in/richardkoch88Learn more about Serofia: serofia.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletterCheck out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:44 Importance of seeing potential in every person06:10 How seemingly insignificant actions ripple through teams08:37 Why separating leadership and improvement work breaks progress09:14 The Inner System vs. Outer System framework and how it drives change12:19 The negative effect with silos that keeps you away from  focusing on the work and the leader15:14 Why forcing change undermines ownership17:32 The mindset shift for change leaders and internal consultants19:07 Why daily work is the path to long-term transformation 21:22 When improvement work splits into process and leadership, change stops sticking23:19 Why direct observation and connection matter25:23 Challenge of relying on experts to help solve problems28:27 How to build sustainability instead of dependency29:05 Navigating trust, timing, and influence with senior leaders32:25 Leading with empathy and understanding the pressure leaders are under33:52 Value of having the right outside partner to achieve goals35:50 Seeing a leader move from sponsor to truly owning and enabling change39:36 Importance of staying curious and creating space for ideas and growth41:00 Taking small steps to make big changes43:00 The essence of small steps, belief in people, and leading with heart to create the conditions for change

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams and Shayne Daughenbaugh break down the true meaning of GEMBA and why it's a foundational practice in Lean leadership.You'll learn how going to the “real place” helps leaders move beyond assumptions and understand what's actually happening in their processes. The conversation highlights why many leaders avoid the gemba. Often due to fear, ego, or lack of clarity. Also, how shifting to a mindset of curiosity, humility, and vulnerability can change everything.They also explore how to approach GEMBA in both manufacturing and knowledge work environments, emphasizing the importance of building trust, creating psychological safety, and following up on what you hear.If you've ever struggled to connect with your team, understand your processes, or drive meaningful improvement, this episode gives you a simple, practical way to start.Key Takeaways:GEMBA is about understanding reality—not relying on assumptionsLeaders should approach the gemba with curiosity, not judgmentTrust is built through consistency, follow-up, and psychological safetyStart small—pick one process, observe, listen, and learn before actingLinks: Lean Solutions SummitLean Solutions Website 

The messy middle is part of the learning process.It's the point where what worked before no longer fully fits—but what comes next is not yet clear.Where your thinking is still forming, your ideas are evolving, and the answer has not fully emerged.And while it can feel uncertain, this is often where the deepest continuous learning happens.In this behind-the-scenes bonus episode on Chain of Learning, I share a live conversation with, Betsy Jordyn, my business coach and strategic thinking partner, recorded on the final day of a working retreat earlier this month. We pull back the curtains and invite you into our unscripted reflections from working through the messy middle of shaping my next book—and the leadership (and life) lessons that continue to emerge through the process.Tune in to hear the real-time learning, reflection, and refinement happening as I shape the ideas behind my next book.You'll learn:Why the messy middle is often a necessary part of continuous learning, growth, and effective change leadershipHow to recognize when forcing clarity too early limits stronger thinking from emergingWhat it looks like to let ideas evolve instead of defending what came beforeHow collaboration and outside perspective sharpen your judgment and deepen your thinkingWhy modeling your own learning process creates stronger conditions for learning in othersHow to stay engaged in uncertainty without rushing to jumping to answers too quicklyABOUT MY GUEST:Betsy Jordyn is the founder and CEO of Betsy Jordyn International, a strategic branding firm that helps transformational consultants and coaches refine their messaging, positioning, and offers to accelerate their success and amplify their impact. She is also the host of the Consulting Matters podcast and a sought-after speaker and trainer on brand strategy, executive influence, and the business of transformation.Will you help me?I have a quick favor to ask. I'm conducting research for my next book and would love to get your insights on people-centered, learning organizations and the leadership that creates them. The survey takes just 5 to 10 minutes and your responses will directly shape the book and a future Chain of Learning podcast episode. -> Take the Survey here, open through May 22.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/72Connect with Betsy Jordyn: linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordynListen to Betsy's Podcast, Consulting Matters: betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Download my FREE KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalystSubscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletter Take the People-Centered Leadership SurveyTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:01:16 The hidden reality of creativity and why books are written multiple times02:39 What the messy middle feels like and why this stage matters more than we think05:04 Re-centering leadership on what's within your control in a world of constant change06:00 Why influence isn't about forcing change, but creating conditions for growth08:12 Reframing resistance and what people actually need to move forward10:06 How to keep evolving instead of staying stuck in old ways of thinking12:26 The process of writing a book and getting clarity on the what the book is about16:04 Why growth often requires releasing what once worked17:09 Benefits of collaborating in person vs. using AI as a thinking partner18:07 Why learning can't be forced, but we need to allow space for insight22:07 The concept of omotenashi and looking at a lens of caring from a human angle24:14 The meaning of Intention = Heart + Direction to create the conditions for learning29:15 What changes when you respect others' agency instead of driving direction32:19 How to have empathy and not push your agenda when leaders are not “bought in”33:01 Why your expertise can become a barrier to connection and clarity35:46 How different perspectives reveal whether your message actually lands38:08 Moving beyond the lingo to prevent barriers43:27 Why growth requires releasing identities, ideas, and ways of working

