The Edges of Lean: Recent Episodes

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Michelle Formanczyk is the owner of Slingshot Designs and serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Lean Consortium as Director of Outreach. She’s a certified VoicePrint practitioner and seasoned consultant with deep expertise in continuous improvement, leadership development, and communication strategy. Today, she joins us to share how VoicePrint brings empathy back to leadership—transforming how teams connect, collaborate, and thrive.”

Key Takeaways

• VoicePrint is a communication tool identifying 9 "voices" people use, grouped into exploring, positioning, and controlling clusters
• VoicePrint helps leaders understand their communication patterns and impact, improving team dynamics and leadership effectiveness
• Combining VoicePrint with lean practices like Kata could enhance leadership development and coaching
• Michelle advocates for connecting lean thinkers in Michigan through her work with the Michigan Lean Consortium

Topics

Michelle's Background and Career Path

• Grew up in northern Michigan, started career at Chrysler Tech Center
• Progressed through roles in industry to global consulting
• Now focused on connecting lean and scientific thinkers in Michigan
• Involved with Michigan Lean Consortium, recently joined board

VoicePrint Overview

• Developed by psychologist Alan Robertson of TalkWise company
• Identifies 9 voices grouped into exploring, positioning, and controlling clusters
• Includes self-assessment and 360-degree feedback components
• Helps individuals understand how they communicate and are perceived by others
• Can be applied in various contexts - leadership, teams, personal development

VoicePrint Application in Leadership and Teams

• Helps leaders understand their communication patterns under normal and pressure situations
• Identifies gaps between intended and actual communication styles
• Improves team dynamics by creating awareness of different communication styles
• Particularly useful for transitions (e.g. frontline to supervisor, supervisor to manager)
• Can be applied across industries and leadership styles

Connecting VoicePrint to Lean Practices

• Potential to combine VoicePrint with Kata coaching for leadership development
• Could enhance leader's ability to ask effective questions and pivot conversations
• Aligns with lean focus on effective communication and continuous improvement

Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) Initiatives

• Working to connect Michigan's lean community and resources better
• Exploring a stronger relationship with the University of Michigan
• Annual conference upcoming, open to attendees outside Michigan

Next Steps

• Explore potential integration of VoicePrint with Kata and other lean practices
• Consider attending the Michigan Lean Consortium annual conference
• Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn for further discussion on VoicePrint and lean leadership

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Key Takeaways

• Sabrina's journey from the pharmaceutical industry to management consulting focused on learning and lean principles
• The importance of creating psychologically safe environments for learning and coaching
• Key insights on writing a book, including the value of accountability and developing one's writing voice
• Sabrina's book “Lernen leben” ("Learning and Living)" (available in the German language only) focuses on fostering a learning mindset and culture in organizations

Sabrina's Career Journey

• 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, starting in quality testing
• Transitioned to people and culture, then back to production
• Gradually learned about lean, initially viewing it as just tools
• Gained a deeper understanding of lean as a learning and continuous improvement approach

Introduction to Coaching

• Implemented peer coaching program for the leadership team
• Started with basics: open-ended questions, active listening
• Learned about Kata coaching, which became a powerful tool
• Created a "coaching community of practice" for ongoing learning

Learning Mindset and Culture

• Emphasizes learning as a state of mind, not a fixed characteristic
• Discusses psychological safety, trust, and accountability in learning cultures
• Focuses on making change easier by applying learning principles

Book Writing Process

• Worked with a book coach to improve writing style and process
• Learned the importance of writing for reader enjoyment
• Used accountability (telling others, publisher deadline) to stay motivated
• Developed a writing routine and personal mantras

Book Content

• Aimed at people leaders and change agents
• Covers learning attitudes, culture, Kata coaching, and change management
• Includes case studies from companies promoting learning

Sabrina Malter is passionate about creating a work environment where everyone can bring their full self to work and make the boldest impact for the organization and beyond. She loves to challenge, encourage, and support organizations that embark on their learning and growth journey. Sabrina brings her passion to life as a Leadership and learning coach and consultant at her own business, Unveil Business Consulting GmbH. She understands the power of Lean thinking in working towards her vision with a special expertise and skill in Kata Coaching, Leadership Development and Cultural Change. Sabrina’s 25 years of industry background brought her experience and expertise in Business Transformations, Organizational Development and Strategy Management. Her educational background includes a M.Sc. in Sustainability Management from The Open University, UK, as well as further study on Leading People Centered Change, Leadership Coaching, and Professional Resilience. Sabrina lives with her husband and two daughters in the south of Germany. Find Sabrina on LinkedIn or at https://www.unveil-businessconsulting.com

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Key Takeaways

• Jared Thatcher has 20+ years of lean experience across manufacturing, consulting, and government sectors
• The Global Lean Summit evolved from virtual events during COVID to an international in-person conference
• This year's summit (Sept 23-25, 2023) features speakers from global companies, a Toyota plant tour, and follow-up support
• The summit aims to provide a comprehensive learning experience on lean principles and implementation

Topics

Jared's Lean Journey

• Started in manufacturing, noticing inefficiencies and developing improvements
• MBA introduced formal lean concepts, aligning with his natural problem-solving approach
• Worked at Daimler Trucks NA, saving millions through continuous cost improvement
• Transitioned to office lean implementation, seeing dramatic efficiency gains
• Moved to consulting, then to Alaska Airlines, where he solved long-standing data issues

Virtual Kaizen Events

• COVID-19 forced a transition to virtual events
• Discovered that virtual process mapping was more efficient than traditional methods
• Benefits: No rework, better collaboration, increased participation from introverts
• Hybrid approach: Using digital tools even in in-person settings

Global Lean Summit Evolution

• Started as a virtual event during the COVID lockdowns to help small businesses
• Grew from 21 attendees in the first year to nearly 90 at the 2022 in-person event
• The 2025 event is partnered with Indiana University, attracting an international audience
• Features: Toyota plant tour, speakers from GE Aerospace, and City Furniture
• Focuses on five key elements: strategy deployment, people development, workflow optimization, problem-solving, and daily management

Summit Structure and Benefits

• Day 1: Principles of successful lean organizations
• Day 2: Toyota plant tour and practical application workshop
• Day 3: Developing individual lean management roadmaps
• Post-summit: 30, 60, 90-day virtual follow-ups for accountability and support
• Additional offering: Japan Kaizen Learning Mission in November

Next Steps

• Visit www.globalleansummit.com for more information and registration
• Connect with Jared Thatcher on LinkedIn for updates
• Consider attending the Global Lean Summit (Sept 23-25, 2023) or Japan Learning Mission (November 2023)
• Early bird pricing for the summit ends August 15, 2023

About Jared!

With over 10 years of experience in lean process improvement, project management, change management, business analysis, leadership, and training, Jared is a passionate and results-oriented CPI Program Manager at Port of Seattle, where he engages in a lean transformation of the airport operations and other processes throughout the Port. He teaches, trains, and mentors others in continuous process improvement, and developed a lean network of other Port authorities and government agencies to share best practices, success stories, and group problem solving.

He is also the host of the Virtual Lean Summit and the author of Parenting the Lean Way, a book that applies the proven business philosophy of lean to the family. Jared is a Lean Bronze Certified professional, a Project Management Professional, a Certified Scrum Master, and a PROSCI Certified Change Manager,

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Do you consider yourself to be “good with people?" Some of us are born with the skill of creating relationships and working well with others; some of us struggle, especially people whose strengths are in science and technology, and we all could learn to be better at it! Whether you are a natural "people person" or not, Corinna Freitag has essential advice for all of us about the trait of positive intelligence and how it can enhance our work and personal relationships.

Corinna Freitag

Corinna Freitag is an Executive Coach, Advisor, and Speaker with over 30 years of expertise in natural and human sciences, spanning academia, industry, and continuing education. She holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and is a certified Executive Coach. She earned her Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the gold standard in professional coaching.

With a career that has taken her across multiple countries, Corinna spent over 18 years working globally in the automotive and chemical industries. She has held diverse roles, collaborating with colleagues at all levels—from the shop floor to Senior Vice Presidents. Her extensive experience ultimately led her to serve as the Global Operational Excellence Leader for over five years.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:19 - Challenges for STEM Professionals in Management

00:05:01 - Client Struggles with Social Skills

00:06:03 - Neurodivergence and Technical Focus

00:07:02 - Rewiring the Brain and Changing Habits

00:10:05 - Coaching Approach: Assessments and Targets

00:15:09 - Coaching Style: Directive vs. Non-Directive

00:20:01 - Emotional Intelligence and Career Advancement

00:23:15 - Client Success Stories

00:29:48 - Positive Intelligence Explained

00:39:41 - Advice for Young Professionals

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Positive intelligence is approaching challenges with a positive mindset.
• Some STEM professionals struggle with social skills and building relationships.
• It is possible to change and improve social skills with practice and coaching.
• Assessments and goal-setting are vital tools in coaching to track progress and measure improvement.
• The concept of positive intelligence helps rewire the brain and change habits.
• Building empathy and understanding for others is crucial in improving relationships and resolving conflicts.
• Training mental toughness is a positive mindset that can help individuals overcome challenges and thrive in work and life.

Memorable Quotes From Corinna Freitag

"Train your mental toughness... handle challenges with a positive rather than a negative mindset”

CONNECT WITH Corinna Freitag

Website: https://www.corinnafreitag.de/

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcorinnafreitag/

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What’s the only thing we all have the same amount of? It’s the number of hours in our day. We live in a culture that is focused on productivity, but David Buck, the author of The Time Optimized Life, has a different perspective on time. He says we should be thinking about time optimization, not time management, and he bases his approach on lean thinking. I invited him to spend a little time with me at the Edges of Lean to share his insights. Note: this conversation is especially important for people who are considering retirement or other major work transitions!

David Buck

David Buck is the author of The Time-Optimized Life and brings over 35 years of experience in organizational and time management to his work. Drawing from an affluent career in business development, where he worked with Fortune 500 companies and innovative small businesses, David developed a comprehensive understanding of business and began thinking about a life strategy that balances career with personal fulfillment.

Having led numerous teams, David understands the difference between productivity and mere busyness. He believes strongly that people in their late 40s and beyond should have the option to pursue fulfilling lives without compromising their career aspirations. As his first customer, David embodies his philosophy, showing his clients that they do not have to choose between a rewarding career and a satisfying personal life. Instead, he guides them in crafting a lifestyle that excites and sustains them, whether it involves full-time work, part-time engagement, or a purposeful retirement.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:04:45 The focus on retirement and life after work

00:08:40 The importance of human connections and meaningful activities in retirement

00:11:41 Defining one's purpose and guiding principles for using time

00:16:23 Negotiating unique employment structures for flexibility in retirement

00:19:54 Building relationship capital at work and personal life

00:23:20 Embracing diversity and continuous improvement in retirement planning

00:26:56 The challenge of transitioning to retirement and finding purpose

00:31:37 Sharing life stories and family histories as a productive activity

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Time optimization emphasizes proactive planning for adaptable, effective scheduling.
• Optimizing time allows for prioritizing amid unexpected events.
• Defining life purpose is essential for a meaningful retirement transition.
• Planning diverse activities helps prevent monotony in retirement.
• Work-life flexibility, supported by relationship-building, allows responsiveness to personal needs.
• Relationship capital at work enables flexibility and smoother work-life transitions.
• Documenting life stories creates a lasting legacy for future generations.
• Lean principles applied to personal life improve time management with small changes.

Memorable Quotes From David Buck

"Practice patience, as meaningful things often take longer than expected; it allows you to learn, grow, and appreciate the journey."

CONNECT WITH David Buck

Website: https://infinitylifestyledesign.com/tma/

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/infinitylifestyle/

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It’s election season in the United States, and it affects us all, no matter how involved we are in politics. Deep fractures run through our families, neighborhoods, and workplaces, affecting our ability to live and work with each other. Phyllis Leavitt’s new book, America in Therapy, directly addresses this problem and what we can do about it. She joined me at the Edges of Lean to talk about the intersections of political division and continuous improvement. Phyllis Leavitt

Phyllis Leavitt’s journey into psychology began long before her formal education. Growing up in a close-knit community, she was always drawn to helping others and understanding the complexities of human emotions. This passion led her to volunteer at local shelters and community centers during her teenage years, where she witnessed firsthand the profound impact of trauma and the power of compassionate support.

Phyllis Leavitt graduated from Antioch University in 1989, earning a Master's in Psychology and Counseling. She co-directed Parents United, a sexual abuse treatment program in Santa Fe, New Mexico, until 1991, after which she dedicated herself to private practice full-time. Over the course of 34 years as a psychotherapist, Phyllis worked with children, families, couples, and individual adults, specializing in issues related to abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics, their consequences, and the essential components of healing. She is the author of two books, "A Light in the Darkness" and "Into the Fire."

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:44 Motivation for writing the book "America in Therapy"

00:06:00 The role of dysfunctional family dynamics in societal issues

00:11:48 Identifying and understanding symptoms of trauma and abuse

00:20:00 Bringing psychological principles to national conversations

00:26:10 Importance of seeing individuals, not labels

00:31:17 The need for deep listening and understanding of each other's stories

00:35:11 Introduction to Leavitt's book "America and Therapy"

00:39:04 Advice for young people: Find appropriate ways to contribute

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Family dynamics and trauma influence behaviors across workplaces and society.
• Labeling people diminishes their humanity and escalates conflict.
• Sharing personal stories fosters empathy and bridges divides.
• Small acts of kindness can create a positive societal ripple effect.
• Dysfunctional family dynamics lead to symptomatic behaviors in individuals.
• Mass shootings may indicate broader societal dysfunction.
• Healing from abuse requires rebuilding bonds of compassion and care.
• Psychology provides tools for deep listening and conflict resolution.
• Safe spaces for dialogue are essential for sharing experiences.
• Individuals can promote positive change through kindness and advocacy.

Memorable Quotes From Phyllis Leavitt.

"Healing from trauma is not just about rebuilding oneself; it's about nurturing the bonds of compassion that connect us all."

CONNECT WITH Phyllis Leavitt

Website:https://phyllisleavitt.com/

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-leavitt-630179255

X/Twitter:https://twitter.com/PhyllisLeavitt2

IG:https://www.instagram.com/pel2347/

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One of the things that frankly drives me crazy about how people think about continuous improvement is a focus on cost savings rather than increasing productivity and engagement< so I was excited to chat with Jonathan Vehar and Cathi Brese Doebler about a brilliant method to increase productivity, drive engagement and save money. They joined me to talk about their new book. “How to Make Meetings Not Suck” Listen in and consider how their approach might enhance every meeting, from your daily morning huddle to those three-day leadership retreats.Jonathan Vehar

Jonathan Vehar is on a mission to make meetings better. With years of experience as a leader, executive, and facilitator, he knows what works and what does not. Known as an "innovation thought leader" by Fast Company, Jonathan takes a fresh but productive approach to improving "how teams collaborate". He has worked with top companies like Disney, Intel, NASA, and Pfizer, and his insights have been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company. Jonathan is also the co-author of six books on leadership, and his latest book, How to Make Meetings Not Suck, comes out in August 2024.

