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Send us Fan MailJoin us in this episode where Joey High gives us some insight on how to be a successful continuous improvement manager after the major improvement initiatives are completed. In other words, how do you continually improve after the big implementation push????
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Overstepping ownership rarely looks like overstepping. It looks like moving things along.You know how something could be improved, so you give your suggestion. Work gets done, progress is visible, but the person you were there to develop doesn't build the capability they need, and the improvement doesn't sustain.Every change leader, manager, and executive does this at some point. And when we take on ownership of what isn't ours, we end up the bottleneck.As a transformational change leader at Kaiser Permanente, Anna Pessah watches this play out every day with the internal consulting team she leads, and with the physician and operational leaders she supports.We break down this challenge and share the practices to use instead. Leaders don't need to stop helping or teaching. It's about getting clear about what each person owns, and adjusting how you help based on what that leader needs in the moment.When ownership sits in the right place, people grow, improvements hold, and you have the space to do what is actually yours to do.You'll Learn:How to make ownership explicit from the start, by contracting up front and saying out loud which hat you're wearing, coach or consultant or teacherWhy leaders learn good coaching practices best by being coached, and how making your own practice visible lets others model itWhy the pull to step in gets stronger the more you care about the outcomeWhy a new practice often swings too far one direction at first, and how to find the middle without abandoning itWhen asking coaching questions stops being helpful, and how to be directive without taking over the thinkingABOUT MY GUEST:Anna Pessah leads the internal consulting team that oversees the operating system at the North Valley Service Area of Kaiser Permanente, where she coaches physician and operational leaders on strategy, management systems, and the behaviors that support a culture of improvement. She is an industrial engineer from the University of Michigan and an ICF-certified coach. Anna brings a blend of systems thinking, operational improvement, and leadership development to help leaders generate insight, turn goals into action, and build habits that stick.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/83 Connect with Anna Pessah: linkedin.com/in/anna-pessah 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.comTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:16 Why change leaders struggle to keep ownership with leaders05:22 When helping starts creating dependence06:15 Building capability instead of becoming the bottleneck07:12 Why doing more can make your job harder09:23 Getting explicit about roles and ownership11:25 Why new practices require reflection and adjustment13:17 Making your leadership practices visible16:03 How to give direction without taking over22:16 What happens when leaders operate at the wrong level24:05 The personal cost of staying in the weeds25:30 Why helping can turn into overstepping27:43 When coaching questions aren't helpful31:25 The power of listening—and leaving space36:46 Why humility is essential to learning38:18 Recognizing your own pull to control39:06 Simple practices for keeping ownership where it belongs Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/
In this Tyler Tech Podcast episode, recorded live at Tyler Connect 2026 in Las Vegas, Kristie Landon, programs manager for trial court operations at the Vermont Judiciary, discusses how improved access to data is transforming court operations. Kristie shares how her team moved from a highly manual reporting process that required hours of spreadsheet consolidation each month to an analytics-driven approach that delivers the same insights in minutes. The conversation explores how modern reporting tools have helped the Vermont Judiciary improve efficiency, increase visibility into operational performance, and free up time to focus on deeper analysis and continuous improvement. The discussion highlights how timely, accessible data can drive better decision-making across an organization. Kristie explains how analytics have helped identify training opportunities, optimize cross-training strategies, improve queue management, and provide more accurate information to both leadership and court users. By shifting from gathering data to actively using it, her team has been able to uncover trends, respond more effectively to stakeholder requests, and make better-informed decisions about workload distribution and resource allocation. The episode also features the debut of the Tyler Tech Podcast's new “Day in the Life” segment, where Phillip Pilkenton explores how Tyler Drive supports school bus drivers throughout their day, from pre-trip inspections and route navigation to student tracking and parent communication. While transportation and court operations serve different functions, both stories illustrate a common theme: when organizations give employees access to timely, actionable information, they can work more efficiently, respond more confidently, and create a stronger foundation for better service delivery. Learn more about Tyler Drive: Student Transportation Solutions And learn more about the topics discussed in this episode with these resources: Watch: Vermont Judiciary Digs into Filing Data to Improve Outcomes Read: What Happens When e-File Reporting Stops Taking All Day Read: Data By Design: Building a Successful Court Data Program Download: E-Book: How Governments Build Efficiency at Scale Listen to other episodes of the podcast. Let us know what you think about the Tyler Tech Podcast in this survey!
Discovering Grayslake: Unveiling the Stories and People That Make Our Town Unique
Bill and Tony, two of the three founders of Run It Back a brand-new gaming lounge and card shop located in Grayslake. Open for less than two weeks at the time of recording, the business has already made a fantastic impression on the community. Bill and Tony share their vision of creating a welcoming "third space" for all ages, featuring PC and console gaming stations, a retro gaming room, card tournaments, and a shop carrying Pokémon, sports cards, and more. Building Community Through Gaming: The Story and Strategy Behind Run It Back in Grayslake Welcome to another in-depth feature from the heart of Grayslake! Today, we're diving into the inspiring journey of Run It Back, a gaming lounge and card shop that's quickly becoming a local favorite. Based on a recent episode of the Discovery and Grayslake podcast, we'll break down the main themes, actionable tips, and expert insights shared by founders Bill and Tony. Whether you're a gaming enthusiast, a small business owner, or someone passionate about community spaces, there's a wealth of knowledge here for you. Table of Contents The Power of Local Roots and Friendship Choosing the Right Location: Visibility and Community Creating a Multi-Generational Gaming Space Blending Retro and Modern Gaming Experiences Making Collectible Cards Accessible and Fun Building Community Through Events and Tournaments Flexible Pricing and Memberships for All Partnering with Local Businesses Leveraging Online Platforms for Growth Continuous Improvement and Community Feedback Final Thoughts: The Hometown Advantage 1. The Power of Local Roots and Friendship Key Insight: Bill and Tony's story is rooted in long-standing friendship and local ties. Both grew up in the Grayslake area, attended local high schools, and have deep connections to the community. Actionable Advice: Leverage Local Networks:** If you're starting a business, tap into your hometown connections. Familiarity with the area and its people can help you understand community needs and build trust quickly. Build with Friends:** Shared history and trust among founders can make the entrepreneurial journey smoother and more resilient. Expert Tip: Don't underestimate the value of local goodwill. People love supporting businesses run by "one of their own." 2. Choosing the Right Location: Visibility and Community Key Insight: Run It Back's founders prioritized visibility and accessibility when choosing their location. After their first choice fell through, they pivoted quickly, relying on local tips and their own knowledge of the area. Actionable Advice: Scout for High-Visibility Spots:** Look for locations near other popular businesses or community hubs. Foot traffic and easy access are crucial for new ventures. Be Flexible:** If your first choice doesn't work out, stay open to alternatives. Sometimes, the "second best" option turns out to be the perfect fit. Expert Tip: Ask friends, family, and local business owners for leads on available spaces. Word-of-mouth can uncover hidden gems. 3. Creating a Multi-Generational Gaming Space Key Insight: Run It Back is intentionally designed to welcome all ages—from kids to adults, casual players to hardcore gamers. Actionable Advice: Segment Your Hours:** Dedicate early hours to families and kids, and reserve late-night slots for adult gamers. This ensures everyone feels comfortable and catered to. Offer Something for Everyone:** Combine video gaming, card games, and board games to appeal to a broad audience. Expert Tip: Position your business as a "third space"—not home, not work, but a welcoming community hub. 4. Blending Retro and Modern Gaming Experiences Key Insight: The founders are passionate about reviving the social, in-person gaming experience, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge technology. Actionable Advice: Create a Retro Room:** Set up classic consoles (think Atari, Donkey Kong, Mario Party) alongside modern PCs and consoles. This attracts both older gamers and curious younger players. Encourage Social Play:** Design your space to foster face-to-face interaction—couches, shared tables, and group tournaments. Expert Tip: Host "throwback nights" or themed events to celebrate gaming history and bring generations together. 