Hey Voices from the Bench community! Jessica Love here, sending a shoutout from Utah! If you're passionate about creating natural, beautiful smiles—but want to simplify your workflow without sacrificing aesthetics—this is for you. I'm honored to be part of Ivoclar's development team introducing a powerful new stain and glaze system featuring Structure Paste, IPS e.max Ceram Art. Create stunning depth and lifelike color in as little as one firing. Let's continue to innovate, simplify, and create meaningful change—one smile at a time. CAM has been a major topic lately, and a lot of that conversation keeps coming back to hyperDENT. But instead of just talking about the software itself, it's worth looking at real-world experience. Imagine USA has been using hyperDENT in their own lab for over 15 years. That kind of longevity says a lot—they're not just selling and supporting it, they're relying on it in their own production every single day. That's what really sets them apart. This week, Elvis and Barb sits down with Katherine Steinbock-Dyke of Whip Mix to talk legacy, leadership, and the evolution of a family-run powerhouse in the dental industry. As part of the Steinbock lineage, Katherine shares what it was like growing up around the business—from selling Girl Scout cookies on the shop floor to eventually stepping into the CEO role. Her journey wasn't a straight line, starting instead in international business and corporate HR before finding her way back to Whip Mix and working her way through multiple roles across the company. The conversation dives into the realities of running a multi-generational company in a rapidly changing industry. Katherine talks about balancing tradition with innovation, from gypsum and articulators to digital workflows and resin development. She opens up about the challenges of staying relevant, the importance of continuous improvement (hello, WIN program), and what it really means to lead a team she genuinely cares about. Along the way, there's plenty of classic bench banter—everything from assembling pizzas at Papa John's to the chaos of early 3D printing workflows and navigating massive trade shows like IDS. The episode wraps with a look at where Whip Mix is headed, Katherine's focus on reconnecting with labs and customers, and how the next generation is shaping the future of dental manufacturing while respecting its roots.Special Guest: Katherine Steinbock-Dyke.