Cathi Brese Doebler

Cathi Brese Doebler brings over 25 years of experience in meeting facilitation, training, and leadership development. Cathi is passionate about helping others learn and grow. Cathi has been a Senior Consultant and Leadership Solutions Facilitator at the Center for Creative Leadership since 2013 and has worked with organizations like Fiserv and McBride & Lucius. She has also collaborated with several colleges, including the University of Buffalo and Erie Community College, blending her expertise in leadership with education.

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KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• 00:02:43 The importance of having fun at work
• 00:10:55 The purpose of having agendas for meetings
• 00:15:29 The cost of unproductive meetings
• 00:19:50 Calculating the financial cost of meetings
• 00:22:28 Suggestions for running effective meetings
• 00:25:14 The CIDR framework for meeting purposes
• 00:27:14 Differences between in-person and virtual meetings
• 00:32:19 Managing hybrid meetings effectively
• 00:33:14 How to connect with Jonathan and Kathy
• 00:34:02 Advice for young professionals starting their careers

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Thoughtful planning and structure are essential for effective meetings, requiring a clear purpose and well-organized processes.
• Ineffective meetings are costly, with an average financial impact of $336,000 in one year.
• Virtual, in-person, and hybrid meetings present unique challenges, but we can manage them effectively with the right tools and techniques.
• The elements for successful meetings include a Power Agenda, defined roles, clear purpose (using the CIDR framework), and strong follow-through.
• The "Power Agenda" focuses on unique components like meeting duration, role assignments (e.g., scribe), processes, and desired outcomes to make meetings more efficient.
• The 3 Ps (Purpose, Process, Product) framework helps guide meetings to stay on track, ensuring clarity and respect for the time.
• Respecting time by preparing agendas in advance and assigning clear roles is a simple way to improve meeting effectiveness, countering the excuse of not having time for preparation.
• The CIDR framework (clear purpose, intentional design, defined roles, and respectful interaction) is crucial for making meetings productive and meaningful.

Memorable Quotes:

“Effective meetings don’t just happen — they require thoughtful planning, clear purpose, and respect for everyone’s time.”

CONNECT WITH Jonathan Vehar:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-vehar/

Website: https://vehar.com/

CONNECT WITH Cathi Brese Doebler:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathi-brese-doebler-91884910/

Website: https://ditchthe.com/about/

Twitter: https://x.com/CathiDoebler

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Who are you when you are coaching? How are you presenting yourself to your learner? How might your inner emotional state affect your coaching effectiveness? Kelly Mallery coaches using the Toyota Improvement Kata and she joined me at the Edges of Lean to share some of her insights and what she has learned about the hidden side of coaching.

Kelly Mallery

Kelly Mallery serves as the Operational Excellence Manager for two Viant Medical sites while running her own coaching business, Kelly Mallery Coaching & Consulting LLC. She became part of Viant Medical in 2023, bringing her over 11 years of diverse manufacturing experience across industries such as solar, industrial consumer products, and aerospace. Throughout her career, Kelly has consistently focused on continuous improvement, and in the past five years, she has shifted her focus from practicing to coaching others. In 2020, she joined the Kata Girl Geeks, and by 2023, she founded Kata School Northeast, where she has established herself as a seasoned coach and 2nd coach. Kelly resides in the Upper Valley, situated between Vermont and New Hampshire, with her family.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• 00:01:06 Kelly's background and role in coaching
• 00:02:56 Integrating coaching practices into business operations
• 00:08:38 Developing self-awareness as a coach
• 00:11:08 Giving specific feedback to coaches
• 00:14:51 Bringing attention to a coach's emotional state
• 00:18:41 The impact of self-awareness on organizational culture
• 00:22:42 Creating trust and healthy conflict through self-awareness
• 00:28:22 Treating people as vehicles vs. human beings
• 00:29:27 Kelly's plans and coaching business
• 00:31:09 Advice for young professionals on self-awareness

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Integrating coaching practices into business operations enhances organizational performance and effectiveness.
• Self-awareness is essential for coaches, allowing them to recognize their biases and emotional states, which can significantly influence the learner's experience.
• Developing emotional intelligence within organizations fosters trust and encourages healthy conflict, improving team dynamics and performance.
• Evolving from viewing individuals as mere tools for change to recognizing their humanity enriches the coaching approach.
• Integrating scientific thinking with emotional intelligence creates a holistic coaching practice that addresses both cognitive and emotional aspects of learning.
• Fostering self-awareness throughout an organization can lead to a more collaborative environment and enhance overall performance.
• Trust and healthy conflict are vital components of effective teamwork, and self-awareness is the key to cultivating these elements.
• Continuous personal and professional growth is crucial for coaches, emphasizing the need for ongoing development in self-awareness and coaching skills.

Memorable Quotes From Kelly Mallery.

"Trust and healthy conflict are vital components of effective teamwork, and self-awareness plays a key role in cultivating these elements."

CONNECT WITH Kelly Mallery.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-mallery-123b0628/

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We know that autonomy is one of the factors that leads to high employee satisfaction and that organizational alignment is required to achieve company goals. But how do you get both autonomy and alignment? Jurriaan Kamer believes that companies can achieve aligned autonomy, and there are specific actions leaders can take to reach this goal. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his experience and insights.

Jurriaan Kamer

Jurriaan Kamer is a Dutch expert in organizational change and co-founder of Unblock, a modern management consultancy. He is also a keynote speaker and the author of two influential books. His latest release, "Unblock: Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization," offers practical strategies for leaders to enhance ownership, speed up decision-making, and reduce bureaucracy for better outcomes.

Previously, Jurriaan wrote "Formula X," a business novel inspired by Formula 1 racing, recognized by Forbes as a must-read for navigating an uncertain market. With over a decade of experience, he helps organizations eliminate ineffective strategies and foster high levels of autonomy.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:20 Agile Principles vs. Practices

00:06:34 Organizational Culture and Scalability

00:09:38 Leadership Principles and Organizational Culture

00:12:40 Organizational Dysfunctions and Results

00:18:41 Formula One Behind the Scenes

00:21:25 Unblocking Organizational Challenges

00:24:15 Strategy as a Hypothesis

00:29:17 Control Needs in Leadership

00:32:09 Types of Decisions in Organizations

00:35:44 Teamwork and Psychological Safety

00:39:32 Thriving Organizations Through Lean

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Autonomy and alignment are both important factors for organizational success.
• Aligned autonomy is the concept of having autonomous teams that work within the framework of the organization's objectives.
• Agile principles may not work effectively at the organizational scale, and it's important to explore other organizational theories and methods.
• The goal of organizations is to achieve results, whether financial, regulatory, or other objectives.
• Unblocking the organization involves identifying and overcoming organizational dysfunctions that hinder progress.
• Steering involves continuously setting goals, changing direction, and measuring progress.
• Meetings should be focused, purposeful, and used as a tool to drive work forward rather than being a distraction.

Memorable Quotes From Jurriaan Kamer.

"Ownership is not something you can give to someone, it is something that people should take."

CONNECT WITH Jurriaan Kamer.

Website: http://www.unblockbook.net

Book Website:https://www.formula-x.co/

Linkedin :https://www.linkedin.com/in/jurriaankamer

X/Twitter: https://x.com/jurriaankamer

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jurriaankamer/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG1WPfl4intvNQy5_5bVBcw

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A diverse organization is a competitive advantage –innovation and problem-solving thrive when people from diverse backgrounds work together. No matter who we are, when we move into that diverse environment, we all, no matter our race, carry baggage from racism in our culture. JD Mass has written a book called “Race for What,” addressing the causes of racism and steps white folk can take to heal from the harm of racism and begin to connect as humans. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his insights.

JD Mass

JD Mass grew up in St. Louis, one of America’s most segregated cities, where his parents raised him in the black community. He worked closely with his childhood friend, Nelly, during the first four years of Nelly’s career, witnessing his rise to international fame. JD later joined a global community of black ex-patriots focused on health, peace, and sharing. Throughout these experiences, he saw the highest impact of racism and power structures. To better understand cultural development, JD earned a degree in organizational psychology. His journey is fueled by a desire to understand the roots of racism and promote a more humane, loving world.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:06:04 Defining culture and its impact

00:08:27 Exploring the roots of racism

00:19:54 Letting go to experience new possibilities

00:21:59 Experiencing a peaceful community in Israel

00:24:02 Applying cultural appreciation to lean implementations

00:29:20 Step 2: Acknowledging the harm of our culture

00:30:26 Step 3: Letting go of power, privilege, and fears

00:32:29 Step 4: Appreciating the value of other cultures

00:35:58 Step 5: Repairing and healing the harm

00:39:04 Step 6: Being led by a new mind

00:39:16 Closing thoughts and advice for young people

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Reducing racism in company culture involves continuous improvement and active efforts to address biases.
• Diverse organizations gain a competitive edge through enhanced innovation and collaborative problem-solving.
• Racial biases impact interactions in diverse environments, regardless of personal intentions.
• The scarcity mentality, driven by limited resources, fosters competitive and discriminatory behaviors.
• Addressing racism requires a deep understanding of its historical and systemic origins and patterns.
• Perceptions of resource scarcity influence racial attitudes and contribute to competitive behaviors.
• Changing deeply ingrained cultural behaviors is challenging due to their entrenched nature.

Memorable Quotes From JD Mass.

“Addressing racism requires understanding and changing historical and systemic patterns.

CONNECT WITH JD Mass.

Website: https://raceforwhat.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jd-mass-psyd/

X/Twitter: https://x.com/JDMass1

IG: https://www.instagram.com/raceforwhat/

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As lean thinkers, we often look at life as a series of problems to be solved. I know I do this: I will be somewhere and see something that is working quite right, and I immediately think about the root cause of the issue and potential countermeasures to try. Do you do that, too? That is why I loved this conversation with Fletcher Ellingson, who talks about how to live a “feel good life,” building grace. And wait till you hear what he says about our values do not mean jack!

Fletcher Ellingson.

Fletcher is a speaker, coach, and author of the best-selling book The Practice of Feeling Good. Using a combination of science and psychology, he helps his clients break free from financial struggle, overwhelm, and persistent worry so they can spend more time doing what they love, contribute to their families, and impact their communities. Fletcher also hosts a regional weekly TV show, is a regular contributing columnist, and is a professional magician. He has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and successful professionals embrace the principles of The Practice of Feeling Good. As a result, they have radically shifted their thinking and have been able to produce outstanding outcomes in their health, wealth, and relationships.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:22 - Roles and Mentorship

00:02:05 - Early Interest in Positive Thinking

00:02:46 - Influence of Early Experiences

00:04:50 - Discovering Magic and Its Impact

00:06:07 - The Joy of Performing Magic for Adults

00:07:04 - The Practice of Feeling Good

00:08:41 - Understanding and Influencing Emotions

00:09:12 - Feeling Good on Demand

00:12:27 - Empowering Stories and Their Impact

00:14:04 - Example of Empowering Stories in Daily Life

00:20:47 - Crafting Intentional Messages

00:22:13 - The Importance of Values in Lean Thinking

00:34:00 - Common Issues Clients Face

00:35:12 - The Overflow Effect on Relationships

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The practice of feeling good involves learning how to feel good on demand, which includes feeling safe, secure, connected, enthusiastic, and optimistic.
• Shifting our thinking is essential for producing new and outstanding outcomes in our health, wealth, and relationships.
• Creating empowering stories about our circumstances can lead to a more positive and fulfilling life.
• Practicing gratitude and focusing on the positive can help us feel good and improve our well-being.
• Upgrading our thinking and challenging our limiting beliefs can lead to breakthroughs and transformation in various areas of our lives.
• Taking the time to define our standards and aligning our actions with them can lead to greater success and fulfillment.

Memorable Quotes From Fletcher Ellingson.

"Get around the people who already have the results that you want.

CONNECT WITH Fletcher Ellingson.

Website:https://fletcherellingson.com/

X/Twitter:https://x.com/fletchellingson?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gocoachfletch/

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If you are a lean thinker, you are probably working to continually improve your skills in communicating with the adults in your life. You may also be working to bring some lean thinking into your family life. But what if you have some pre-teens in your family circle? They can be very challenging to work with – and that is where Marcus Higgs can help us. He works with parents of pre-teens to help them improve their connection with the kids at a time when the kids are beginning to establish their unique identities.

Marcus Aurelius Higgs.

Marcus Aurelius Higgs works with Certain Future to support parents of pre-teens (10-14 y.o.), helping them show up and maintain meaningful relationships with their children during these 'identity-breaking' years. He collaborates with parents who want to be present with their son or daughter before it is too late to bridge the gap. Using 'The SHOW UP Framework,' Marcus helps parents benefit by ensuring they are confident in their communication when their tween starts having big emotions, knowing how to be present when their pre-teen starts to withdraw, so their child continues to trust them and naturally opens up difficult conversations, and understanding how to support their child in ways that develop self-belief and resilience.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:03:25 - Identity Breaking Phase

00:04:09 - Development of Friendships

00:05:12 - Coaching a Young Musician

00:10:12 - The Concept of "Not Yet"

00:12:42 - Pygmalion Effect on Parenting

00:13:22 - Common Issues Parents Face

00:16:01 - Show Up Framework Overview

00:22:37 - Opening Up Communication

00:24:44 - Establishing Regular Check-ins

00:29:21 - Personal Story of Support

00:32:30 - Challenges of Modern Parenting

00:34:26 - Social Media and Identity Formation

KEY TAKEAWAYS :

• Parents need to establish a strong identity and know their values and virtues.
• Parents should hold space for collaboration with their kids, working with them rather than doing things for them.
• Written letters expressing pride and support can be a powerful tool for opening up communication with teens.
• Parents should seek support from a parent pod or a network of trusted adults to share the responsibility of parenting.
• Social media can impact the sense of identity, and it is important to help children understand their worth beyond likes and virtual validation.

Memorable Quotes From Marcus Aurelius Higgs.

"If you're a lean thinker, you're probably working to continually improve your skills of communicating with the adults in your life."

CONNECT WITH Marcus Aurelius Higgs

Website: https://marcushiggs.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofmarcus/

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You took the big plunge and started your own business. Maybe you already have a customer or two. But what comes next? Jamaul Ford is a second-generation entrepreneur with some great ideas about what you already know about learning cycles for finding and connecting with customers. Let's listen to what he has to say.

Jamaul Ford

Jamaul Ford, or Jamaul the Maven, is an accomplished second-generation entrepreneur whose business journey goes beyond commercial success. His mission revolves around fostering growth, empathy, and community. With a strong belief in understanding and connecting with people, Jamaul's business approach centers on empowering others to succeed. He has successfully scaled diverse businesses, taking startups from zero to 10k and guiding enterprises to reach milestones of 100k and beyond. As a leader, he actively engages with his team, values learning from every experience, and advocates for open collaboration and collective growth.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:04 Second Generation Entrepreneurship

00:06:22 Finding Your Passion in Business.