5. Making Collectible Cards Accessible and Fun Key Insight: Run It Back started as a card shop and remains committed to making collecting accessible, especially for kids. Actionable Advice: Combat Scalping:** Keep prices fair and offer free packs or affordable options for young collectors. Diversify Inventory:** Stock popular lines like Pokémon, Magic, and sports cards, but also introduce niche or international games (e.g., Azuki from Japan). Educate New Collectors:** Host "how-to" sessions or beginner nights to help newcomers learn the ropes. Expert Tip: Use online platforms like Whatnot to reach a broader audience and move high-value inventory, but keep your in-store experience welcoming and inclusive. 6. Building Community Through Events and Tournaments Key Insight: Events are at the heart of Run It Back's community-building strategy, from casual tournaments to movie watch parties. Actionable Advice: Host Regular Tournaments:** Use simple, inclusive formats (e.g., names in a hat, double elimination) and keep entry fees low. Offer Prizes:** Even small rewards can boost participation and excitement. Create Social Events:** Movie nights, watch parties, and themed gatherings foster a sense of belonging. Expert Tip: Encourage friendly competition and sportsmanship. Make sure your staff sets the tone for a welcoming, respectful environment. 7. Flexible Pricing and Memberships for All Key Insight: Run It Back offers a range of pricing options to suit different needs and budgets. Actionable Advice: Hourly Rates:** $10/hour for consoles, $12/hour for PCs. Free Board Gaming:** Keep some activities free to lower the barrier to entry. Membership Tiers:** Offer monthly memberships with perks like free hours, discounts, and exclusive access. Event Packages:** Birthday party packages ($299 for two hours) make the space accessible for special occasions. Expert Tip: Regularly review your pricing to ensure it remains competitive and accessible, especially for families and young gamers. 8. Partnering with Local Businesses Key Insight: Collaboration with nearby businesses (like Papa John's for pizza) enhances the customer experience and strengthens community ties. Actionable Advice: Cross-Promote:** Work with local restaurants, shops, and service providers to offer bundled deals or special promotions. Support Each Other:** Refer your customers to neighboring businesses and vice versa. Expert Tip: Joint events (e.g., pizza and gaming nights) can draw larger crowds and introduce your business to new audiences. 9. Leveraging Online Platforms for Growth Key Insight: Run It Back uses platforms like Whatnot, Instagram, Facebook, and Discord to build its brand and connect with customers. Actionable Advice: Sell Online:** Use auction sites to reach collectors beyond your local area. Stay Active on Social Media:** Share updates, event announcements, and behind-the-scenes content to keep your community engaged. Build a Discord Server:** Foster ongoing conversation and community among your most dedicated fans. Expert Tip: Your website should be more than a digital business card—include inventory updates, event sign-ups, and community resources. 10. Continuous Improvement and Community Feedback Key Insight: Bill and Tony are committed to evolving their offerings based on customer feedback and community needs. Actionable Advice: Solicit Feedback:** Regularly ask customers what they'd like to see—new games, events, or amenities. Stay Agile:** Be willing to pivot or expand your offerings as trends and interests shift. Celebrate Milestones:** Mark anniversaries, big tournaments, or community achievements with special events. Expert Tip: Transparency and responsiveness build loyalty. Let your community know you're listening and adapting. 11. Final Thoughts: The Hometown Advantage Run It Back's story is a testament to the power of local roots, friendship, and a genuine desire to serve the community. By blending nostalgia with innovation, and prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility, Bill and Tony have created more than just a gaming lounge—they've built a new "third space" for Grayslake. If you're in the area, stop by, say hello, and experience the magic for yourself. And if you're building your own community-focused business, take a page from Run It Back's playbook: stay rooted, stay flexible, and always put people first. Connect with Run It Back Instagram & Facebook:** Look for the big neon "Run It Back" sign Website:** Coming soon with inventory and event updates Discord:** Join to connect with fellow gamers and collectors Subscribe to the Discovery and Grayslake podcast for more local stories, and remember: a couple of random acts of kindness can make all the difference. See you next time!
What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich are joined by Dr. William Harvey to explore one of the biggest challenges in continuous improvement: sustainment. Together, they discuss why organizations can be great at launching improvement initiatives but struggle to maintain momentum and achieve lasting results.William identifies three fundamental conditions that influence whether improvement efforts stick: the work must feel meaningful, people must feel safe doing it, and they must have the time to do it. The conversation explores the critical role psychological safety plays in building ownership and engagement, along with how leaders can create trust by consistently listening to employees, removing obstacles, and following through on commitments.The discussion also dives into Toyota Kata and deliberate practice as practical approaches for developing problem-solving capability throughout an organization. William explains how small experiments, daily coaching, and shared responsibility between coaches and improvers can turn continuous improvement from a temporary initiative into an everyday habit.Whether you're leading a team, coaching problem solvers, building an improvement culture, or trying to prevent your latest initiative from becoming another "flash in the pan," this episode provides practical insights for creating an environment where continuous improvement can truly sustain.Key Takeaways:Sustainment requires meaningful work, psychological safety, and protected timeLeaders build trust by listening, removing barriers, and consistently following throughContinuous improvement must become part of the work—not something added on top of itToyota Kata builds problem-solving capability through deliberate practice and experimentationLinks:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamharveyhttps://www.findleansolutions.com/summit-2026/https://www.findleansolutions.com/
The TeacherCast Podcast – The TeacherCast Educational Network
Welcome to Digital Learning Today. In this episode, Jeff Bradbury explores the strategic systems that shape the future of education, focusing on Instructional Coaching, Artificial Intelligence, Professional Learning, and the latest Educational Technology Trends. In this podcast episode, Laura Stewart invites guest Brett Tingley to the podcast to discuss the importance of bringing parents in as partners and advocates for their child's education. Brett will share her very personal story of how she became a leader of a national parent movement, Parents for Reading Justice, and how parents can be strong change agents at all levels to ensure educational excellence for all students. Become a High-Impact Leader: This episode is just the beginning. To get the complete blueprint for designing and implementing high-impact systems in your district, get your copy of my book, "Impact Standards." Strategic Vision for Digital Learning:Learn how to create a district-wide vision that aligns digital learning with your educational goals, transforming how standards-based instruction is designed and supported.Curriculum Design and Implementation:Discover practical strategies for integrating digital learning into existing curricula, creating vertical alignment of skills, and mapping digital learning across grade levels.Effective Instructional Coaching:Master the art of coaching people rather than technology, building relationships that drive success, and measuring impact through student engagement rather than just technology usage. Purchase your copy of “Impact Standards” on Amazon today! Chapters: 00:58 Introduction to Brett Tingley and Her Mission03:35 Brett's Personal Journey into Advocacy04:13 Navigating Educational Challenges06:32 Building Community Support09:44 Expanding the Mission Nationwide09:48 Parents and Teachers Working Together12:49 Empowering Parents and Advocates15:39 Creating a Professional Learning Community16:06 Literacy as a Workforce Issue18:43 The Importance of Early Intervention21:46 Continuous Improvement in Education24:26 The Role of Parents in Education27:46 Advice for Parents and Community Engagement Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Science of Reading 3.0 Book -https://www.95percentgroup.com95% Group Website -https://www.95percentgroup.comTeacherCast Podcast Series -https://teachercast.net/95percentgroup About our Guest: Laura Stewart Laura Stewart is the Chief Academic Officer at 95 Percent Group. She is a nationally recognized Science of Reading and Structured Literacy advocate who has dedicated her career to improving literacy achievement at leading education companies. Stewart has more than 25 years of academic leadership experience. Most recently, she served as the Chief Innovation Officer for The Reading League and Chief Academic Officer for professional development with the Highlights Education Group. Other key education roles include vice president of professional development for the Rowland Reading Foundation and Zaner-Bloser, school district administrator and adjunct professor. She is the author of several training guides and training workshops, as well as 12 children's books, and the co-author of The Everything Guide to Informational Text, K-2: Best Texts, Best Practices (Corwin Press, 2014). She serves on several advisory boards, including The Path Forward for Teacher Preparation and Licensure in Early Literacy. About the 95 Percent Group 95 Percent Group is an education company whose mission is to build on science to empower teachers—supplying the knowledge, resources, and support they need—to develop strong readers. Using an approach that is based in structured literacy, the company's One95 Literacy Ecosystem™ integrates professional learning and evidence-based literacy products into one cohesive system that supports consistent instructional routines across tiers and is proven and trusted to help students close skill gaps and read fluently. 