SUMMARY: Aaron, Terryn, and Brandon Turley pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked tools in business operations: the internal audit. They dig into the Gap Analyzer, a tool the Collab team built to give business owners a clear, honest picture of how their team is actually spending time versus how they think they are. From uncovering overlapping roles and outdated job descriptions to surfacing real pain points straight from the boots on the ground, they break down why taking a 15-minute snapshot of your team can unlock better decisions, leaner operations, and smarter use of AI. If you have ever wondered what your people are actually doing all day, this one is for you. Minute By Minute: 00:00 Introduction to Ops Experts Club 01:04 The Importance of Internal Audits 02:43 Introducing the Gap Analyzer Tool 05:30 Understanding Team Dynamics and Time Management 08:16 Identifying Overlaps and Gaps in Roles 11:04 Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency 13:44 Feedback Mechanisms and Continuous Improvement 16:39 Aligning Team Goals with Business Objectives 19:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Caring becomes carrying.It happens so naturally we rarely notice it. Someone brings us a problem. We care. We want to help. And somewhere in that desire to help, without meaning to, we take on the weight of solving it ourselves.That shift is subtle. And costly.Because the moment you take ownership of the thinking, you take away the very capability you're trying to build.In this episode, I explore a critical shift in change leadership: how to hold the thinking process so others can solve their own problems — without taking on their work as your own.Your value as a leader isn't in having the answer. It's in creating the conditions where others can think, test, and learn. When you want to create empowered problem-solving in your organization, stepping back is stepping up.You'll Learn:How to notice when you've shifted from supporting someone's thinking to carrying their problemWhy redirecting your focus from the problem to the person working through it changes everything about how you coachHow to use a simple problem solving structure (Target, Actual, Gap) to anchor your questions and keep ownership where it belongsHow to stay present to how someone is thinking instead of jumping ahead to solutionsHow to choose intentionally when to step in with direction — and when to step back to build capabilityIMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/71 Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:00:40 The subtle shift from caring to carrying problem solving03:35 Realization of owning the process of solving the problem04:39 What gets in the way of intentions to be helpful05:27 Why problem solving and problem solving coaching are two different skills05:50 How to stay focused on the thinking process and keep from sliding back into the problem itself06:42 How to anchor questions around a structured problem solving flow08:11 The mantra, “Target, Actual gap, Please explain,” to identify the real problem before jumping to solutions09:13 Benefit of assigning a problem for a team member to solve10:56 The identity shift from having all the answers to holding the process12:28 One way to notice if you have a telling habit14:41 Why you should avoid defaulting to giving the answer and ask questions to understand the problem first16:59 The meaning of intention = heart + direction to coach with the right motives17:21 Three steps to coach with intention:17:25 [ONE] Take an intention pause17:45 [TWO] Choose the behaviors that align with that impact18:08 [THREE] Reflect and learn your way forward19:15 Positive result from leading by asking questions that helped team gain confidence21:41 Three reflection questions before you go into your next coaching conversation

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Catherine McDonald and Shayne Daughenbaugh explore the power of small, everyday improvements. What they call the “10-minute improvement.”Instead of focusing only on large-scale Lean projects, they break down how organizations can unlock hidden opportunities by addressing small frustrations, workarounds, and communication gaps that often go unnoticed.You'll learn how to identify these opportunities, uncover root causes, and create a culture where employees feel empowered to take action. The conversation also highlights the critical role of leadership in fostering psychological safety and encouraging reflection, communication, and continuous improvement at every level.If your organization struggles to move beyond big initiatives or overlooks the small issues that slow teams down, this episode offers a simple, practical framework to start making meaningful progress today.Key Takeaways:Small improvements often create the biggest impact over timeWorkarounds hide problems—don't ignore them, fix themWhat you tolerate becomes your process standardCommunication and psychological safety are essential for continuous improvementLinks:Lean Solutions 2026 SummitLean Solutions Website

⭐️ Musicbed -Switch today and get a 14 day free trial: https://bit.ly/45HQjhC  In this episode of Shifting Focus, I sit down with Jeff Chang of The Apartment Photography — one of the most respected wedding photography brands in the world. Jeff shares his 20-year journey from shooting $200 weddings off Craigslist to building a globally recognized brand, all while staying creatively fulfilled. We dive into the tension between art and business, how to create images that actually mean something, and why most photographers stay stuck in the middle market. We also talk about: • How to create "portfolio-level" images on real wedding days • The balance between creativity and profitability • Why your network might be the missing piece in your growth • The mindset shift that changed everything after COVID • How Jeff built a massive following through simple, consistent content This is a masterclass in longevity, intentional growth, and building a business that doesn't kill your creativity. If you're trying to charge more, attract better clients, and actually enjoy the work you're creating, this one is for you. Follow The Apartment Photo: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theapartmentphoto Website - https://www.theapartmentphoto.com/   

In this episode, Jeff Flaks, Chief Executive Officer, Hartford HealthCare, reflects on pivotal moments like 9/11 and COVID-19 and how they shaped his leadership philosophy. He shares insights on continuous improvement, team-driven culture, and the need to disrupt healthcare to advance access, affordability, and quality.