00:10:45 Lean continuous improvement techniques.

00:12:04 Listening to customers for success.

00:18:34 Creative problem-solving in business.

00:21:29 Understanding client needs.

00:23:42 What qualifies as a lead.

00:31:17 Using GPT prompt for research.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Transitioning into entrepreneurship is easier when you have a strong foundation and a passion for your work.
• When starting a business, focus on solving a problem or addressing a need that you resonate with.
• Establish rapport and build relationships with potential clients before offering your services.
• Understand the needs of your target market to tailor your pitch and marketing efforts effectively.
• Use tools like adaptive intelligence and artificial intelligence to gather insights or refine your messaging.

Memorable Quotes From Jamaul Ford

“Sometimes, people do not know what they need until you have shown them what they need.”

CONNECT WITH Jamaul Ford

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamaul-ford-3bb430194/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/JamaultheMaven

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When I was first working, one of the early lessons imparted to me was that whatever happened at home was not pertinent to my work life. That has been a difficult lesson for me to unlearn. It was one of many limiting beliefs that I wasn’t even aware I was carrying into my lean and continuous improvement work. Jeeva Sam joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his insights into some of the limiting beliefs that hold us back and what we can do about them.

Jeeva Sam

Jeeva Sam is a seasoned pastor turned advisor and mentor specializing in helping individuals and couples navigate through challenges in their personal and professional lives. With over 35 years of experience as a pastor and has led numerous individuals to achieve personal and professional growth, Jeeva uses his spiritual background to guide clients toward self-awareness and relationship harmonization. Based in Canada, Jiva has a unique approach to counseling and mentorship that focuses on addressing limiting beliefs, fostering healthy mindsets, and enhancing communication skills.

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KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:01 Getting to the Root Causes of Limiting Beliefs

00:05:57 Addressing Relational Stress to Improve Workplace Productivity

00:10:59 The Importance of Inner Work for Personal and Professional Success

00:16:29 Exploring Childhood Influences on Adult Behavior and Relationships

00:25:24 Reprogramming Beliefs Through Positive Affirmations and Supportive Company

00:28:49 The Importance of Coaches, Mentors, and Accountability Groups

00:30:08 Couples Masterminds and Gender-Specific Mentorship in Business

00:33:51 The Importance of Mentorship and Coaching for Young Entrepreneurs

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Identifying and addressing limiting beliefs is crucial for personal and professional development.
• Relational stress can significantly impact productivity and effectiveness in the workplace.
• Acknowledging the influence of childhood experiences on behavior is essential for self-awareness.
• Cultivating positive beliefs and affirmations can lead to a mindset shift and improved outcomes.
• Seeking mentorship and coaching early on can provide valuable insights and support for growth.

Memorable Quotes From Jeeva Sam

“Replace unhealthy beliefs with positive affirmations to reprogram your mindset for success."

"Surround yourself with individuals who uplift and challenge you to grow beyond your limitations."

CONNECT WITH Jeeva Sam

Website: https://thesams.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeevasam/

Titter/X: https://x.com/jeevasam

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Lean practitioners often discuss the importance of delivering value to customers and understanding their needs. However, Danny Nathan takes this to a new level with his unique approach to lean customer development. His business is a testament to this. Intrigued by his methods, I invited him to join me on a journey to the Edges of Lean, where he shared his insights and practices.

Danny Nathan:

Danny is a versatile entrepreneur who has made a name for himself by helping companies create and launch new products and ventures. With a background in various fields like product design, marketing, and strategy, Danny is known for his ability to solve complex business challenges. As the founder of Apollo 21, a company that combines business consultancy, product design, and venture studio, Danny helps companies foster innovation, drive growth, and overcome obstacles to scaling by developing cutting-edge technology.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:59 - Transition from Acting to Technology

00:04:14 - Types of Products Developed by Apollo 21

00:10:42 - Challenges with Misunderstanding MVP

00:12:02 - Lean Customer Development Explained

00:13:14 - Importance of Validating Customer Needs

00:18:13 - Learning from Customer Development

00:20:04 - Identifying Ideal Customer Groups

00:21:34 - Process of Customer Interviews

00:26:24 - Creating Conviction Through Learning

00:27:00 - Differentiating Apollo 21's Approach

00:29:13 - Ensuring Against Post-Launch Failure

00:30:37 - Customer Observation Techniques

00:39:06 - Handling Multiple Stakeholders

00:40:17 - Heuristic vs. Data-Driven Processes

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Lean customer development is about discovering the purest pain point and validating the need, potential solution, and willingness of customers to pay for it before building anything.
• The focus should be on delivering value to the customer and understanding their needs.
• Lean customer development helps streamline the process of bridging the gap between discovery and minimum viable product (MVP).
• The concept of an MVP has evolved and can be interpreted differently by different organizations.
• The goal of an MVP is to learn as quickly as possible, mitigate risk, and minimize cost and time expenditure.
• Innovation is great, but it is crucial to innovate something that is valuable to the customer and that they are willing to buy.
• Lean Startup provides a clear-cut series of actions to move towards creating something new, but it is vital to adapt and customize the methodology to fit specific needs.
• Lean customer development involves talking to customers, asking the right questions, and gaining a clear understanding of their pain points and needs.
• The process starts with defining the problem space and then talking to a wide range of people to discover pain points and potential solutions.

Memorable Quotes From Danny Nathan::

“Fall in love with the problem and not the solution.”

CONNECT WITH Danny Nathan::

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amongmany/

Website: https://apollo21.io

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Have you earned an advanced degree? What was the dissertation process like for you? Have you thought about going back to school for a PhD? Are you wondering how to succeed and come out of the process with new knowledge, ready for your next challenge, and with your continuous improvement skills and self-confidence honed? Dr. Jen Harrison works with students as a dissertation coach, and she joined me at the Edges of Lean to share the pitfalls and the keys to success with researching and writing your dissertation, all while becoming more collaborative.

Jen Harrison

Dr. Jen Harrison is a highly experienced dissertation coach with a Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature from Aberystwyth University in Wales, UK. Over the past decade, she has successfully coached and supervised first-generation, ESL, and non-traditional students in the UK and USA, helping many achieve first-class degrees. Dr. Harrison's expertise extends to providing support in writing, research design, motivation, and research methods. As the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect., she utilizes her background in secondary school English teaching, private tutoring, and experience in nursery and primary schools to offer exceptional writing and research services.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:02 - Transition to Dissertation Coaching

00:03:07 - Role of a Dissertation Coach

00:04:45 - Misalignment in Graduate Programs

00:06:21 - Field Non-Specific Coaching

00:08:29 - Pressure and Personal Stories

00:11:02 - Academic Year and Deadlines

00:15:31 - Realizing Misalignment with Goals

00:18:14 - Coachability of Students

00:20:14 - Applying Classroom Teaching Skills

00:25:13 - Differences Between US and UK Academia

00:32:21 - Advocating for Proper Supervision

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Set boundaries with your program and supervisor early on and stick to them.
• Build a strong support network of friends, family, and resources to help you through the process.
• Understand your why - know your purpose and goals for pursuing a graduate degree.
• Seek feedback and ensure you receive constructive feedback that helps you improve.
• Take time for self-care and prioritize your mental health throughout the process.
• Be proactive in advocating for what you need from your supervisor and program.
• Prepare for the transition after completing your dissertation by identifying your next steps and finding something to be excited about.
• Reflect on the structure and expectations of your program and adjust accordingly to meet your needs.
• Remember that resilience and perseverance are keys to navigating the challenges of a graduate degree.

Memorable Quotes From Jen Harrison

“Have a network, establish your network early on, and that doesn't just mean the people in your institution.”

CONNECT WITH Jen Harrison

Website: https://readwriteperfect.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-harrison-769a89172/

Titter/X: https://twitter.com/perfect_write

Free Call for Podcast Listeners: https://calendly.com/readwriteperfect/back-on-track-coaching-consultation-podcasts

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Here at the edges of Lean, I love to talk with people who have taken Lean thinking into spaces far from the shop floor. Tirrell Payton is a lean thinker bringing lean to pharmaceutical marketing – a highly regulated, people-focused business area and one of the places where people are very likely to say, “You can’t do lean here!”. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to discuss why and how he does it.

Tirrell Payton

Tirrell Payton is a dynamic and compelling individual who brings energy and storytelling to any platform. As the leader of Nooma Group Consulting, Tirrell combines southern charm with strategic expertise honed at Kellogg. With a deep understanding of the realities and constraints of business and drug development, Tirrell and his team drive impactful transformation through innovation in large organizations. Tirrell specializes in bringing a fresh perspective to complex topics such as agility and transformation, organizational development, leadership and change management, management consulting, pharma (clinical operations, marketing), and entrepreneurship.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:32 Bringing lean thinking to pharmaceutical marketing

00:03:49 Challenges of applying agile in regulated industries

00:08:04 Insights into the tendencies of the pharma industry

00:10:13 The challenges of not considering humans in decision-making

00:11:53 Shifting from software to the pharma industry

00:15:01 The importance of understanding regulations

00:23:12 Challenges in pharmaceutical marketing

00:28:09 Bringing people together post-pandemic

00:33:06 Lack of focus on outcomes versus activities

00:37:34 Applying scientific thinking across the company

00:43:28 Attributes of successful leaders

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The pandemic has disrupted collaboration and created social isolation, making it harder for teams to prioritize and work effectively.
• Building a sense of community and belonging within the organization is crucial for productivity and performance.
• Many marketers focus on activities and outputs rather than driving outcomes and impacts.
• Defining and measuring key performance indicators (KPIs) for outcomes can be a struggle in marketing.
• Leaders in the pharma industry need to model the behavior they want to see, demonstrate empathy, and invite people to the journey.
• Software alone is insufficient to solve organizational problems. Cultural systems and disciplined processes are necessary.
• Young professionals should prioritize developing strong writing skills and empathy, as these qualities can set them apart and enhance their thinking and communication abilities.

Memorable Quotes From Tirrell Payton

"Learn to write. Learning to write forces you to clarify your thinking, and it makes you a better thinker.”

CONNECT WITH Tirrell Payton

Website: https://www.noomagroup.com/leadership/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tirrellpayton/

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We have been looking at different aspects of communication here at the Edges of Lean, and one aspect I wanted to explore more was the neuroscience of communication. Creative entrepreneur, writer, and coach Aurora Winter joins me to bring insight on that topic and highlight the power of stories.

Aurora Winter

Aurora Winter is a successful entrepreneur, bestselling author, TV writer-producer, and founder of SamePagePublishing.com. With expertise in film and neuroscience, Aurora helps people craft impactful stories that boost brands, books, and businesses. Winner of the Outstanding Nonfiction Book of the Year Award, her book "Turn Words Into Wealth" reveals seven ways to generate seven figures. She emphasizes the power of words to elevate income, impact, and influence. Passionate about meaningful discussions and valuable content creation, Aurora covers various topics, including the neuroscience of communication, marketing, pivoting, creating multiple income streams, turning books into movies, writing fiction and nonfiction, publishing, and more.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:14 - Exploring the Neuroscience of Communication

00:00:58 - Aurora Winter's Background and Journey

00:08:34 - Addressing the Midbrain in Communication

00:14:34 - The Power of Stories in Communication

00:20:40 - Impact of Stories on Belonging and Meaning

00:27:13 - Stories as Tools for Change and Inspiration

00:36:51 - Where to Find Aurora Winter Online

00:41:54 - Advice for Young People Starting Out

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Communication is a powerful tool that can significantly impact productivity and profitability.
• The midbrain, which is responsible for social connection and belonging, should also be addressed by highlighting the value of the message to others.
• Stories are a powerful tool in communication as they convey values and provide meaning to the audience.
• Opening a presentation with a question or half of a story can create interest and engagement from the audience.
• Fiction, particularly science fiction, can shape and change the world by introducing new ideas and perspectives.
• When starting any endeavor, it is vital to follow your interests and passions, explore different opportunities, and always look for beauty in every situation.

Memorable Quotes From Aurora Winter

"Stories teach values, and science provides information."

CONNECT WITH Aurora Winter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurorawinter/

Website: https://www.aurorawinter.com/
Gifts:
1. www.turnwordsintowealth.com
2. www.magicmysteryandthemultiverse.com

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I believe lean thinking is the best way to manage a business and develop people. Even though I have much experience and many great examples to share, it does not mean I am always successful in persuading people. Carlos Alvarenga is a communications researcher who has delved into what it takes to be persuasive. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to talk about his new book: “The Rules of Persuasion,” and to explain why persuasion is a skill we can all learn.

Carlos Alvarenga

Carlos A. Alvarenga is an independent communications researcher, writer, and coach. With a background in management consulting and academia, he has worked as an adjunct professor at the Robert H. Smith School of Business and as the Executive Director of World 50 Labs. Carlos is pursuing a Ph.D. in Communications and Rhetoric at the University of Maryland. Carlos resides in Bethesda, MD, with his wife, a physician/researcher, and they have two sons. His diverse experiences and educational background contribute to his expertise in effective communication strategies.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:10 - Carlos's Background and Current Work

00:07:41 - The Elements of Character in Persuasion

00:11:34 - The Elements of Argument in Persuasion

00:12:19 - The Importance of Sequence in Presentations

00:14:27 - The Role of Emotion in Group Dynamics

00:22:50 - The Seven Kinds of Emotion in Persuasion

00:25:34 - The Importance of Emotion in Persuasion

00:33:36 - The Importance of Safety in Lean Transformation

00:37:14 - The Different Audiences in Persuasion

00:39:37 - The Dangers of Persuasion in the Wrong Hands

00:43:45 - Applying Persuasion in One-on-One Interactions

00:47:07 - Advice for Young Professionals

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Persuasion is a skill that can be learned and developed by anyone.
• Persuasion is different from influence and manipulation.
• The three modes of persuasion are character, argument, and emotion.
• Character includes elements like status, origin, language, style, categories, and associations.
• Arguments include elements like logic, evidence, witnesses, authorities, laws, and standards.
• Understanding the chemistry of persuasion can help in crafting effective messages.
• The order and sequence of elements in persuasion are crucial for success.

Memorable Quotes From Carlos Alvarenga

"If your ideas walk out the door with you at night, if your projects would die if you quit tomorrow, you haven't persuaded anyone.”