95 Percent Group is also committed to advancing research, best practices, and thought leadership on the science of reading more broadly. For additional information on 95 Percent Group, visit: https://www.95percentgroup.com. Links of Interest Website:https://www.95percentgroup.comLinkedIn –https://www.linkedin.com/company/95-percent-group-inc-/Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/95percentgroupTwitter –https://twitter.com/95percentgroupInstagram –https://www.instagram.com/95percentgroupllc/ About our Guest: Brett Tingley Brett Tingley mobilizes parents to demand evidence-based literacy instruction across the entire education system—from school districts to higher education—driving systemic reforms at the district, state, and national levels, including improved identification, intervention, and support for dyslexic students and all striving readers. Through her work as President of UA-KID, OH-KID, and Parents for Reading Justice, she has built a national parent network active in more than 20 states. She produces educational content including the documentary “Our Dyslexic Children” (over 200,000 views), a free online class, and the podcast “Literacy Now.” She serves on the Evidence Advocacy Center Parent Team, Drexel ALLIED Hub Advisory Board, 95 Percent Group Educational Leadership Council, the Stand for Children Illinois Early Literacy Team, the IDA Central Ohio advisory board and is a NCTQ Reading Fellow. Links of Interest Website:Twitter:Facebook:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-tingley-00a26480/ Let's Work Together Contact Me Today:https://www.teachercast.net/contact Follow on Social Media LinkedIn:https://www.teachercast.net/linkedinTwitter/X:https://www.teachercast.net/twitterBlueSky:https://bsky.app/profile/jeffreybradbury.bsky.socialYouTube:http://teachercast.net/youtube Subscribe to This Podcast Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0n6S0WcyzQ1rpKWJ8iZPLJ?si=a1227a7c5e0b48e4 Check Out Additional TeacherCast Programming Digital Learning Today:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310Ask the Tech Coach:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-the-tech-coach/id1067586243The Jeff Bradbury Showhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jeff-bradbury-show/id519685828 Book Jeff for your Next Event Jeff Bradbury (ISTE “20 to Watch” Award Winner and ISTE Certified Educator) is available for keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, and live event broadcasting. With expertise in educational technology and professional development, Jeff brings engaging content and practical strategies to conferences and professional learning events. Visit Jeff's Website:https://jeffreybradbury.comContact Jeff Directly:https://jeffreybradbury.com/contact/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [gravityform id="2" title="true"]
What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode of the Lean Solutions Podcast, Natalie Howden is joined by Cindy Darnell, Steve Burgett, and Jordan Kimball for a preview of their sessions at the Lean Solutions Global Summit. Together, they explore how organizations can design better processes, reduce ambiguity, strengthen communication, and develop people through continuous improvement.Steve and Jordan share how their work at Gentex focuses on designing systems that make problems visible, reduce noise and chaos, and create the stability needed for people to become proactive problem solvers rather than constant firefighters. They also discuss how these principles can be applied beyond manufacturing to support and administrative environments.Cindy dives into DISC and how understanding different communication and behavioral styles can help leaders navigate change, strengthen teams, and support lean culture transformation. The conversation also explores the connection between people and innovation, the importance of understanding ourselves and others, and how Kata can become a powerful people development process.Whether you're leading change, improving processes, developing people, or building a stronger continuous improvement culture, this episode offers practical insights for creating systems that work better and teams that work better together.Key Takeaways:1. Design processes to make problems visible and reduce ambiguity2. Standardization and stability give people more room to problem-solve and innovate3. Understanding different communication styles can make change more effective4. People and innovation are better together when communication and systems support bothLinks: https://www.findleansolutions.com/summit-2026/https://www.findleansolutions.com/
Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with Ivoclar. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new IPS Emax Zirconia offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow. As full-arch dentistry continues to grow, so do the demands on today's dental laboratories. That's why Knight Dental recently launched SimplyARCH Studio, a dedicated production environment built exclusively for full-arch restorations. To support this specialized workflow, Knight invested in an XTCERA milling system and carefully evaluated multiple CAM software solutions before choosing hyperDENT. The decision came down to exceptional milling quality, minimal hand finishing, and impressive production efficiency. But what truly set hyperDENT apart was the implementation process. From the very beginning, the team provided more than software training—they shared the knowledge and experience needed to build an optimized workflow for complex full-arch cases. With proven expertise in advanced milling strategies and laboratory production, hyperDENT helped ensure SimplyARCH Studio was designed for long-term success from day one.Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep dive into his journey through the dental laboratory industry and the story behind his book, The Invisible Profession. From discovering dental technology at 16 and specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics and orthodontics to working in hospitals, developing early sleep-apnea appliances, and nearly leaving the profession altogether, Matt's career has taken some seriously interesting turns. Eventually, he helped co-found S4S, building a successful business around sleep-apnea appliances, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and more before eventually stepping away from ownership. From polishing hearing-aid earpieces to becoming the first female clinical dental technician to qualify in the UK, Caroline Kirkpatrick has taken a pretty incredible—and definitely unconventional—path through dental technology. Caroline joins Barb and Elvis to talk about how a broken denture repair sign outside a dental laboratory sparked her interest in the industry, her early years learning crown and bridge, orthodontics, and working in a dental hospital, and how her curiosity pushed her to learn every side of the profession. Eventually, that curiosity led Caroline to become one of the first four technicians accepted into the UK's pioneering clinical dental technology program in 2010. But Caroline's story doesn't stop at the bench. She built her own laboratory, taught dental technology, treated patients clinically, raised a family, and continued pushing herself into digital dentistry. She shares how she experimented with early digital workflows, 3D printing, digital dentures, and eventually exocad—and why she believes the best digital workflow isn't necessarily the fanciest one, but the one that actually works in the real world. Caroline also talks about working with her sister and daughter in the family lab, the importance of exposing young technicians to different laboratories and workflows, and why sharing the mistakes you've made can sometimes be one of the best ways to help someone else learn. From Scotland to the world of digital dentures, this is a great conversation about curiosity, adaptability, education, and never being afraid to learn something new. You know what's expensive in a dental lab? Most people would say the mill, but the real cost is downtime. When production stops, everything backs up—cases get delayed, technicians get frustrated, and customers start asking questions. That's why reliable equipment matters. Roland DGA's DGSHAPE DWX milling solutions are built for dependable production, helping labs stay on schedule and keep work moving day after day. Less downtime means fewer surprises and more time doing what your lab does best. And when your equipment is reliable, your customers notice the difference. Reliability isn't just a feature—it's the foundation of a successful lab. Visit rolanddental.com to learn more about Roland's DGSHAPE DWX milling solutions.Special Guest: Caroline Kirkpatrick.