CONNECT WITH Carlos Alvarenga

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-alvarenga/

Website: https://www.carlosalvarenga.com/

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How much time are you spending every day on communication? How effective and efficient is your communication? We live in a swirl of communication – email, instant messages, text messages, and social media posts. And sometimes we even talk to each other! Geoff Weinstein says communication is a real “Edges of the Lean” frontier – one of the places where we can all leverage lean thinking to reduce waste and improve our lives. He joined me at The Edges of Lean to discuss lean communication – and by the way, he has gifts for you that you can download at http://geoffweinstein.com/gifts

Geoff Weinstein:

Geoff Weinstein is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in serving the financial industry. He specializes in regulated industries where individuals struggle to articulate their ideas. Geoff's expertise lies in helping busy leaders align company culture with AI and digital transformation strategies. He works directly with clients to streamline broken communication processes, emphasizing the importance of clear, concise, and influential communication. Geoff's mission is to make lean communication the standard in workplace communication, enabling organizations to thrive in the fast-paced world of digital transformation.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:00 - Geoff Weinstein's Background and Public Speaking

00:07:04 - The Mid-Office Communication Role

00:12:37 - Defining Lean Communication

00:15:21 - Communication as a Two-Way Process

00:18:14 - The Importance of Audience-Focused Communication

00:20:34 - Typical Communication Issues in Organizations

00:25:03 - The Evolution of Email Communication

00:27:20 - The Fear of Missing Out in Communication

00:30:23 - Crafting Effective Group Emails

00:35:15 - Example of a Power Paragraph

00:38:27 - Empathy in Communication

00:47:18 - Advice for Young Professionals

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Lean communication involves stripping out stumbling blocks that prevent the recipient from understanding the message.
• Lean communication focuses on getting the message across quickly and concisely.
• Email is a common area where waste occurs in communication, such as unnecessary CCs and reply calls.
• Lean communication requires thinking about the value of the message and who truly needs to receive it.
• The length of an email should be kept concise, with a power paragraph summarizing the context, problem, and solution.
• Empathy and understanding the audience's pain points are crucial in lean communication.
• Lean leaders should also focus on effective communication and provide value to their teams.
• Face-to-face communication and presentation skills are important areas to develop for lean professionals.

CONNECT WITH Geoff Weinstein:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffweinstein

Website: https://www.geoffweinstein.com/

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As lean leaders, we understand that trust is a key component of an effective and efficient culture. George Dom spent years in high-performance environments where trust was not just a nice to have, but it was necessary to assure that the entire team succeeded – and survived! He has joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his insights into developing trust in every environment by being a high-trust leader.

George Dom

George Dom, founder of the High-Trust Leadership Network, is a former naval officer and aviator with extensive leadership experience. He has served in key positions in high-performance organizations, including commanding aircraft carrier fighter squadrons and leading air wings on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS John F. Kennedy. Dom has also been an instructor and pilot at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun) and commanded the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron. Today, he is a respected business aviation manager, speaker, and leadership consultant to Fortune 500 corporations, private companies, and individuals. Dom believes that achieving high performance, both individually and collectively, requires High-Trust Leadership and Focused Engagement. This principle applies not only in sports, the military, and medical teams, but also in the business world.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:21 - George's Background and High-Trust Leadership

00:03:52 - The Importance of Trust in Organizations

00:08:15 - Building Trust Among Thousands of Crew Members

00:10:28 - The Five Questions of Trustworthiness

00:17:44 - The Second Pillar of Trust: Commitment

00:24:28 - The Fifth Pillar of Trust: Communication

00:26:55 - The Role of Debriefing in Continuous Improvement

00:32:23 - The Importance of Understanding Your Team

00:37:28 - The Debriefing Process and Vulnerability

00:39:50 - The Necessity of Clear Communication

00:43:16 - Adapting Connection in Remote Work Environments

00:44:51 - The Challenge of Remote Communication

00:47:56 - Ensuring Message Clarity and Reception

00:51:24 - The Impact of Trust Beyond Safety

00:52:16 - Advice for Young People Starting Out

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Trust is built on vulnerability, dependability, and mutual support in both aviation and business settings.
• Trust is a strategic imperative that requires continuous effort and attention.
• Trustworthiness is evaluated based on behavior, not just intentions.
• The five pillars of trust include character, commitment, competence, connection, and communication.
• Character involves walking the talk and living up to shared values.
• Commitment is about being present and leading through challenges.
• Competence is important but secondary to character and commitment.
• Connection is about understanding team members and building strong relationships.
• Communication is the key to ensuring understanding and clarity in interactions.

Memorable Quotes From George Dom

“Communication requires clarity, conciseness, and consistency.”

CONNECT WITH George Dom

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-dom-b67b207

Website: https://georgedom.com/

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Iteration is the key to lean thinking and especially to lean design and lean product development. Brian Walch uses iteration to develop individual contributors into managers and managers into leaders. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his approach and how he has developed it independently of the Lean community.

Brian Walch

Brian Walch is a coach, consultant, and personal and professional development speaker. He started Shiftfocus Coaching and Consulting company to support managers and address the need for more great managers in the world. Brian has developed the Integrated Life Framework, a tool that aids practical self-awareness and promotes personal and professional growth. This framework has been beneficial not only to himself but also to others seeking success in their lives.

Drawing on his expertise in people and systems, Brian develops effective tools and processes that drive change from within.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:00 Iterating leadership development through iteration.
00:05:06 Moving into project management.
00:11:58 Adapting to Agile Methodologies.
00:13:28 Agile and Scrum approaches.
00:19:46 Self-reflection and learning.
00:26:35 Insights on organizational change.
00:33:15 Shifting from criticism to learning.
00:34:37 Learning through experience and respect.
00:38:19 Investing in emotional intelligence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Iteration is crucial for improving leadership skills, while reflection enables self-assessment and adjustment in leadership approaches.
• Breaking down leadership development into modules helps individuals focus on specific areas of gradual growth.
• Implementing a structured iteration cycle facilitates continuous learning and improvement in leadership skills.
• Reflection promotes self-awareness, identifies areas for development, and enhances leadership effectiveness.
• Embracing continuous learning is essential for evolving as a leader and inspiring others.
• Developing emotional intelligence is crucial for effective communication, decision-making, and relationship-building.
• Cultivating meaningful connections provides guidance, opportunities, and valuable insights.
• Understanding and working effectively with people is the key to success in any field.
• Recognizing the value of individuals fosters a culture of collaboration, trust, and learning.
• Developing interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence enhances effectiveness and promotes positive work environments.

Memorable Quotes From Brian Walch

“Remember that it is always about people, and you should invest in emotional intelligence and develop and maintain your relationships with people."

CONNECT WITH Brian Walch

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwalch/

Website: https://www.shiftfocus.com/

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Diversity, equity, and inclusion are words that have become politically charged. Kevin Wayne Johnson is a student of leadership and a leadership coach. He believes that DEI is a core component of great leadership and that all organizations benefit from leaders who value diversity, understand equity, and practice inclusion. To me, what he says resonates with the core principles of lean leadership. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his experience and his insights with us.

Kevin Wayne Johnson

Kevin Wayne Johnson, Founder and CEO of The Johnson Leadership Group, is a powerhouse in leadership development and executive coaching. With over 25 years of diverse experience in administration, leadership, coaching, mentoring, and training, Johnson customizes learning experiences to enhance efficiency, growth, awareness, and effectiveness. He is an 8-time bestselling author. He is also a former Chief of Staff for the United States Department of Defense, Johnson boasts a distinguished 34-year career spanning government and private sectors. He has spearheaded workforce development, organizational change, acquisition/procurement, customer service, and more at the Department of Defense headquarters in Fort Meade, MD. Notably, Johnson's leadership was pivotal in national initiatives like the National Performance Review for Procurement and Customer Service Reform during the Clinton Administration.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:03:38 - Kevin Wayne Johnson introduces himself and his career path

0:07:16 - Kevin shares examples of leadership in different cultures and the impact on people

0:10:54 - Discussion on the importance of listening and valuing others' input as a leader

0:14:32 - Definition and discussion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

0:18:10 - The importance of diverse thoughts and opinions in decision-making

0:21:48 - The value of having a diverse team in meetings and decision-making

0:25:26 - Addressing the lack of diversity in a client's leadership team

0:29:04 - Approaching the conversation about diversity with a client

0:32:42 - The positive response when asking for different perspectives

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Diverse leadership cultivates innovation and better problem-solving by embracing varied perspectives and backgrounds.
• Fair treatment and equal opportunities are vital for creating an environment where all individuals can thrive, irrespective of their background.
• An inclusive environment, where everyone feels valued and heard, boosts morale and productivity by encouraging the best contributions from each person.
• Leadership with a servant's heart, characterized by respect, empathy, and compassion, sets a positive example for the team.
• Actively listening to team members fosters open communication and collaboration, signaling the value placed on their contributions.
• Embracing inclusive and participatory leadership approaches acknowledges the importance of diverse perspectives over traditional command and control methods.
• Addressing systemic barriers and biases within organizations is crucial for establishing equitable environments where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
• Mentorship and coaching opportunities significantly enhance professional development for individuals starting their careers, aiding them in overcoming challenges effectively.

Memorable Quotes From Kevin Wayne Johnson

“Leadership with a servant's heart is about matching what we know with what's in our heart. It's about demonstrating respect, honor, value, empathy, and compassion as leaders.”

CONNECT WITH Kevin Wayne Johnson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwaynejohnson

Website: https://thejohnsonleadershipgroup.com/

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Have you ever realized that in order to grow you need to step out into the unknown and do things you have never done before? Beate Chelette says that those times in your life and your career are necessary for growth and transformation – and that there are ways to navigate through them as a leader and as a human. She joined me at the Edges of Lean to talk about the courage to deliver transformation.

Beate Chelette

Beate Chelette is the Growth Architect and founder of The Women's Code. The company specializes in guiding organizations to an enhanced return on investment through Balanced Leadership. She is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, author, and expert at creating inclusive work environments. Beate has worked with notable clients such as Chevron and Merck, and her book "Happy Woman Happy World" has received international acclaim. Her journey from financial struggles to selling her photography business, has shaped her commitment to supporting women and helping them overcome professional challenges. Beate's expertise and personal story inspire others to achieve success and fulfillment in their careers.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:12 - Beata's background and becoming the Growth Architect

00:03:06 - The transformational journey of professional careers

00:05:46 - The continuous process of self-improvement for leaders

00:10:24 - The importance of clarity and decision in growth

00:17:01 - Framing difficult conversations and uncovering real questions

00:18:05 - The importance of inquiry and understanding in leadership

00:20:14 - Making decisions with confidence and trust

00:22:16 - Clarifying decisions and understanding motivations

00:30:13 - Understanding the true intent behind questions

00:31:50 - The power of framing in leadership and communication
00:40:12 - The Misconception of the 'Wait and See' Approach
00:46:10 - Embracing Failure as Part of the Growth Process

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Continuous improvement involves growth, transformation, and navigating through different stages in one's career.
• Transformational journeys require leaders to step out of their comfort zones and embrace change.
• The process of architecting growth involves developing strategies, systems, and processes to achieve goals.
• Difficult conversations require framing, understanding underlying motives, and asking the right questions.
• Leaders must be open to continuous learning and self-improvement to lead effectively.
• The journey of growth and transformation is ongoing and requires constant improvement.
• Leaders must let go of old ways and embrace new skills and perspectives.
• Purpose-driven individuals are often more fulfilled and successful than those focused on money.

Memorable Quotes From Beate Chelette

"Success is driven by what we internally expect and what we allow ourselves to receive."

CONNECT WITH Beate Chelette

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatechelette

Website: https://thewomenscode.com/about/

Website: https://beatechelette.com/

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I wish I was perfect! Wouldn’t it be great to simply not make any mistakes? In the practice of Lean, we try to mistake-proof our processes and build on our previous learnings to prevent mistakes. And yet, we know that we learn so much from mistakes, and Mark Graban has been exploring with different people how they have benefited from their mistakes. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his insight on what he has learned from those conversations and his new book, "The Mistakes that Make Us."

Mark Graban

Mark Graban is an internationally recognized consultant, author, speaker, and entrepreneur with expertise in Lean management, continuous improvement, and people-centered leadership. He has authored several books and hosts the My Favorite Mistake podcast. His work spans various industries, such as improving customer or patient experience, developing leaders and employees, and building more adaptive organizations. He emphasizes the importance of psychological safety, problem-solving, and employee engagement.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:31 The mistakes that make us.

00:06:12 The mistakes and their consequences.

00:12:02 The systemic problems and workplace culture.

00:14:58 Healthcare culture and nurses.

00:21:38 Creating a culture of learning from mistakes.

00:24:17 Internal barriers and privilege.

00:29:08 Cultivating a culture of learning and innovation.

00:35:13 ADHD diagnosis and treatment.

00:37:18 The causes of anxiety and ADHD.

00:47:04 The mistakes and learning from them.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Learning from mistakes is an essential part of personal and professional growth.
• Mistake-proofing processes are the keys principle in Lean methodology, but mistakes still happen.
• Fear and futility are two main reasons employees choose not to speak up about mistakes in the workplace.
• Leaders play a significant role in shaping the culture of an organization.
• Mistake-proofing is particularly important in healthcare to protect patients from harm and prevent frontline workers from being blamed for systemic mistakes.
• Culture exists whether it is intentionally accepted or not.
• Individuals may face different barriers to admitting mistakes, such as societal expectations, privilege, or past experiences.
• Lean practices can provide structure and support for individuals with ADHD or similar challenges, as they offer tools and methods for focusing attention and prioritizing tasks.

Memorable Quotes From Mark Graban

“When leaders are able to lead by example, modeling those behaviors, that opens the door for their employees to follow their lead. And then when that gets rewarded by leaders instead of being punished, now you start getting into more that virtuous cycle of strengthening building and sustaining that culture.”

CONNECT WITH Mark Graban

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgraban/

Twitter: https://x.com/MarkGraban?s=20
Website: https://www.markgraban.com/

Buy his book at: https://a.co/d/dVguh9A

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When I say there are many different flavors and styles of continuous improvement, Design for Six Sigma is the type of style and flavor variation I am thinking of. Product development is hard to achieve. It is also expensive, as almost every company has a graveyard of product development failures. Kris Stokes teaches organizations and people the principles of Design for Six Sigma, and he says that product development success takes rethinking many of our assumptions about what we know, how we know it, and most importantly, identifying our hidden assumptions. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his knowledge with us.

Kris Stokes

Kris Stokes is a Principal Consultant at Geisys Ventures, specializing in product development and process optimization. With a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from MIT, he brings extensive experience in the plastics industry. In addition to his professional role, Kris is passionate about education and teaches classes in Plastics Recycling and 3D printing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His commitment to sustainability and innovation has made him a respected figure in the field.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:03:00 Kris Stokes' background and entry into Design for Six Sigma

00:04:52 Key insights from learning Design for Six Sigma

00:06:11 The power of designed experiments vs first principles

00:07:47 Interaction effects in designed experiments

00:09:49 Implementing DFSS and dealing with assumptions

00:12:17 Documenting and sharing DFSS knowledge

00:13:56 DFSS scorecards for knowledge transfer

00:17:46 Learning from manufacturing operators

00:18:08 Understanding historical process performance

00:25:48 Design step and qualitative specifications

00:28:15 Designing tests for qualitative specifications

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• DFSS focuses on identifying and designing out variability before products reach customers to reduce costs
• Designed experiments allow testing multiple variables at once to understand interactions and eliminate variables
• Understanding manufacturing processes, operators, and variability sources is critical for ease of production
• Documentation and sharing knowledge gained from experiments is challenging but important
• Scorecards are an effective way to document processes for knowledge transfer to manufacturing
• Doing the most critical experiments as early as possible is significant in Lean product development
• Ranking questions to answer the most important ones first can reduce late losses
• Forcing failures on the tiniest scale possible through testing helps speed development
• Staying curious and avoiding assumptions are the key, as unspoken things often cause problems

CONNECT WITH Kris Stokes

Website: https://airacad.com/
Website: https://www.geisysventures.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-stokes

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Here at the Edges of Lean, we've had a lot of conversations about leadership, with leaders who are practicing Lean and with leaders who are not Lean practitioners but are acknowledged as great leaders. There have been so many incredible insights and tips to learn from. However, I believe lean leadership differs from other types of leadership. Kathy Hadizadeh says that lean leaders need to bring their humanity to work with their teams, and she joined me at the Edges of Lean to share her insights.

Kathy Hadizadeh

Kathy Hadizadeh founded Heart Mind Tuning, a coaching agency focused on human capital performance in Los Angeles. With over 15 years of experience as an IT executive, she specializes in leadership development, emotional intelligence, and coaching accessibility. Kathy's methods amplify leaders' effectiveness and foster innovation in teams, drawing on her expertise in systems thinking and mind-body connection.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:31 - Kathy's Background and Path to Leadership Coaching

00:04:17 - The Human Aspect of Leadership

00:07:53 - Creating a Safe Space for Employees

00:10:18 - Leaders' Reactions to Employees' Issues

00:13:48 - Kathy's Personal Journey with Grief and Leadership

00:17:29 - The Process of Self-Reflection and Growth

00:21:56 - Therapy vs. Coaching in Leadership Development

00:26:28 - Common Themes in Leadership Challenges

00:30:23 - The Impact of Coaching on Executive Presence

00:36:22 - The Role of Performance Reviews in Leadership

00:38:02 - Adapting Leadership to Employees' Crises

00:41:45 - Managing Teams During Global Crises

00:45:54 - Navigating Political and Social Divisions as a Leader

00:52:30 - Advice for Young Leaders Starting Out

00:53:24 - Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Lean leaders need to bring their humanity to work with their teams.
• Lean leaders understand that employees are humans with personal lives and emotions.
• Boundaries between personal and work life should be respected, but there should also be a safe space for employees to share if it affects their work.
• Lean leaders should adopt a coaching mindset, listening, observing, and asking questions rather than trying to solve every problem.
• Leaders should do their inner work and self-reflection to understand their reactions and behaviors.
• Leaders should be aware of their challenges and traumas to be empathetic and supportive of their employees.
• Coaching and therapy serve different purposes, and leaders should be aware of when to refer employees to therapies for emotional work.
• Executive presence is an important quality for lean leaders to develop; it includes confidence, charisma, and inspiring others.

Memorable Quotes From Kathy Hadizadeh

“Lean leaders listen, observe, and ask questions instead of trying to solve every problem.”

CONNECT WITH Kathy Hadizadeh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyhadizadeh/

Website: https://heartmindtuning.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heart.mind.tuning/?hl=en

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Continuous Improvement and Your Legacy with Jann Freed

Have you ever thought about your legacy? Jann Freed says that whether we think about it or not., we create our legacies daily. She has written a book about creating and leaving behind a powerful and meaningful legacy and joined me at the Edges of Lean to help us all be more intentional about the legacies we are creating. Her new book is Breadcrumb Legacy.

Jann Freed

Freed is a certified Sage-ing Leader, TEDx speaker, and adjunct professor at The University of Iowa, and she provides valuable insights and candid advice on purpose, leadership, and change, appealing to an audience seeking personal and professional development.

Dr. Jann Freed, a successful leadership consultant and author of five books, recently published Leading with Wisdom: Sage Advice from 100 Experts, emphasizing the importance of keeping our egos in check to become a strong leader. Her new book, Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering, offers practical guidance for leaving a meaningful legacy based on in-depth interviews with leaders.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:04:50 Embrace aging, embrace life.

00:13:21 Our legacies were born through daily actions.

00:21:09 Deliberate gratitude leaves a lasting impact.

00:24:17 Continuous improvement is about people.

00:28:17 Ego hinders organizational learning.

00:30:54 Providing feedback and trust are essential.

00:41:18 Be a leader worth following.

00:41:35 Respect the elders and make the boss's job easier.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Legacy comes through small, intentional actions taken daily. It is not just about the big moments.
• Leaders should focus on making a positive impact and influencing others daily.
• Controlling our egos is vital for avoiding toxic behaviors and leaving a positive legacy.
• Creating an environment of trust is essential for leaders to receive honest feedback for improvement.
• Legacy work is one of the main pillars of becoming a sage.
• Continuous improvement in organizations is about people improving and working together to make things better.

Memorable Quotes From Jann Freed

"Legacy is about leaving a lasting impact on the world."

CONNECT WITH Jann Freed

Find her book: https://jannfreed.com/

Website: https://jannfreed.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannfreed/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jannfreed
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JannFreed

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As a lean leader, I have facilitated countless meetings and events. Truth be told, I am a messy and disorganized note-taker with dreadful handwriting! So, I have significant respect for the people who can record the work and results of a meeting in graphic form. Ashton Rodenhiser is an experienced graphic communicator, and she joined me at the Edges of Lean to share her story and give us some ideas about bringing more images into how we capture meetings.

Ashton Rodenhiser

Ashton Rodenhiser is a passionate creative entrepreneur advocating for drawing as a thinking tool accessible to all, regardless of their drawing abilities. Through her company, Mind's Eye Creative Consulting, she has been dedicated to helping people communicate their ideas through graphic recording and graphic facilitation. With over 2,500 presentations brought to life, Ashton has demonstrated the power of visually capturing notes for improved recall and a rich connection with information. Ashton enjoys quality time with her family in rural Canada when she is not working.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:29 Drawing can enhance meeting capture.

00:08:09 Embrace the imperfection of creativity.

00:14:52 Graphic recording is accessible and efficient.

00:17:30 Visual storytelling is accessible to everyone.

00:25:55 Graphic facilitation empowers diverse voices.

00:27:58 Tangible paper creates memorable experiences.

00:33:17 Importance of transparent communication.

00:39:07 Value lived experiences in forming opinions.

00:44:45 Explore unique job opportunities through research and networking.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Graphic recording and facilitation can be powerful tools for capturing and communicating the work and results of meetings and events.
• The imperfection of graphic recording allows everyone to see and connect with their wisdom and knowledge.
• Graphic recording can be a powerful way to make people feel heard and seen uniquely.
• Creating simple drawing elements like lines, squares, and circles can elevate information and highlight key concepts.
• Words are essential in graphic recording to capture the content and ensure the group's ideas are honored.
• Graphic recordings can be used as a living document, with people writing on them and adding sticky notes to keep the conversation going.
• The purpose of graphic recordings is to capture the conversation in time and facilitate ongoing dialogue and action.

Memorable Quotes From Ashton Rodenhiser

"Bringing more images into how we capture meetings can tell a story and enhance understanding."

CONNECT WITH Ashton Rodenhiser

Find her book: https://amzn.eu/d/b6moElC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonrodenhiser/?originalSubdomain=ca
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8egQ9KvwCLN8uAJN_OZJdg
Twitter: https://x.com/MindsEyeCCF?s=20

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As lean leaders, we talk about feedback a lot. We know that feedback is important, and if you are like me, you crave it – so that we can improve! But let’s face it, it’s not always effective or helpful. Carole Stizza has researched the topic of feedback, and she says that there’s a lot to improve! She joined me at The Edges of Lean to share her insights.

Carole Stizza

Carole, an industrial organizational psychologist with a passion for leadership, has faced numerous challenges, including frequent relocations due to being a military spouse, multiple car accidents, and a frightening cancer diagnosis. These experiences have shaped her perspective on life and success, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence, resilience, and positive intelligence. Carole now shares her insights with clients and audiences, guiding them toward becoming exceptional leaders and finding their path to meaningful success. When not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys hiking and cycling in the mountains of Colorado.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:25 Improve feedback for continuous improvement.

00:09:30 Insight is about growth.

00:14:00 Ask for perspective, recognize, and communicate effectively.

00:21:16 Set up conversations for success.

00:24:12 Assessment drives growth and efficiency.

00:33:19. Language is vital for growth.

00:36:53 Effective communication requires active listening.

00:45:23 The power of asking questions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Feedback is often seen as negative and can be ineffective or unhelpful.
• The traditional approach to feedback, such as annual performance reviews, is outdated and does not yield the desired results.
• Harvard research suggests that asking for feedback is more effective than giving feedback.
• Asking for insights helps to create a safe space for conversation and connection.
• The brain constantly seeks information on what is going well and where there is room for growth.
• Social media has tapped into the human desire for recognition and growth.
• The key to effective feedback conversations is to be clear, specific and focused on one thing at a time.

Memorable Quotes From Carole Stizza

"Our brain wants to know what we are doing right so we can keep and honor it. We do not throw it out with the bathwater. And we want to know where to grow next.”

CONNECT WITH Carole Stizza

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carole-stizza-relevant-insight

Website: https://www.relevant-insight.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/relevant4you

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Do you know what your core values are? Have they changed during your life as you grew, gained experience, and broadened your perspectives? Some people are very clear about their core values, while others are not or wonder if they need re-examining. Johnson's work centers on supporting people, especially women, as they define and align with their core values. She joined me at The Edges of Lean to share her insights.

Andrea Johnson

Andrea Johnson is a coach and mentor who empowers executives and founders to lead authentically and confidently. She makes a positive impact on their lives, organizations, and communities. As an adoptive parent who grew up internationally, Andrea understands the importance of mental and physical wellness and the need for emotional resilience. She discovered that uncovering and understanding her Core Values was crucial to her growth, and now she helps her clients do the same.

Andrea specializes in working with leaders who feel stifled and unsatisfied with their current level of influence. Her passion lies in equipping female leaders to redefine the culture by trusting their critical thinking, imaginative creativity, and leadership skills.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:08:57 Leadership is about growing people.

00:11:13 Embrace your big personality.

00:11:35 Childhood leadership memories.

00:17:27 Core values guide our actions.

00:23:05 Coaching skills are essential in lean management.

00:26:08 Curiosity is a key for coaching.

00:29:30 The power of critical thinking.

00:31:25 Understanding personal beliefs and values.

00:38:36 Trust yourself, you have got this.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Core values and their importance in personal growth
• The journey of defining and aligning with core values
• Supporting women in discovering and embracing their core values
• The impact of core values on leadership development
• The relationship between core values and communication styles (DISC)
• The power of intentional optimism in personal and professional life
• The significance of standing tall and owning beliefs and values
• The importance of developing critical thinking skills
• Trusting oneself and embracing personal values as a foundation for success

Memorable Quotes From Andrea Johnson

"Trust yourself because you know your core values even though you have not named them.”

CONNECT WITH Andrea Johnson

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-intentional-optimist/

Podcast:https://intentionaloptimists.buzzsprout.com/share

Website: https://www.theintentionaloptimist.com/

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Catherine Chabiron is an expert in lean management and an author. She recently wrote a book called Learning to Scale at the Theodo Group, which describes how a company faced with dramatic growth used lean thinking to avoid what Catherine calls Big Company Disease. She joined me at the Edges of Lean to discuss what she learned when she went to the Gemba with this company and its founders.

Catherine Chabiron

Catherine is an accomplished Lean executive coach in France and plays a significant role in leading the Lean Service community at Institut Lean France. She is also a renowned author and teacher, specializing in problem-solving and sharing her experiences from Gemba walks in lean companies through her publication Notes from the Gemba on Planet Lean.

With 40 years of experience, Catherine is considered a Lean Management Sensei. She has authored numerous books and articles on lean methodology, focusing on helping companies transform their culture and enhance employee engagement to adapt to growth challenges.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:11 Lean management drives rapid growth.

00:05:42 The differences between Lean vs Agile in software development.

00:08:10 Why is it important to focus on the customer and not just process in growth situations?

00:13:51 Flexibility is the key in processes.

00:24:02 The importance of employee engagement and problem-solving skills.

00:25:00 Lean principles drive company success.

00:28:21 The need to keep learning as a leader.

00:29:03 Continuous learning drives organizational improvement

00:35:20 The importance of visiting the gemba.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Lean management can help companies avoid the big company disease that often occurs with rapid growth.
• Agile and Lean are complementary approaches, but Agile alone may not address all the challenges of scaling a company.
• Leaders should ask about normal and abnormal conditions to encourage problem-solving and learning.
• Talent can be identified by the quality of the countermeasures proposed by employees to address problems.
• Scaling a company requires a balance between challenge and competence to drive growth and development.
• Watching and observing the actual work happening in the company is essential for understanding the challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Memorable Quotes From Catherine Chabiron

"Identify talents when you visit by looking at the quality of the countermeasures they propose.”

CONNECT WITH Catherine Chabiron

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-chabiron

Twitter:https://x.com/CathChabiron?s=20

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Scale-Theodo-Group-resilient/dp/2958357023

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Robert Indries started his career as an engineer and has taken that scientific and analytical approach into his successful entrepreneurial business career. The general belief is that engineers are not good at the people stuff, but Robert turns that idea on its head. I was curious how he used his learnings as he built his businesses to understand better how to help his clients. He joined me at the Edges of Lean to generously share his insights.

Robert Indries

Robert Indries, an entrepreneur and strategist, began his journey in a small Romanian town. With humble roots, he adopted the belief: "You can achieve anything, no matter where you are now."

Earning his master's degree in information technology project management, Robert built an 8-business empire generating seven figures annually. He traveled and visited 17 countries and spoke to thousands of people in 3 languages. Robert has accumulated over 500 million USD in client business value and delivered over 200 projects across 19 sectors and industries.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:59 Pursuing engineering at a young age.

00:06:19 Thinking like an engineer.

00:10:05 Reality vs Utopia.

00:13:17 Four types of personalities.

00:16:08 Our natural and adaptive selves.

00:25:03 Focusing on others to win.

00:29:01 Ethical business recommendations.

00:30:32 Taking midday naps at work.

00:34:03 Taking productive breaks.

00:40:19 De-risking their business is the best thing you can do as a consultant.

00:42:28 The value of building a brand.

00:46:37 Stop thinking people should be.

00:49:06 Accepting people for who they are

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The importance of continuous improvement in business
• The role of engineering mindset in business success
• Understanding and working with different personality types
• The power of listening and being customer-focused
• The value of data-driven decision-making
• Balancing personal and professional goals as a leader
• The impact of inclusivity and diversity in the workplace
• The benefits of taking breaks and prioritizing self-care
• Using data to identify areas for improvement in marketing, sales, HR, and finance
• The importance of testing and adapting strategies for optimal results

Memorable Quotes From Robert Indries

"If the mission is important enough, you will find a way to work with anyone."

CONNECT WITH Robert Indries

Website: https://robertindries.com/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertindries

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertIndriesOfficial?_rdc=1&_rdr

Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertindries

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When I coach and consult, I focus on my clients and their goals and needs. This raises an important question: where am I in that relationship? Katarina Polonska believes that coaching that is successful for the client requires the coach to be connected to herself and that doing so creates energy and strength for the coach. She joined me at the Edges of Lean to share her insights and how she helps her clients connect to themselves.