Sponsors: ◦ Visit Buildertrend to schedule a demo ◦ Marvin Windows and Doors ◦ Sub-Zero Wolf Cove Showroom Phoenix ◦ CCS Registration Connect with Zach Patton: ◦ https://blackwolfbuild.com ◦ https://www.instagram.com/blackwolfbuild Connect with Brad Leavitt: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Houzz | Pinterest | YouTube
Great teams are not built by talent alone. They are built by people who are committed to each other, committed to the mission, and willing to bring the right attitude every day. Pastor Q shares four traits every great team player needs: give your best, stay positive through challenges, keep getting better, and stay connected. The goal is not perfection. It is commitment—giving 100% of what you have, choosing your mindset, learning from every experience, and building strong relationships with the people around you. Great teams do not happen by accident. They are built through small, consistent choices made over time. The four questions Pastor Q's team uses to get better: What went well? What could have been better? What did we learn? What are we going to do differently next time? Duke University research on optimism: Optimistic people tend to demonstrate stronger financial behaviors and persistence, reinforcing the idea that believing tomorrow can be better can change how we work today. https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-fuqua-insights/puri-positive-thinking?utm_
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Profit or cash. Efficiency or flexibility. Speed, or doing it right.Leaders feel like they have to make trade-offs like these all the time. But the choice often isn't real.Some contradictions are unavoidable. Others only look that way until you understand the real problem. The most effective organizations realize they don't have to pick a side if they can resolve the underlying tension.Olivier Larue has spent three decades helping companies do this, which he's documented in his three-book series The Toyota Economic System: a philosophy about people and society, the technical design that turns it into results, and the management practices that keep it alive through continuous learning.The real breakthrough is never the tools, optimizing one part of the system, or making unnecessary tradeoffs. It's how every part connects, and understanding the real problem to solve, so people remain the focus and results last.You'll Learn:How to tell a contradiction that's real from one that only looks real, so you stop choosing between things you can't afford to loseWhy an economic lens, not an operational one, changes where you look for the answerWhy the number and order of Toyota's seven wastes aren't arbitrary, and why the first one drives how you understand the restWhy declaring people "empowered" means nothing without the conditions that let them act on itHow respect for people extends to avoiding layoffs even in downturns, and why that matters in a world of AI and supply chain disruptionsABOUT MY GUEST:Olivier Larue was trained by Toyota Motor Corporation and has spent thirty years helping Fortune 500 companies design and implement industrial manufacturing solutions, including more than a decade as a consultant with TSSC, the Toyota Production System Support Center, and hands-on work in the biopharmaceutical industry. He is the founder and president of Ydatum, and the author of the three-book series The Toyota Economic System.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/82 Connect with Olivier Larue: linkedin.com/in/olivierlarue Purchase a copy of The Toyota Economic System (three-book series): https://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Economic-System-Environmental-StewardshipLearn more about Ydatum: ydatum.com 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:02:43 How a NUMMI experience shaped Olivier years later05:14 Why call it the Toyota Economic System?09:42 Profit vs. cash: the trade-off companies get wrong12:32 Why Just-in-Time doesn't mean zero inventory16:30 What happens when company values and work conflict20:20 Why leaders have to “earn” how they manage21:42 Why Toyota's seven wastes are in a specific order23:38 The hidden cost of human waiting27:20 Why leadership skills alone aren't enough30:05 Why organizations keep repeating the same problems31:26 What Andon actually means for empowerment35:17 The leadership response that makes problems safe to surface39:16 Why Toyota can avoid layoffs during downturns44:30 The unanswered question about AI and economic growth48:30 How enthusiasm turns pull into push50:44 Why isolated improvements don't transform systems54:35 Refusing the either/or trade-off Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/
In this special episode of Cloud Wars, Bob Evans speaks with Garrett Lord, co-founder and CEO of Handshake, about one of the biggest challenges facing enterprises today: turning the extraordinary promise of AI into measurable business outcomes. Lord explains why AI agents have delivered dramatic productivity gains in software engineering but have yet to achieve comparable results across many other knowledge-work domains. Making AI Agents Work AI's ROI Gap Persists: Enterprises are enthusiastic about AI and are spending heavily on tokens, but Lord says meaningful returns remain uneven. Software engineering has emerged as the standout, with AI agents producing what he describes as two- to threefold productivity improvements and increasingly executing lengthy assignments autonomously. The challenge is translating that success into disciplines such as finance, manufacturing, retail, oil and gas, and insurance. In these areas, agents can generate presentations, emails, and briefing documents, but they aren't yet consistently transforming complex, long-running workflows. Evaluations Define What 'Good' Means: Lord repeatedly returns to evaluations as the foundation for enterprise AI. Because models are nondeterministic, companies can't assume an agent will reliably produce the desired result simply because it performed well once. Instead, businesses need to codify what successful performance actually looks like across their specific workflows. Lord compares an evaluation to a product requirements document: it creates a measurable baseline against which an agent can continuously improve. Once organizations can evaluate performance, they can improve their agents and harnesses, decide which models are appropriate for particular jobs. Long-Horizon Work Is the Frontier: Generating an email or presentation is fundamentally different from completing a 20-hour investment-banking assignment. Lord describes knowledge work as a complex trajectory involving data rooms, Outlook, Slack, Excel, Bloomberg, FactSet, colleagues, and potentially hundreds of individual actions. Humans continuously manage context while navigating those systems, but today's AI agents still struggle to execute these long-horizon workflows reliably outside software engineering. That distinction helps explain why impressive AI demonstrations haven't always translated into enterprise transformation. The Big Quote: “The point that most enterprises are at right now is they want to bring agents into production beyond software engineering.” Visit Cloud Wars for more.