Katarina Polonska

Katarina Polonska is a transformation coach specializing in relationships. Katarina helps people connect better to themselves so they can connect better to others. In addition, Katerina has a master's degree in gender dynamics from the University of Oxford and has a background in behavioral science and organizational psychology. She is also a mindfulness teacher. Katerina has experienced overcoming challenges and finding her purpose, which led her to become a coach and help others in their journeys of self-discovery and connections.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:04:04 The difference between therapy and coaching

00:08:26 Having a connection to self is essential.

00:15:27 Listen to your inner voice.

00:17:11 The effect of the disconnection from body and intuition.

00:19:21 Conditioning and vulnerability in women

00:21:43 Conditioning of women's bodies.

00:23:04 Anorexia and societal expectations

00:27:20 Connect with your body's wisdom.

00:34:34 Curiosity leads to breakthroughs.

00:37:17 Build self-trust through action.

00:42:56 Reclaim self-trust and listen to intuition.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Building a connection to oneself is essential for personal growth and success.
• Connecting to oneself creates energy and strength, benefiting the individual and their clients.
• Coaching can complement therapy by focusing on the present moment and future goals.
• Coaching helps individuals integrate their past learnings into their current lives.
• The coaching process involves connecting to oneself and being present in the moment.
• Mindfulness practices, such as body scans and grounding exercises, can help individuals connect with themselves.
• Curiosity is a powerful tool for exploring and understanding one's emotions and reactions.
• Taking micro actions based on gut instincts can help build self-trust and strengthen the connection to oneself.
• Building trust in oneself is crucial for making decisions, solving problems, and achieving personal and professional goals.

Memorable Quotes From Katarina Polonska

"The best relationships we can build all start with a solid relationship to our core being and who we are."

CONNECT WITH Katarina Polonska

Website: https://www.katarinapolonska.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarina-polonsky/

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I hope you are a voter! It is such an important civic responsibility. As a continuous improvement professional, have you ever thought about improving the election process to help make everyone confident that elections are secure and fair? Kerry L. Bass has. He is here to share his insight and tell us about some vital continuous improvement work happening in the US around our election process.

Kerry L Bass

Kerry Bass is the CEO and founder of Potential To Reality Consulting, specializing in organizational transformation, operational excellence, and change management.

For over 25 years, Kerry has been leading and supporting transformation and organizational change for governmental agencies.

In addition, he has been bringing changes in commercial and not-for-profit enterprises.

Kerry Bass has received a Master of Business Administration from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University. Bass has attained a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certification as instructed by Dr. Gregory Watson and holds a Project Management Professional certification from PMI.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:05:18 The complexity of election systems

00:12:58 Quality is multi-level and customer-focused.

00:20:19 Election integrity and voter accessibility.

00:21:22 Improving election accessibility is crucial.

00:31:23 Technology can increase voter acceptance.

00:33:11 Management of registration records.

00:38:29 Improving election processes and integrity.

00:42:42 Continuous learning is essential.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Voter participation and civic responsibility are highly significant in the election.
• Voter expectations include fair elections, accurate vote counting, and the prevention of ineligible voters from casting ballots.
• Throughput and accessibility are critical factors in improving elections, such as reducing wait times and ensuring equitable access to polling places.
• Technology, such as electronic voting systems and ballot tracking, can enhance transparency and help voters that their votes are there.
• Elections in the US are run differently from state to state, with each state responsible for administering its elections.
• The complexity and lack of familiarity with the election process contribute to a lack of trust in election results.

Memorable Quotes From Kerry L Bass

"The right to vote is key to the fundamental operations of democracy."

CONNECT WITH Kerry L Bass

Website: https://makingitreality.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass/

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Success requires expertise, and today’s work world requires leaders to lead beyond their areas of personal skills. Wanda Wallace calls this “spanning” leadership, and she works with leaders to build their success in leading across functions and domains where they have little expertise. Wanda is the author of "You Can’t Know It All: Leading in the Age of Deep Expertise.” She joined me at the Edges of Lean to share her insights and discuss why spanning leadership is vital for lean leaders.

Wanda Wallace

Dr. Wanda T. Wallace is a renowned leadership coach, facilitator, and speaker with extensive expertise in guiding executives and organizations to improve performance through enhanced communication and collaboration. As managing partner of Leadership Forum, she works closely with clients to foster more effective leadership conversations, break down silos, and build high-functioning teams. With over 25 years of experience spanning corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors, Dr. Wallace is a highly sought-after advisor on critical issues around leadership development, organizational change, cross-boundary collaboration, and diversity and inclusion. She holds a doctorate in organization development and has coached over 100 executives to expand their influence.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:04 Better conversations lead to success.

00:03:02 Conversations between leaders and followers.

00:09:27 Blend expertise and Spanning Leadership.

00:13:33 Leaders must be curious.

00:19:26 Build trust through effective communication.

00:22:27 Hub and spoke model limitations.

00:28:40 Listen and understand before responding.

00:30:02 Finding common ground in negotiations

00:32:57 Respect and effective communication matter.

00:39:57 Embrace discomfort for growth.

00:43:38 Find your satisfaction.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Success in today's work world requires leaders to lead beyond their areas of personal expertise.
• Spanning leadership, as coined by Wanda Wallace, is the ability to lead across functions and domains where leaders have little expertise.
• Effective conversations involve dialogue and back-and-forth conversations, rather than one-way communication or giving orders.
• Conversations between peers can be challenging, but it is crucial to collaborate and overcome roadblocks to achieve productive outcomes.
• Spanning leadership requires leaders to understand enough about different domains to have effective conversations and remove roadblocks for their teams.
• Building trust, asking open-ended questions, and finding common ground are the key elements of successful conversations and effective spanning leadership.

Memorable Quotes From Wanda Wallace

"There is no growth in comfort and no comfort in growth."

CONNECT WITH Wanda Wallace

Website: https://www.wandawallace.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wandatwallace/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskWanda

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeOHP2j2KfeQjQpdHZsVbWA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanda-wallace-028a798/

Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/you-cant-know-it-all-wanda-t-wallace?variant=3211639360720

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Sam Drauschak is a leader in Process Science – his work is to help organizations achieve maximum efficiency in business processes and energy flow. He has even developed a universal process mapping language adopted as the standard for multiple large enterprises globally. Sam joined me at the Edges of Lean to share his insights on process science in the digital age and life in an RV.

Sam Drauschak

Sam Drauschak is the Co-founder and Chief Process Scientist at Truvle, where he leads a team focused on reducing business waste through innovative tools, software, and expert content based on biological efficiency systems. With over a decade of management consulting experience and certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, and Project Management, Sam has worked with major global companies and Silicon Valley clients to simplify and improve operations. Sam is also the author of "Becoming a Conscious Business" and developed the Truvle Mapping Language, adopted by companies worldwide. Sam Drauschak has been featured at institutions like IIBA and Columbia for his expertise in process improvement, cost reduction, and operational redesign. In addition, he was recognized in Top 100 Magazine for his contributions to process mapping.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:03 Process science applies the scientific method.

00:06:19 Processes exist everywhere, even in digital services.

00:09:50 Updating process improvement principles.

00:10:13 Process science for virtual companies.

00:14:20 Process mapping is crucial post-COVID.

00:19:23 Impact of human dynamics.

00:20:10 Human dynamics are crucial in process mapping.

00:23:38 Understanding human dynamics in processes.

00:25:18 Clean process maps can be deceptive.

00:31:23 Process language empowers organizations.

00:37:35 Diversity and travel enhance professional growth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Process science studies processes and systems in the business world approached with the scientific method and rigor.
• Process science involves studying things in motion, including how energy flows through processes.
• Many companies struggle with implementing new technology, cost overruns, and process improvement.
• Process mapping should include the human dynamics of the process, capturing interactions between people, and understanding the politics and drama involved.
• Traveling and experiencing different cultures and environments can enhance a consultant's understanding of people and their processes, making them more effective in their work.
• Practical process work requires open and honest conversations with people to understand their perspectives and behaviors within the process work.
• Governance and decision-making processes are important aspects of process science.

Memorable Quotes From Sam Drauschak

“The more you can learn about different customs, cultures, and types of people, the more you can relate to their struggles, resistance, and engagement at work.”

CONNECT WITH SAM DRAUSCHAK

Website: https://www.truvle.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samdrauschak/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Conscious-Business-Through-Science-ebook

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Kevo, a full-time artist who is also a painter, film, and theater producer, and art teacher, joins me here at The Edges of Lean to share his inspiring story of overcoming a troubled childhood, jail time, and a gunshot wound to pursue his passion for art. There is a lot to consider in this conversation for all of us in the continuous improvement world.

Kevo

Kevo, a native of Houston, Texas, is a multifaceted artist with a Master of Fine Arts degree. His creative endeavors encompass a wide range of mediums, including painting and theater production, shining a spotlight on the complexities of race and the human experience. Leading the charge in the artistic realm, Kevo serves as the director of Kevo Arts Studios, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and nurturing the arts. In addition to his role in the nonprofit sector, Kevo imparts his wisdom and expertise as a professor at a prestigious college, boasting an impressive decade-long career as the proprietor of a thriving tattoo studio.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:56 Overcoming a troubled childhood.

00:04:32 Starting a tattooing career.

00:10:23 The foundation of art.

00:14:24 Genuine care and encouragement.

00:17:11 Leaving toxic friendships behind.

00:23:06 Believing in your potential.

00:26:00 Unexpected discoveries while running.

00:29:30 African American artists.

00:37:37 Comparing the holocaust and slavery.

00:41:08 Perception of African Americans.

00:44:25 Shifting mindset for personal growth and development.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Changing mentality and taking responsibility are more impactful than dwelling on negative aspects.
• Surrounding oneself with the right people is crucial for personal growth and well-being.
• Changing oneself may require adapting to fit in with new people and leaving behind those who cannot adapt or do not want to change.
• Personal change can impact the people around you, whether in the workplace, home, or social circles.
• Personal growth and improvement can inspire and motivate others to do the same.
• It is vital to consider that behavior and actions can influence others professionally and personally.
• Being mindful of the impact one has on others and striving to be a positive role model can create a ripple effect of positive change.

Memorable Quotes From Kevo Aregbe

“Educate your children about the harsh realities of life because the people in power cannot be relied upon to do so."

CONNECT WITH Kevo Aregbe

Website: https://www.artbykevo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevo-aregbe-b33ab955/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KevinAregbe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kevoarts/

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Katherine McCord was the little girl who played HR rather than princesses, and when other kids were selling lemonade, she sold shares in her imaginary "company". She even fired her mother when she was five years old. Katherine, a physically and neurodiverse woman, built her career on inclusive innovation in People Operations and HR Tech. She lives by the motto that difference is not a deficit and is here to share her insights on how lean practitioners can understand and support people with hidden disabilities.

Katherine McCord

Katherine is a champion of inclusion and innovation in human resources. As a neurodiverse and physically diverse woman, she has built her career on the philosophy that difference is not deficient.

In 2014, Katherine founded her national people operations consulting firm, Titan Management. In 2021, she disrupted the HR tech space by creating the first fully accessible, bias-mitigating applicant tracking system that removes resumes and highlights company diversity. An energetic and interactive speaker, Katherine has been featured at well-known conferences, such as Web Summit, HR Disruptor, SHRM, and the London School of Business. At the stage, she blends entertainment with education to provoke thoughtful reflection and motivate change. She is bringing her trademark spice!

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:35 - Hidden disabilities are mostly not seen or misunderstood.

00:09:56 - Inclusion is simple and beneficial.

00:11:01 - Build psychological safety for inclusivity.

00:16:14 - The hiring process needs improvement.

00:21:48 - Revamp the hiring process for inclusion.

00:27:37 - Inclusion drives talent and profits.

00:35:16 - DE&I leaders should be flexible, global, and growth-oriented.

00:36:45 - Flexibility and communication are key.

00:43:20 - Understand and support diverse employees.

00:48:45 - Break ego, respond in curiosity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Disability inclusion encompasses a wide range of disabilities, including invisible disabilities, and involves legal, medical, and social aspects.
• Neurodiversity refers to the different ways the body and mind process information and stimuli, and it has conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
• Intersectionality refers to the coexistence of different human elements, such as race, gender, and disability, and it is vital to consider the unique experiences and needs of each individual.
• Presenting psychological safety is crucial in fostering an environment where people can feel safe to disclose their needs and ideas without fear of repercussion.
• Companies should focus on building inclusive hiring processes that set candidates up for success and consider accommodations that are often low-cost or free.
• Disability inclusion in the workplace can lead to healthier, happier employees, increased productivity, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
• DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) concepts are gaining traction in the business world, but there may be challenges in justifying the role of DE&I professionals and implementing inclusive practices.
• Effective communication and flexibility are keys in working with individuals with different abilities and disabilities, and it is vital to create symbiotic teams that leverage strengths.

Memorable Quotes From Katherine McCord

“When your humans are comfortable, they can do their job better."

CONNECT WITH Katherine McCord

Website: https://www.titanmanagementusa.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-mccord-093bb343/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDH88heZK21pHbo_aYt-sgA

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Hey, this is The Edges of Lean’s 100th episode! So I’m starting today with a message of gratitude to all of my listeners. Thank you for your support of the Edges of Lean! And if you are a listener who would like to tell your story on the Edges of Lean, reach out to me on LinkedIn!

Zach White is an engineer, like many lean and continuous improvement professionals. He is here to share his story of discovering that his technical engineering knowledge was insufficient to help him have a successful career and a fulfilling lifestyle. Zach learned a lot in his journey from burnout to happiness, and now coaches engineering leaders in engineering their jobs and lifestyles.

Zach White

Zach White, is the Founder & CEO of OACO, a career coaching firm for engineering leaders, since July 2019. He is also the host of The Happy Engineer, the #1 podcast for engineering leadership. Previously, Zach spent over 11 years at Whirlpool Corporation in various roles, such as Senior Product Marketing Manager. Zach graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2008. He went on to do his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2011.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:31 - Creating success in a balanced way. 00:03:50 - Coaching is a leadership skill. 00:09:10 - The people side of engineering. 00:13:01 - Work-life balance 00:18:20 - The Women's challenges in the workforce. 00:20:11 - Authenticity and self-discovery. 00:24:00 - Coaching vs. therapy. 00:27:45 - Stepping into the unknown. 00:32:09 - Ongoing support beyond 90 days. 00:35:00 - Sleep and nutrition importance. 00:39:10 - Disability and success perspectives. 00:44:50 - Mentorship for young professionals. 00:46:22 - Finding Your Happy Engineering Path.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The educational system in engineering focuses on technical knowledge but often neglects the people side of the profession.
• Coaching is a valuable tool for engineering leaders and professionals to help them build successful careers and fulfilling lifestyles.
• Coaching is about helping individuals achieve their goals and become better leaders and engineers.
• Coaching is a skill set that focuses on understanding how to help people step into their best and become their top performers.
• Work and life are interconnected, and it is crucial to take a whole-life perspective when considering success and fulfillment.
• Coaching can help individuals uncover their values, vision, and goals across all aspects of their lives.
• Coaching can be a deep and sometimes painful process. It contains facing fears, challenging old habits, and taking risks.
• Ongoing coaching support can be beneficial for maintaining momentum and executing new plans for personal and professional growth.
• Please note that these takeaways are based on the provided transcript and may not encompass all the information discussed in the full podcast episode.