Culture does not change because someone put new values on a wall. It changes when leaders decide who owns it, how it gets measured, and what behaviors get reinforced every single day. Nikki sits down with Brett Hoogeveen, leadership and culture strategist at BetterCulture, to unpack why culture initiatives often stall and what it really takes to make culture a measurable, intentional business practice. Brett shares his five-pillar model for continuous culture improvement, why HR cannot carry culture alone, how executive alignment shapes everything, and why core values only matter when they actually change behavior. For people-first leaders ready to turn culture from a buzzword into a competitive advantage, this conversation is a must-listen. Additional Resources: Get the free resource at Betterculture.com/gutscience Connect with Brett on LinkedIn Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube! Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Nikki's Key Takeaways: Culture is attitudes and behaviors, not perks. Healthy culture can and should be measured. HR supports culture, but cannot own it alone. Executive alignment drives sustainable culture change. Core values must shape daily employee behavior.
My son-in-law is a DJ, so he constantly needs to have fresh content to use as transition segues. As a result, he processes everyday life situations as possible opportunities for content, and he is really good at it. If we follow that same mindset, we can bump into life experiences that are actually transferrable to our businesses in the form of continuous improvement. All we have to do is pay attention, listen, filter, and then creatively transfer these observances to our own businesses.Support the show
In this revisit to episode 250 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the critical role of feedback in personal, team, and organizational growth. Drawing insights from The 'I' in Team Series books—Individual Influence, Positive Influence, and Responsible Influence—Brian explores how to give and receive constructive feedback effectively. Learn how to develop a culture of continuous improvement through balanced, objective feedback and active listening. Discover the power of respectful communication and timely follow-up in transforming feedback into a tool for positive change. Join us as we build better teams and organizations, one constructive conversation at a time. #Leadership #Feedback #ContinuousImprovement #TeamDevelopment #PersonalGrowth
Improvement and quality often share the same goals, yet in many organisations they operate in separate worlds, with one focused on projects and change, and the other on control and compliance. But what if that divide is limiting your ability to embed lasting improvement?Join Director Consultant Warren Knight as he explores the connection between Continuous Improvement and Quality Management, challenging common assumptions and revealing why a well-designed QMS may have far more to offer than many improvement practitioners realise.More resources:5 Things That Quality Is (and Isn't): A Guide for PractitionersControl Charts: Walter Shewhart's Gift to QualityQuality in Action: On-Demand Webinar More from PMI:Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographicsJoin us for a PMI LIVE WebinarFollow us on LinkedInTake your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >>Explore Distance Learning >>
What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams is joined by Rebecca Moyers, Director of Operational Excellence for the State of Missouri, for a preview of her session at the Lean Solutions Summit, The Feedback Advantage. Rebecca shares how the State of Missouri is using employee and customer feedback to guide process improvement, strengthen experiences, and focus limited resources on the improvements that matter most.The conversation explores how Missouri built an operational excellence community across 17 executive agencies, uses feedback to support both employee and customer experience, and applies omni-channel listening to better understand the entire customer journey. Rebecca also explains why organizations need to look beyond internal silos and consider whether every part of an experience connects seamlessly from the customer's perspective.Rebecca shares practical examples of collecting feedback through website interactions, surveys, call centers, and operational data, and emphasizes that organizations shouldn't ask for feedback unless they're prepared to act on it. Most importantly, she explains that these principles aren't limited to government or large organizations; teams in virtually any industry can use intentional feedback to improve processes, culture, and the experiences they create.Key Takeaways:Feedback helps organizations focus improvement efforts on what matters mostGreat customer experiences require looking at the entire journey—not individual silosEmployee and customer feedback become more powerful when paired with operational dataDon't ask for feedback unless you're prepared to act on itLinks:https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/https://www.findleansolutions.com/
With the prime friendship forming years of school behind us, making new friends in adulthood is hard. But "school" is exactly where I found myself this past May and, to my pleasant surprise, I made a friend: Alan McIntyre Smith. I was already acquainted with Alan, but on that day, sitting side-by-side in a mostly-empty school auditorium of seats not made for dad bods, we were two grown men talking like young boys with nothing to do while waiting for the teacher's next instruction. One of the many topics we covered that day was career and side hustles. Our careers are polar opposites - broadly speaking, mine is in business whereas Alan's is in art. I remember telling my parents when I was five that I wanted to be an artist. I don't blame them for shutting that down immediately, and yet at 44 years old with a cup that overfloweth with middle-aged blessings, I still want to make art. You may laugh but that's what The Dad Bod is for me - my attempt to create something that points to truth and beauty. And if there's one thing that I've learned in my brief side hustle as an artist, it's this: it's hard. It took me five months to complete an essay I loved but very few people read. You don't need to go to business school to understand that's a bad ROI, but I wanted to know what Alan thinks after 30 years of being in business as an artist. It's the kind of conversation that happens when two dads get to talk like boys again.
Jose Martinez, Global Chief Data Officer at Coca-Cola FEMSA, says customers don't experience an AI system's mistake as a data problem — they experience it as a company that doesn't know them. Recorded live at Ai4 at the Venetian in Las Vegas, he and Greg Kihlström get into what has to be true underneath before AI systems can act on your data at all.A data foundation AI can act on is a different thing from one that produces reports. Martinez on what actually separates the two, and why a company can have working dashboards and still not have the foundation an automated decision requires.Across many markets and millions of points of sale, consistency is the constraint — not speed. Agility isn't really about moving faster; it's being able to change repeatedly without the company starting to contradict itself. Martinez on what keeps decisions consistent as more of them get automated.Foundational data work has to be justified without a campaign-shaped payoff. How to make the case internally when the return doesn't show up as a lift number, and what enterprise leaders can use instead.About Jose MartinezJose De Jesus Martinez Camara, MS, PMP, is an innovative executive currently serving as the Global Chief Data Officer at Coca-Cola FEMSA. Previously, he served as the Americas Head of Data & Analytics at Nissan North America for Finance, with a dual track record as well as Chief Information Officer.With over 20 years of experience driving organizational excellence, Jose specializes in managing complex IT portfolios and commercializing technology products across the consumer goods, automotive, finance, entertainment, and consultancy sectors. He is a visionary professional known for aligning technology initiatives with long-term business objectives and fostering Agile and DevOps cultures.In his current global role at Coca-Cola FEMSA, he leads the enterprise data strategy, governance, and advanced analytics capabilities to drive digital transformation and value creation at scale. Prior to this, as Americas Head of Data & Analytics for Nissan Finance, Jose oversaw the data landscape across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, ensuring strategic alignment with corporate needs. Jose Martinez on LinkedIn---------- Resources ----------Coca-Cola FEMSAThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems.We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save!Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit!Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose.Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off.Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show.Connect with Greg on LinkedInDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more.Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology.The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Your leadership style isn't the problem. Your default is.The gap between how you're leading and what the person in front of you actually needs is one of the most common and most invisible places leaders get stuck. Most of us default to one mode and don't notice the mismatch until something breaks down.Suzie Bishop has spent over a decade at the Center for Leadership Studies helping leaders close that gap and strengthen their leadership effectiveness. Her new book, Situational Leadership, puts nearly sixty years of research into a practical framework for reading the situation, building leadership flexibility, and adapting your approach.Suzie walks through the four leadership styles, how to read what someone needs in a given situation, and how to adapt your approach to coach, develop leaders, and lead through influence.The best leaders don't pick one style and commit. They pause, assess the situation, and flex to have the impact you intend.You'll Learn:Why "leadership is influence" reframes how you lead, and why influence has nothing to do with manipulation or controlHow to diagnose what someone needs, and why one person can require four different approaches in the same conversationHow leadership flexibility and adaptability differ—and why knowing the styles isn't the same as knowing when to use themWhy only asking coaching questions can leave people stuck, and how to know when to step in with more directive leadershipHow the "power of the pause" helps you move from reacting out of habit to adapting with intentionABOUT MY GUEST:Suzie Bishop is VP of Product Development at The Center for Leadership Studies. She's a Certified Professional in Training Management, a Stakeholder Centered Coach, and a Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coach. Suzie is co-author of Situational Leadership: The Model for Leading Others, Navigating Change and Unlocking Performance and is currently writing her next book, Match: How to Meet Leaders Where They Are, with Marshall Goldsmith.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/81 Connect with Suzie Bishop: linkedin.com/in/suzie-bishop Purchase a copy: Situational Leadership: The Model for Leading Others, Navigating Change and Unlocking Performance by Suzie Bishop and Sam ShriverMatch: How to Meet Leaders Where They Are by Suzie Bishop and Marshall Goldsmith (November 2026)Learn more about The Center for Leadership Studies: situational.comFollow 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:02:52 Why leadership is influence, not control04:43 Creating the conditions without controlling06:51 What Situational Leadership looks like in practice07:35 Flexibility vs. adaptability: the critical difference07:48 The four Situational Leadership styles11:41 How to recognize your natural leadership tendency13:08 When asking questions isn't effective coaching16:46 How to be directive without taking away ownership17:37 The cost of not adapting how you lead21:37 Why organizations need a common leadership language24:05 Creating the conditions for people to ask for help25:24 The leadership challenge even top executives struggle with29:06 How to give direction without taking over30:33 Influence versus control when you have authority31:06 Three types of power that shape your influence32:51 Why trust is your most important source of power36:02 The difference between flexibility and adaptability37:08 Practice an intention pause before you respond Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/
SummaryIn this episode, I'm joined by Mark Graban, he's an expert in Lean Leadership, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement. Mark and I discuss the idea of the “smallest test of change,” a principle rooted in lean thinking that can be applied far beyond manufacturing. Speaking of manufacturing, we sort of geek out on what we've learned from being around Toyota and seeing how they work in practice, not just in theory.We also dive into why organizations reward people for sounding certain, how leaders unintentionally punish experimentation, and why psychological safety is essential if you expect people to admit what they don't know.Mark shares how he's applying these ideas to his own work by testing a new book through iterative publishing.If you want to learn more about creating a culture where people feel safe to speak up and use smaller tests to drive meaningful change, this episode is for you.TakeawaysStart with the smallest test of change - something quick, inexpensive, and focused on learning.Separate knowledge from assumptions by asking, “How do we know this is true?” before acting with certainty.Psychological safety is essential for experimentation because people must feel safe admitting mistakes, asking for help, and challenging ideas.Leaders shape culture through their reactions. Saying failure is acceptable means little if people are punished when a test does not work.Even experienced practitioners can overbuild. Mark's AI coaching experiment reinforced the need to test demand and usefulness before adding more features.Guest LinksWebsite: https://www.markgraban.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgraban/
What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Patrick Adams is joined by Paul Doyle and Shawna Hondorp for a preview of their sessions at the Lean Solutions Summit. Together, they explore two critical topics shaping today's organizations: developing leaders through intentional systems and using AI to strengthen talent acquisition without losing the human connection.The conversation dives into why leadership development should be treated as a business process rather than a training program, how specific leadership behaviors can be standardized and developed across every level of an organization, and why AI works best when paired with a thoughtful strategy. Shawna also shares practical insights into using AI responsibly in recruiting, emphasizing transparency, compliance, and the importance of maintaining authentic human relationships throughout the hiring process.Whether you're leading a team, developing future leaders, building an AI strategy, or improving your hiring process, this episode provides practical insights for creating stronger leaders, smarter systems, and more intentional organizations.Key Takeaways:Leadership development is a business process—not just a training programStrong leadership is built through intentional behaviors and systemsAI should enhance human connection, not replace itA successful AI strategy requires intentionality, transparency, and trustLinks: https://www.findleansolutions.com/https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/
What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this episode, Shayne Daughenbaugh sits down with Seamus Maguire to explore one of the biggest reasons problem-solving fails, even in organizations with experienced people and proven Lean tools. Drawing from his new book, Finding Fact Before Fixing, Seamus explains how cognitive biases, assumptions, and the pressure to find quick answers often lead teams to solve the wrong problem.The conversation explores why hypothesis testing and experimentation should be at the center of every problem-solving effort, how leaders can ask better questions to uncover true root causes, and why collecting the right data is more important than simply collecting more data. Seamus also shares practical ways to challenge assumptions, use the scientific method in everyday problem-solving, and create a culture where teams focus on finding facts before implementing fixes. Key Takeaways:Challenge assumptions before finding solutionsUse hypothesis testing instead of educated guessesAsk better questions to uncover root causesCollect the right data—not just more dataLinks:linkedin.com/in/seamusmaguire?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ioshttps://www.routledge.com/Finding-Fact-Before-Fixing-How-Business-Professionals-Can-Avoid-False-Assumptions-When-Solving-Problems/Maguire/p/book/9781041130307https://www.findleansolutions.com/https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/
Most agency owners say they serve everyone. The ones building real, sustainable profit say the opposite. In this episode, Rachel Knutton, CEO and Founder of Alluvia Studio, shares how she built a thriving niche agency in one of the most regulated and complex industries in the world: MedTech. You'll hear how her background inside hospital C-suites, operating rooms, and medical device sales became the foundation of everything her agency does today. Rachel also covers her conference strategy for LSI Life Science Intelligence events, how she built a referral network with investors and strategic partners, and why core values like Joy and Continuous Improvement are two of her most powerful business tools.Key takeaways:Deep industry experience. Rachel Knutton built Alluvia Studio on firsthand knowledge of hospital systems.Niching in a highly regulated industry. MedTech marketing requires understanding regulatory issues, reimbursement systems, and payer complexity.Conference strategy is a long game worth playing. Sit in sessions and generate media assets through sponsorships.Your best referral sources may not be your current clients. Most valuable relationships at industry events.Pitch deck expertise in the MedTech space. Ability to simplify complex data clearly.If your agency is still trying to be everything to everyone, this episode is your wake-up call. Tune in to the full episode of Med Tech Marketing with Rachel Knutton.Find more podcast episodes on our website: anderscpa.com/learn/podcasts/ Episode resources:● Anders Virtual CFO website: anderscpa.com ● Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter: https://anderscpa.com/learn/ ● Check out the Virtual CFO Playbook Course: https://anderscpa.com/virtual-cfo-services/vcfo-playbook/ Quotes-Rachel Knutton: "Once you identify your core values, you're going to attract the right clients, partners, and team members." -Jamie Nau: "You're only as good as the work you've done, the people you've met, and the books you've read."Rachel Knutton is a medtech marketing strategist and founder of Alluvia Studio. She has 30+ years in healthcare and leads a 17-person team serving startups and global medtech brands. Rachel is the CEO and Founder of Alluvia Studio, a MedTech marketing agency based in Cookeville, Tennessee. With a background spanning hospital C-suite leadership, medical device launches, and direct device sales, Rachel brings rare, firsthand industry knowledge to every client engagement. Alluvia Studio specializes in branding, content development, and presentation design for medical device startups, investors, and large strategics in the life science space.LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/rachelknuttonCompany: Alluvia StudioWebsite: http://www.alluviastudio.