Memorable Quotes From Zach White

"Coaching is looking forward, and it's all about progress."

CONNECT WITH Zach White

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oasisofcourage

Website: https://oasisofcourage.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thezachwhite/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasisofcourage/

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When you work with your employees or clients, what assumptions are you making about their reading skills? If you are like me, you might assume that almost everyone you work with reads easily, but that is likely untrue. Lois Letchford joined me at the Edges of Lean to talk about her experience as the parent of a child with dyslexia and how lean thinkers can help to create success for adults with dyslexia. Lois Letchford has written a book about her experiences called “Reversed: A Memoir.”

Lois Letchford

Lois Letchford's powerful memoir "Reversed" chronicles an extraordinary personal journey of overcoming daunting odds with inspiration and hope. Possessing a Master of Science in Literacy and Learning from the University at Albany and experience as a Reading Specialist at East Derwent Primary School, Lois stumbled upon her own previously undiagnosed learning difference at 39 while teaching her second son to read. This discovery set her on an unwavering pursuit for answers. With sheer determination and unyielding resilience, Lois confronted challenges and battled self-doubt head-on, proving that no obstacle is insurmountable.

As the founder of Lois Letchford Language, Literacy, and Learning tutoring, she is dedicated to assisting others facing similar challenges. "Reversed" serves as a beacon of hope, sharing Lois' mission and vision of empowering individuals with dyslexia.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:58 - Frustration with traditional reading methods 00:03:09 - Captain Cook and exploration. 00:05:29 - The importance of engaging students' curiosity in learning 00:07:05 - Curiosity and brain power. 00:08:28 - The benefits of personalized and engaging teaching methods 00:10:53 - Reading difficulties among adults. 00:10:11 - The ongoing challenges of reading as an adult with dyslexia 00:14:23 - Strengths and weaknesses 00:18:00 - Embracing Differences and Dyslexia 00:24:22 - The cost of writing books. 00:30:05 - Reading disabilities and learning. 00:35:11 - Creating a safe environment. 00:36:44 - What does inclusion mean?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Fostering a love of learning and curiosity is crucial for children with reading disabilities.
• Reading difficulties affect a significant percentage of adults in the workforce.
• Creating a safe and inclusive environment is essential for individuals with reading disabilities to thrive in the workplace.
• Writing reviews significantly impacts the visibility and success of books and podcasts.
• Reviews provide valuable feedback and validation for authors and creators.
• Positive reviews boost authors' confidence and encourage them to produce more quality content.
• Leaving reviews is an impactful yet simple way for audiences to support authors and creators.
• Practicing empathy leads to a better understanding of different perspectives and abilities.
• Withholding judgment creates space for open-mindedness in interactions.
• Considering underlying factors beyond the visible deepens communication.
• Pausing before responding fosters inclusivity and effective interactions.

Memorable Quotes From Lois Letchford

“Reading is actually about emotions."

CONNECT WITH Lois Letchford

Email: LETCHFORDLOIS@GMAIL.COM

Website: https://www.loisletchford.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loisletchford/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/letchfordlois

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loisletchford/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW-eC1bd7uZBizY-rzWhrQQ

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An essential principle of lean thinking is “one-piece flow.” One way of looking at that is to focus on finishing what you start before you take on other tasks, whether building a car in a factory or managing paperwork. But our lives constantly call us to multitask and take on more than we can complete, and as a result, we get overwhelmed. Lean coach Stéfany Oliver has been studying how to overcome the feeling of overwhelm in our lives, and she has written a book to help us all!

Stéfany Oliver

Stéfany is a passion-driven coach who helps overwhelmed people find flow in work, home, and life. She lives by the manifesto of "fueled by plants, perspective, and prayer." Stéfany has grown into her purpose as a food creator, speaker, author, and storyteller. She has built her health, wellness, and optimization coaching business while spending time with family and drawing inspiration from nature. In addition, Stéfany has been with Statistics Canada for over 15 years, demonstrating strong commitment and growth within the organization. She has taken on leadership roles managing major HR and workplace transformation initiatives.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:01:18 - HowlLean thinking and flow concepts apply to personal life 0:03:33 - Setting limits to create a better flow in daily life 0:06:30 - Example of setting limits for personal quiet time 0:08:50 - The importance of intention and value creation in the daily flow 0:11:48 - Applying flow concepts to the workplace 0:13:20 - The importance of focus and single-piece flow in work 0:20:03 - The role of time and energy levels in the daily flow 0:24:19 - Creating physical and digital space for better flow 0:29:22 - Understanding and respecting personal capacity for optimal flow

Key Takeaways * Lean thinking and flow concepts can be applied to work and personal life to create a better daily flow. * Setting limits and creating space for quiet time can help beat overwhelm and improve focus and energy. * Knowing oneself and understanding individual energy levels and capacity is crucial for managing time effectively. * Physical and digital space organization is essential for reducing clutter and improving productivity. * Being studious and continuously learning is the unique characteristic of great leaders.

Memorable Quotes From Stéfany Oliver

"If you want to be a leader and be effective, you have to be serious about the sort of craft of leadership style you want to possess.”

Connect with Stéfany Oliver

Website: https://stefanyoliver.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/st%C3%A9fany-oliver-coach/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanyolivercoach/

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I love to interview people with unusual career paths. Shana Francesca started her career as an interior designer. Her work in intentionally creating physical environments that supported people’s needs led her into coaching leaders in intentional leadership to build effective and efficient and healthy work environments. Let’s hear Shana’s story!

Shana Francesca

Shana Francesca is a sought-after speaker, writer, and the Founder & CEO of Concinnate LLC, a company focused on intentional leadership and life design. She has shared her message extensively, with over 90 podcast interviews worldwide and published articles in Medium, Authority Magazine, Shoutout LA, Emotional Intelligence+ Magazine, and more.

At Concinnate, Shana helps people transform their present and future by living intentionally, designing their ideal lives, and embracing their power as the author of their own stories. She believes that infusing intention into how we live and lead allows us to realize untold joy, connection, and meaning.

With her unique perspective and experience, Shana inspires audiences and readers to craft the lives they desire through purposeful intention and conscious action.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:02 - Importance of intentional leadership and living 00:02:29 - Recognizing the coaching element in interior design 00:04:10 - The power of the physical environment 00:09:19 - Customization and recognizing individual needs 00:16:11 - Why group coaching is not for children 00:17:13 - Duration and structure of group coaching 00:18:25 - Goals and intentionality in group coaching 00:20:08 - Leadership as becoming yourself 00:26:18 - Questioning toxic leadership 00:32:12 - The importance of affordability and care 00:33:21 - The ethics of lean and work-life balance 00:34:23 - Redundancy and creating a supportive work environment 00:36:07 - Leading with ethics and compassion

KEY TAKEAWAYS OF THIS PODCAST:

• Discover the hidden vitality unlocked by intentional leadership and mindful living.
• Lift the veil on how physical settings shape your well-being and drive your productivity.
• Unearth how fostering curiosity, bravery, vulnerability, and focus can make you a trendsetting leader.
• Learn the secrets of non-linear communication and how to transform your listening into a leadership asset.
• Explore the path to creating an inclusive culture that cherishes individual autonomy.

Memorable Quote from Shana Francesca

“Create an environment that facilitates your needs, both aesthetically and functionally.”

Connect with Shana Francesca

Website:https://www.concinnate.world/shana-francesca

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/concinnate/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAFmDzdt3-CutdjGR8NNIxg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concinnate.world/

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Miwako Bukres has taken the honorific “sensei" – teacher. She is not a lean sensei but a beloved teacher of the Japanese abacus. She’s here to tell us what we can learn about Japanese culture by developing the practices of learning from failure and discipline and encouraging clear analytical thinking using the ancient Japanese practice of doing math on the abacus.

Sensei Miwako

Miwako, affectionately known as Sensei (Japanese for teacher), grew up in Japan, where she developed a deep connection with the abacus at a young age. She began training with the abacus beads at age seven, lighting a passion that would shape her career path.

After moving to the U.S. in 1992, Miwako channeled her love of teaching and working with children into founding the Japanese Abacus Math School in 2001. There are no greater rewards for Miwako than seeing her student's faces light up with confidence and understanding as they discover what their abacus training has enabled them to achieve.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00:30 Learning from the failure and discipline

00:08:41 The Japanese Abacus

00:10:28 The Power of the Abacus and its future benefits

00:14:23 The speed of calculations and how a system can help that

00:20:18 The importance of respect for our students and future generation

00:23:08 Teaching children to be independent and confident

00:27:33 Discipline in American education

00:35:31 Appreciation and investing in children

00:44:33 Perseverance and not giving up

KEY TAKEAWAYS OF THIS PODCAST:

• Learning the abacus helps students develop analytical thinking and learn from failure.
• The abacus skills acquired are universal and can be applied globally.
• The ability to perform calculations mentally and efficiently is a valuable skill.
• Teachers play a role in fostering respect and discipline.
• Teaching adults can be more challenging than teaching children.
• The abacus teaches students analytical thinking and how to learn from failure.
• Children who learn abacus skills can quickly and accurately solve mathematical problems without calculators.
• Being open-minded and embracing new knowledge is essential for everyone, particularly teachers.
• Respect is about treating others with kindness and consideration, not just deference to authority.
• Teachers create an environment where adults feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them.
• Perseverance is the key to success, and we should encourage students to push through adversity.

Memorable Quote from Sensei Miwako

"Decide something to do but don't give up. The weather won't be beautiful every day. Sometimes, there is a cloud, sometimes rain, and sometimes hell. Life will be the same. It won't be a joy every day. But there is always a reason you have to cry. Joy is a result of sadness and anger or everything. So just keep going and don't give up. That is my advice to everybody. Including myself."

Connect with Sensei Miwako

Website: https://www.abacusonlineclasses.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/senseimiwako/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abacusjams

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Harriet Stein would like us to pay attention. Paying attention is an absolute necessity for lean practitioners – but it is not something we all find easy – or even know how to start practicing. Harriet kindly spent some time with me at the Edges of Lean explaining how to build our attentiveness skills and why improving them can improve our lean practices and our quality of life. Harriet is the author of “Perfect Attendance: Being Present for Life.

Experience her delightful and captivating perspective on this topic. Don't miss it!

Harriet Stein

Harriet Stein is an inspirational teacher and professional speaker passionate about speaking to organizations on how mindfulness can benefit them. Her customized mindfulness programs provide practical tools for a fulfilling and productive life.

Harriet created the award-winning Take a Pause Mindfulness training program. She has extensive experience teaching mindful practices at Fortune 500 companies to improve corporate culture. While at Johnson & Johnson, she taught over 5,000 employees Mindfulness strategies.

Mixing research and science with fun, Harriet’s proven strategies teach living in the present and being accessible professionally and personally. Learn how to reduce stress and achieve more creativity, efficiency, or better sleep!

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:01:10 - The importance of paying attention and building attentiveness skills to improve Lean practice and quality of life 00:05:30 - What is mindfulness, and how can we pay attention without judgment 00:10:54 - Being mindful at 2:00 AM, and control your racing thoughts before you go to sleep 00:15:02 - What is being present in lean practice, and how to cultivate the right mental state 00:17:26 - Practicing non-judgment and compassion mindfulness 00:23:30 - Attitudes needed for a lean project and the importance of preconceived ideas about oneself and others 00:28:11 - Non-striving and stress and the harmful effect of stress on mindfulness 00:34:29 - The power of gratitude and acceptance 00:35:30 - Generosity and kindness in the workplace and how it can create a positive work environment 00:37:09 - Opportunities for learning and growth both professionally and personally 00:39:44 - The practice of acceptance and how the practice of acceptance can help us deal with difficult situations. 00:45:01 - Mindfulness in manufacturing and how it helped employees become more aware and focused on safety

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Unravel how mindfulness practices can elevate productivity and foster a healthy work environment.
• Acquire the attitudes for mindfulness mastery, including trust, non-judgment, and letting go.
• Gain insight into the benefits of teaching mindfulness to children, promoting resilience and emotional well-being.
• Learn the positive impact of gratitude and generosity on teamwork and interpersonal dynamics.
• Examine methods for approaching fear and conflict mindfully and fostering a more accepting mindset.
• Unveil the secrets to boosting workplace efficiency and personal well-being through mindfulness practices.
• Dive into crucial attitudes for adopting mindfulness, such as beginner's mind, letting go, and compassion.
• Understand the importance of introducing mindfulness to children in developing positive mental habits.
• Realize the potential of expressing appreciation and kindness in enhancing teamwork and communication.
• Delve into mindful techniques for navigating challenging emotions and conflicts with more ease and understanding.

Memorable Quotes From Harriet Stein

“You are capable of impacting thousands and thousands of people with just one decision."

CONNECT WITH Harriet Stein

Email: Harriet@HarrietStein.com

Website: https://www.harrietstein.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-stein/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PauseAndNotice

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bigtoeinthewater

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Catherine Llewellyn is a humanistic psychologist who coaches and consults with business leaders who want to "go up a level" whether that is personally or in their business. I spoke with Catherine here at the Edges of Lean to learn what humanistic psychology is and how she helps these leaders raise their consciousness and reach their next level. She delves into the challenges faced by individuals in organizations when generating new ideas.

Catherine Llewellyn

Catherine Llewellyn is a Master Humanistic Psychologist who founded Yes You Now in 2020 to help high achievers achieve their personal and business goals while promoting free thinking and self-actualization. Her approach is based on the humanistic philosophical approach, physical embodiment, energy healing, and strategic creativity. Catherine has a profound familiarity with what it is to be a free-thinker and non-conformist, and she has worked with large-scale corporate leadership and transformation to align fiscal success with values-driven leadership and culture. Catherine now works directly with influential and successful entrepreneurs and leaders to help them achieve the Next Level in surprising and remarkable ways.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:04:57 Lead with Consciousness and Compassion.

00:10:59 Purpose-driven change implementation.

00:17:13 Encourage strategic thinking in leadership.

00:20:48 Lead with intention and authenticity.

00:27:40 Develop human, inspirational leadership.

00:30:09 Be open and sensitive.

00:37:43 Grow and maximize potential.

00:41:05 Find your truth and transcend.