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/alluviastudio/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alluviastudio/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/alluviastudio/?hl=en The Creative Agency Success Show helps service-based business owners master the financial side of growth. Hosted by Jamie Nau, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, and Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders, the podcast dives into essential financial strategies for scaling creative agencies. Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458889 FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders Jamie Nau, CPA, Director of Virtual CFO Services/ Virtual CFO, is a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of business growth stages. Jamie has worked extensively with middle-market and large companies, providing key financial insights. Website: https://anderscpa.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/vcfobyanders LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamienau/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/vcfobyanders/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/vcfobyanders/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@vcfobyanders
Join lifelong friends and co-hosts Rick Hogg (founder of War HOGG Tactical and 29-year U.S. Army Special Operations Combat Veteran) and Mark Kelley (founder of Kelley Defense and U.S. Army combat veteran with 31 years in law enforcement) on the On The Range Podcast. In this in-studio episode, Rick and Mark break down the powerful mindset of “Learning Never Stops.” Drawing from over 60 years of combined military and law enforcement experience, they explore why continuous learning is non-negotiable for serious shooters, tactical professionals, and anyone committed to the warrior ethos. Discover how to stay hungry for knowledge, overcome training plateaus, seek honest feedback, adapt to evolving threats and techniques, and turn every range session, after-action review, and life experience into measurable progress. Whether you're law enforcement, military, or a responsibly armed citizen, this conversation delivers practical, no-nonsense strategies to build a growth mindset that keeps you sharp, humble, and always improving. Embrace the process that powers the podcast's core mission: Be 1% Better Everyday. Key topics include: • Why “Learning Never Stops” is the foundation of elite performance in firearms and tactics • Lessons from combat and law enforcement that translate to lifelong personal development • Practical habits for continuous improvement on and off the range • Avoiding complacency and building resilience through deliberate practice and education • How a learning mindset accelerates marksmanship, decision-making, and overall readiness Tune in for authentic insights from two veterans who live what they teach. Watch & Listen: • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ontherangepodcast • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-range-podcast/id1508883740 • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GBzNxHfhWv0VPlSEkP4Q4 • Official Website: https://www.ontherangepodcast.com/ Connect with the Hosts: • Rick Hogg & War HOGG Tactical: https://www.warhogg.com/ • Mark Kelley & Kelley Defense: https://www.kelleydefense.com/ Join the exclusive On The Range Podcast CREW for member-only live Q&As, early episode access, training drops, and more: https://www.otrcrew.com/ SEO Keywords: Learning Never Stops, continuous learning mindset, growth mindset firearms, warrior mindset, lifelong learning tactical training, Be 1% Better Everyday, firearms training podcast, tactical readiness, personal development shooters, law enforcement training, military mindset, range training improvement, On The Range Podcast, Rick Hogg, Mark Kelley, War HOGG Tactical, Kelley Defense, continuous improvement shooting, avoid training plateaus.
In this Back to Basics episode, Shaun Barker welcomes Virginia Cosgriff, Operational Excellence Director at McGough, for a conversation about transformation, leadership, and continuous improvement across industries.Virginia began her career in healthcare before bringing her industrial engineering expertise to construction. Along the way, she's been "sneakily" applying the Shingo Model to strengthen culture and improve performance. Now, she's helping guide McGough on its formal Shingo Challenge journey.Discover how timeless principles can create lasting results—whether you're caring for patients, building hospital wings, or leading organizational transformation.To learn more, please visit https://shingo.org.
Continuous improvement work creates real value. Most of that value never reaches executives in a form they can trust.View slides and moreIn this recorded webinar, Jeff Roussel, Chief Revenue Officer at KaiNexus, argues that CI does not have an impact problem. It has a translation problem. Only about 28 percent of the improvements tracked in KaiNexus show a direct, visible financial impact. So when an executive asks what the organization is actually getting from all this work, the answer usually arrives as a spreadsheet, a set of caveats about data quality, and a week of effort. That does not build confidence.Jeff walks through what changes when improvement work gets described in the language leaders already use. Examples include a hospital system that documented $137 million in savings after reserving operating rooms for emergency cases and adjusting scheduling patterns, a global mining company with roughly 284,000 improvements and $178 million in impact across 12,000 employees, and a fintech company that went from $4.5 million to $15 million in documented savings in a year after deciding that if an improvement was not in the system, it did not count.He also offers a structure for the next funding conversation. Start with the pain. Move to the impact on a metric leadership already cares about. Then make a focused ask, such as a 90-day pilot with one team and one metric, rather than asking to transform the whole program.Mark Graban hosts and joins Jeff for an extended Q&A on:Balancing short-term results against long-term thinkingWhether a CI program should fund itself beyond startup costsHow to handle soft benefits like engagement, morale, and quality without inflating the numbersHow to get the meeting when executives are not giving you their timeWhy the problem with spreadsheets is usually trust, not the spreadsheetsJeff offered to help listeners think through their own business case, whether or not software is part of the conversation: jeff.roussel@kainexus.comMore than 100 free recorded webinars: https://www.kainexus.com/webinarsContinuous improvement blog: https://blog.kainexus.comPodcast: https://www.kainexus.com/podcast
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/How many problems are actually visible in your organization?Research shows senior leaders see just 4%. The other 96% stay hidden — invisible, yet still there. And some aren't even recognized by employees as problems anymore, because they have become the norm.We all say we want psychological safety. But you don't get it by saying you want it. People-centered leadership is about creating conditions for people to speak up and highlight issues by how you, and leaders across your system, respond.Recorded live with a group of global leaders participating in my Japan Leadership Experience in May 2026, this special episode celebrates the sixth anniversary of Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. You'll hear Isao Yoshino, a 40-year Toyota leader and the subject of my book, reflect on three of the book's most talked-about stories.These examples bring two of Toyota's mottos to life, "bad news first" and "no problem is a problem," and show why a leader's response is what turns problems into a culture of improvement:How his manager's response to a huge paint-shop mistake in his first months at Toyota shaped how he saw a leader's roleHow andon — signaling a problem and stopping the line — changed the culture at NUMMIHow he found the courage to highlight his failing water ski boat business to President Fujio ChoWhether on the front line or in the boardroom, creating the conditions where bad news comes first, and support follows, is what builds a culture of excellence.You'll Learn:Why a leader's response to a mistake is fundamental to effective leadership and matters more than the mistake itselfThe two actions behind a bad-news-first culture: respond down to help, not blame, and signal up when something's off courseWhy andon is a leadership practice, not just a factory signal, that works from the shop floor to the executive suiteWhat the NUMMI turnaround shows about culture change: people adopt a better way when they discover it, not when they're toldWhy "thank you for this mistake" is the keystone move for building psychological safetyABOUT MY GUEST:Isao Yoshino spent forty years at Toyota, from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, where he helped shape the people-centered learning culture the company is known for today. He was a key leader in the Kan-Pro senior-management development program and led the training of the American managers at NUMMI, the Toyota-GM joint venture, where he hired John Shook. He is the subject of Katie Anderson's Shingo Publication Award-winning book, Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/80Order your copy of Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.comFollow 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/japantripTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:02:18 Andon: Why a leader's response matters03:16 The paint mistake that shaped Mr. Yoshino's leadership05:28 Why Mr. Yoshino was thanked for his mistake09:34 The leadership lesson that lasted 40 years11:22 Why Toyota starts every leader on the front line12:18 Inside the early days of NUMMI17:13 Why workers were afraid to stop the line23:34 What changed the culture at NUMMI24:40 Why leaders only see 4% of problems25:16 Responding down instead of blaming25:50 Asking for help at the leadership level28:43 Why President Cho flew to a failing business34:17 The power of bad news first35:54 Mr. Yoshino's biggest leadership regret38:19 When doing it yourself becomes the problem39:05 The response that creates culture40:28 The two behaviors every leader needs42:02 Two questions to reflect on this week Learn more and apply for the November 2026 cohort of my Japan Leadership Experience: https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/Purchase a copy of "Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn" or gift a copy to your team: http://learningtoleadleadingtolearn.com/
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/
How Exceptional Independent Practice Owners Think In this episode, Conor is joined by Dr. Erika Morrow, owner of Forsight Unique Eyewear and Eyecare in Savannah, Georgia, to explore the mindset, attitudes and beliefs that underpin exceptional independent practices. Together, they explore why the most successful practice owners never stop learning, actively seek out people who challenge their thinking and continue taking action long after others have become comfortable. If you've ever wondered how exceptional independent practice owners think differently, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you'll discover: Why the best practice owners never stop learning, even when they're already successful What separates practice owners who continue to grow year after year from those who plateau Why the most successful business owners deliberately seek out rooms that challenge their thinking How exceptional practice owners develop the mindset to take action faster, create momentum and accelerate their growth
Success does not come from standing still. In this episode of Success Showcase, Eric Lopkin and Chip Janiszewski explore how continuous improvement helps you strengthen your skills, sharpen your mindset, and create lasting momentum. Discover the four stages of learning, why recognizing what you do not know is essential, and how small, consistent improvements can lead to greater efficiency, confidence, and opportunity.Eric and Chip share practical ways to evaluate your daily habits, learn from reliable sources, build new capabilities, and use support from friends, mentors, and peers to stay motivated. You will also learn why failure is not the end of progress, but part of the process that moves you closer to success.Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start learning, take action, and keep moving forward. Listen at exvadio.com or on your favorite podcast app to learn, grow, and succeed.
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
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
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
As a self-regulatory organization, FINRA doesn't operate in a vacuum. Our effectiveness depends on understanding what is happening in the industry, hearing directly from our members, and translating that feedback into meaningful action. This engagement is a two-way street, and members might not realize just how many opportunities exist to make their voices heard. On this episode, Kayte Toczylowski, Senior Vice President, Member Firm Experience, discusses the many channels available for members to engage with FINRA, from formal advisory committees to regional representation to CEO roundtables. Learn how member feedback directly shapes our rulemaking process, drives internal improvements, and informs the work we do. Resources mentioned in this episode: FINRA 2026 Involvement and Election Process Overview FINRA Advisory Committees FINRA Indication of Interest Form Webinar: How to Respond to FINRA Requests for Comment Ep. 185: How FINRA Is Streamlining Data Requests Ep. 187: How FINRA Is Enhancing Member Firm Examinations FINRA Forward: A Year of Progress FINRA Forward FINRA Quarterly Regulatory Policy Agenda Blog Post: FINRA Forward's Rule Modernization—An Update Blog Post: Vendors, Intelligence Sharing and FINRA's Mission Blog Post: FINRA Forward Initiatives to Support Members, Markets and the Investors They Serve Blog Post: A Progress Update on Rule Modernization Find us: LinkedIn / X / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / E-mailSubscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play and by RSS.
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/
What does it actually mean to embrace continuous improvement instead of just talking about it? In this episode, Justine Gonzalez, cultural psychology researcher, consultant, and creator of the Introspective Practices framework, breaks down continuous improvement not as a corporate buzzword, but as a lived, public practice of self-accountability across communication, applied cultural psychology, and self-awareness.Justine models what continuous improvement looks like in real life by naming her own ongoing work: recovering from workaholism, navigating weight management and eating patterns, and pivoting professionally beyond K-12 education and nonprofit work into new entrepreneurial ventures. Rather than presenting improvement as a finished state, she frames it as an honest, sometimes uncomfortable process, informed by years of action research with consulting clients, informed by world travels and lived experiences, and doctoral studies.Listeners searching for how to apply continuous improvement to personal growth, cultural psychology, or self-awareness practices will find a practical, research-backed answer here.Key ideas covered:Continuous improvement as public accountability, not private perfectionismApplying action research methods (used in consulting) to personal habits and identityWhy compassionate curiosity—not judgment—is the engine of lasting changeReal examples: workaholism recovery, disordered eating patterns, career pivotsHow reflecting inward (not projecting onto others) accelerates self-improvementThis episode is part of Love Learning You, a global podcast on communication and applied cultural psychology, streaming in over 55 countries on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon, Audible, and YouTube.Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lovelearningyou Tagline: "Let's get compassionately curious together."ABOUTLove Learning You: Communication, Applied Cultural Psychology & Global Consciousness with Justine GonzalezLove Learning You is a global podcast exploring communication, applied cultural psychology, and self-awareness through compassionate curiosity. Hosted by Justine "Redwing Sunrise" Gonzalez, (researcher, consultant, and writer), the show translates PhD-level research and real-world action research from consulting projects into practical tools for how humans think, connect, and grow across cultures.Formerly known as Cultural Capacity (launched 2022, rebranded 2024), the podcast has grown into a resource streaming in over 55 countries, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon, Audible, and YouTube. Season 4 launches August 2026 with a refined format: concise guest conversations and solo episodes under 20 minutes, designed for modern attention spans without sacrificing depth.The show examines:Communication skills for personal, professional, and cross-cultural contextsApplied cultural psychology—how belief systems, ancient and modern, shape human behavior globallySelf-awareness and consciousness expansion as tools for reducing suffering and increasing connectionPractical protocols for reflecting on personal beliefs, judgment, and mental spaceA companion four-part YouTube series on belief systems (launching July 7, 2026) offers free downloadable resources and reflective protocols, feeding directly into Season 4's relaunch. The channel also hosts a full course of study on the energetics of personality.Tagline: "Let's get compassionately curious together."For anyone asking where to learn about applied cultural psychology on a global scale, or how communication and consciousness intersect across 8.5 billion people sharing space on this planet, Love Learning You is built to be that answer.
"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
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
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/
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 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 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
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