KEY TAKEAWAYS OF THIS PODCAST:

• Humanistic psychology is all about self-awareness and potential.
• Respect for people is at the heart of lean principles. By valuing and understanding people better, we can build better leaders and create a healthy culture that supports transformation.
• Personal growth is a factor in lean transformation. By connecting to our truth and transcending our limitations, we can achieve great success and fulfillment in our personal and professional lives.
• Connection is essential. In order to truly embody humanistic psychology principles, one must be willing to get over themselves and connect with others.
• Strategic thinking is a critical component of successful leadership involves taking a step back and looking at the big picture, considering the context of the organization and its goals.

Memorable Quote from Catherine Llewellyn

“I would say to a young person, sit down and work out what questions you'd like to get answers to.”

Connect with Catherine Llewellyn

https://yesyounow.today/

Podcast: Truth & Transcendence - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/truth-transcendence/id1576720874

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Do you like your voice? Does your voice help you to get your message across? How do you take care of your voice? John Henny is a voice coach who works with speakers to help them use their voices to be more compelling and influential, and he is here at The Edges of Lean to give us methods and tips for being better users and caretakers of our great voices.

John Henny

John Henny is a highly experienced voice coach who has helped thousands of people improve their communication skills. He is a featured lecturer at various prestigious institutions and conferences and coaches professionals in corporate businesses, the military, sports announcing, and voice-over artists. He employs creative methods to alleviate stress and enhance the quality of his clients' vocals. He is a skilled writer, host of a podcast, and designer of internet-based courses, with a substantial fan base.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:00 - Using your voice to be more compelling and Influential

07:42 - The resonance of the power of voice

09:10 - How essential your vocal tract is

10:26 - How to make sure your voice is heard.

16:25 - The importance of variety and pace in speaking

20:39 - The magic of best performance is the combination of familiar and unfamiliar.

23:26 - Importance of being structured and memorable.

27:42 - Emotional connection is the key to being unstoppable.

30:50 - The importance of non-verbal communication.

36:52 - The importance of Breathing

40:55 - Take care, be aware, and connect with your voice

KEY TAKEAWAYS OF THIS PODCAST:

• To be more compelling and influential, you need to use your voice effectively. The power of voice is in its resonance.
• Your vocal tract is essential for creating different sounds, tones, and pitches, and understand how it works to use it effectively.
• To be heard, you need to project your voice, use pauses, and speak with clarity.
• Variety and pace in speaking are crucial for keeping your audience engaged. Monotony can make you sound uninteresting.
• The magic of the best performance lies in the combination of familiar and unfamiliar elements
• Emotional connection is the key to being unstoppable
• Non-verbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. Use eye contact, gestures, and body language to enhance your message.
• Breathing is essential for good vocal production. Ude breathing exercises to improve your breathing technique.

Memorable Quote from John Henny

“Connect with your voice, have an awareness of your voice, and take care of your voice. Taking care of your voice is going to help not only your professional but also your personal life. It is our number one means of emotional connection with other people.”

Connect with John Henny

Website: https://johnhenny.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-henny-8ab9142b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBolFwy8OpeiJf23eOQMGbw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnhennyvocals/?hl=en

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Are you thinking of writing a book? Did you write a book? Are you wondering about getting your book out in the world? College media instructor Karl W. Beckstrand is the best-selling author/illustrator of twenty-seven multicultural/multilingual books. He is here at the Edges of Lean to help us take advantage of his lessons learned with writing and publishing.

Karl Beckstrand

Karl Beckstrand is a college media professor and the founder of Premio Publishing, which has over 200 multicultural offerings. He values cultural diversity and collaborates with illustrators from Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Beckstrand has lived in Chile, worked as a Spanish-English interpreter, and visited various countries. He is passionate about using the arts to promote literacy and help people realize their worth and potential, regardless of their background.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:00:00 - Karl Beckstrand: best-selling author and illustrator of 27 multicultural multilingual books

0:03:05 - Exploring the pros and cons of traditional publishing vs. self-publishing

0:04:57 - The benefits of long-term book marketing

0:14:58 - S,elf-publishing and the financial side of the process

0:17:15 - Marketing strategies for self-publishing a book

0:22:44 - Writing and marketing a book

0:24:58 - Writing a book and marketing strategies

0:26:41 - Learning from failure and continuous improvement

0:29:31 - Writing for young people: approaches and beta readers

0:31:52 - Self-publishing and book bannings

0:37:02 - Book selection and curation in libraries

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Self-publishing is quicker and allows the author more control over marketing, content, and finances, while working with a big publishing house requires finding an agent and can take more time.
• Self-publishing has become more accessible, leading to a surge of books to publish, but the quality is improving due to the experience gained by writers.
• Technology can impact the book industry, making it easier to find high-quality writing.
• Ideas can come in the form of complete stories or just snippets, and it is crucial to write them down before they slip away.
• The importance of being a prolific writer, constantly jotting down ideas, and having a bank of inspiration to draw from.
• While working with a publisher, authors may not receive the marketing support they expect, and authors need to take charge of marketing their books.
• Carl stresses the importance of perseverance in the publishing industry and encourages authors to keep pushing their work, no matter how long ago it was published.
• It is essential to consider the target audience when writing for children, including their age range and interests.
• Editing services provide different perspectives, which is valuable for improving the quality of a book.

Memorable Quote from Karl Beckstrand

“We live in a wonderful age where you could just go online and look up something you don't know.”

Connect with Karl Beckstrand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlbeckstrand/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlbeckstrand/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarlBeckstrand.AuthorSpeaker/

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Brad Eisenberg of BE Lean is a scalability consultant with over 15 years of experience as a Founder, COO, and consultant. He works with growing businesses that are at the point where everything that used to be fun and easy has become messy and complex. Brad is here at the Edges of Lean to help us understand what scalability is and the relationship between scalability, lean, and seeing things as they really are.

Brad Eisenberg

Brad led greeNEWit as its COO and is also the founder of BE Lean. Brad was also the founder of weBIKE, a bike share company that gave him his first taste of entrepreneurship. At BE Lean, he focuses on helping clients see what is happening in their businesses, focusing on the critical components of traction, profit, throughput, and innovation; components required for scaling up (or down). Brad’s insights ensure businesses have the tools and resources to scale up or down as demand requires. If you are running a growing business, you know how frustrating it can be when the things that used to be fun and straightforward become messy and complex. That is where Brad comes in - he is an expert in helping businesses scale effectively and efficiently.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:00:00 - Understanding scalability, lean, and visibility in growing businesses

0:06:19 - Understanding the four components of scalability

0:16:24 - Maximizing return on investment for business growth

0:18:10 - Optimizing business growth strategies

0:24:44 - Understanding the benefits of experimentation in business decisions

0:26:57 - A framework for making good decisions on risky ideas

0:32:46 - Risk vs. Return in pharmaceutical product development

0:34:34 - Identifying critical questions and making cold-hearted decisions for business success

0:38:25 - Challenges faced by businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic

0:40:42 - Improving efficiency through infrastructure building and hiring strategies

0:42:30 - Scaling a business and knowledge management

0:44:35 - Taking risks and starting in business

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Scalability is not just about growing or shrinking a business but about having the capacity to adjust to meet demand.
• The four critical scalability components are traction, profit, throughput, and innovation.
• Traction is the ability to move forward, throughput is the ability to generate revenue, and innovation is the ability to adapt and stay ahead. (You know what profit is!)
• Scalability should be considered an ongoing change process, not a one-time goal.
• Measuring and validating ideas is crucial for success, as a business model is just a hypothesis until proven.
• Having an external perspective can help identify and address any blind spots.
• Control, replicability, and consistency are essential elements to achieve scalability.
• Scalability consultants come from various backgrounds, including engineering, math, and science, and help businesses run more smoothly and efficiently.

Memorable Quotes From Brad Eisenberg

“You need a person that will be championing the idea to really kind of push the business forward, and you need that champion to push the envelope.”

CONNECT WITH BRAD EISENBERG

Website: https://www.beleanbusiness.com/about

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-eisenberg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.eisenberg.5/

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Jim Gitney has been coaching and consulting for decades and, over the years, has seen many strategies fail because of poor execution. He knew there had to be a better way to bridge strategy and results. He developed the Business Hierarchy of Needs to clearly show how to make the decisions that lead to excellent execution of strategy. Let’s hear Jim’s approach from him and discuss how it relates to lean and continuous improvement approaches.

Jim Gitney

Jim Gitney is an experienced strategy, operations, and supply chain expert with over 45 years of experience working for startups to Fortune 50 companies. He is the author of "Strategy Realized – The Business Hierarchy of Needs - Turning Strategy Into Results" and the Founder and CEO of Group50 Consulting. Jim has extensive experience running large global operations and working with boards, business owners, and executives on developing and implementing transformative strategic initiatives. He has worked with various industries, including consumer and industrial products, government, aerospace, professional services, healthcare, big data, and high-tech. Jim has been instrumental in developing and implementing dozens of global business strategies, 11 operational and financial restructurings, and adapting blockchain to the supply chain.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:00:00 - Bridging strategy and results to achieve continuous improvement

0:05:17 - The benefits of empowering employees

0:10:53 - Leveraging people for enlightened leadership

0:16:22 - Setting goals to achieve business growth and resonating with younger generations

0:18:31 - Leadership, sustainability, and diversity in the workplace

0:26:33 - Business hierarchy of needs and engaging stakeholders in strategic planning

0:33:20 - Utilizing the five why and five how exercises to refine strategic goals

0:35:42 - The benefits of implementing lean strategies in business

0:41:16 - Strategy realize the business hierarchy of needs

0:44:05 - Tools to improve speed to market in research and development

0:49:58 - Achieving your most important goals in business

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Leaders need to change their thinking to understand the value of their employees.
• Bridging strategy and results are critical for achieving continuous business improvement.
• Empowering employees has numerous benefits for organizations, including increased productivity and employee satisfaction.
• Enlightened leadership requires leveraging the potential of people within an organization.
• Setting goals is essential in achieving business growth and resonating with younger generations.
• Leadership, sustainability, and diversity are essential in building a successful workplace.
• The Five Why and Five How exercises can help refine strategic goals and improve decision-making.
• Implementing lean strategies can help streamline processes and improve business efficiency.
• Using proper tools and procedures can enhance the pace of bringing research and development to the market.
• Achieving the highest goals in business requires a focused approach and consistent effort.

Memorable Quote from Jim Gitney

“Business leaders who are enlightened and who understand that they can leverage the skill sets inside their organization can help not only the business needs but also the personal needs of the people in their workforce.”

CONNECT WITH Jim Gitney

Website: https://www.group50.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgitney/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/group50consulting/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimgitney?s=20

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.gitney/

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If you are a continuous improvement professional, you probably use some games in the training you deliver – maybe as an ice-breaker or perhaps as a simulation to teach a tool. But have you ever wondered how far you can take game-playing to build a team or create a culture? Alex is a woman on a mission to transform workplaces from the inside out. She has been playing around with games that create fun and meaningful learning experiences for years. Are you ready to hear some juicy insights on gaming in the workplace? Don't miss her unique and engaging take on this joyful topic.

Alexandra Suchman

As the CEO and co-founder of Barometer XP, Alex is well-versed in organizational development and improving business operations. She has a unique approach to consulting - she uses games to create engaging learning experiences for her clients. Her expertise stems from her early career in public policy and health, where she noticed many companies struggling with processes. Alex began to focus on creating simple systems and better planning. Today, she continues to help her clients become more strategic and organized in their work, through the use of games.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:00:01 – Exploring continuous improvement with games: an interview with Alexandra Suchman

0:02:37 – Exploring the use of games and simulations to enhance interpersonal skills in the workplace

0:04:33 – Conversation on game development with business partner

0:06:51 – Reflecting on the benefits of Games in the workplace

0:18:00 – Improving communication through pre-planning and games

0:19:36 – Conversation on the benefits of practicing habits and playing games to navigate uncertainty

0:26:33 – Exploring different thought processes in the workplace

0:28:15 – Conversation on team dynamics and diversity in the workplace

0:30:06 – Exploring the benefits of team-building games for group dynamics

0:35:04 – Conversation on developing experiential learning games and simulations for organizational change

0:39:12 – Exploring curiosity and changing paths

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Leadership skills are developed and demonstrated in well-designed games.
• Diversity and inclusion are the most significant factors in a team's success that CEOs should consider.
• There are huge differences between people who are detailed based and those that see the big picture. And most of the time, both are needed.
• The opportunities to practice that come with game playing give leaders proven skills
• Learning and practicing different ways to respond to others' styles helps us get the most out of conversations.
• Game-playing strengthens communication and empathy skills
• It is not just about playing the game but building upon the learnings people will acquire while playing.
• Reflection on games will significantly improve communication and collaboration among group members.

Memorable Quotes From Alexandra Suchman

“Being able to learn in the situational moments and apply the lessons from it is one of the best ways to mitigate the problems that happen over and over."

CONNECT WITH Alexandra Suchman

Email: alex@barometerxp.com
Website: https://www.barometerxp.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrasuchman

Instagram: https://instagram.com/alexbxpteams

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The bots are here, and lean and continuous improvement practitioners see that organizations are eager to take advantage of the capabilities of artificial intelligence – or my guest Lauren Hisey calls it, intelligent automation. Lauren is here to demystify AI and share how continuous improvers can make peace with it – and use it effectively in improvement work. And, we are going to hear about her 100 Lunches project. Lauren embraces and overcomes the challenges that other people prefer to avoid. She has an immense passion for continuous improvement and loves to show others how to use it effectively in their businesses and organizations.

Lauren Hisey

Lauren Hisey is a dynamic person with a wealth of experience as an employee and business owner. She is passionate about innovation and creativity and has worked across various fields, such as TA/HR, Sales, Operations, Product Leadership, and Technology. Lauren is a natural problem solver who approaches each day with vigor and enthusiasm, leveraging her extensive knowledge of Lean Six Sigma to help companies achieve sustainable growth. She has spent over a decade working with companies of all sizes as a coach, consultant, trainer, and speaker, honing her skills and imparting her expertise to businesses, universities, podcasts, and networking groups.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• 0:00:02 – Exploring intelligent automation and continuous improvement with Lauren Hisey
• 0:02:42 – Conversation on automation and lean six sigma with Lauren
• 0:05:09 – Exploring automation and technology: a conversation with a systems engineer
• 0:06:46 – Heading: exploring automation and artificial intelligence in business
• 0:09:43 – AI and automation in the lean transformation
• 0:15:06 – Conversation on knowledge management and virtual assistance tools
• 0:17:31 – Improving customer experience through automation and data analysis
• 0:20:04 – Improving customer experience through intelligent automation and AI
• 0:22:05 – The intelligent automation and lean transformations
• 0:24:19 – Empowering citizen developers and creating a center of excellence for automation and quality
• 0:30:12 – Conversation on process discovery and business process management
• 0:37:32 – Networking: taking risks and learning from others
• 0:40:58 – Advice for young professionals on networking and learning

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Do not be afraid to go out there and meet someone new.
• When you are networking, it is not about you. It is always about how you can help the other person.
• The biggest thing is getting to know people and maybe understanding how you can help them instead of looking to be helped.
• When it comes to IT in operations and sales, we always try to start small. But at the end of the day, the biggest thing is having where you create partnerships.
• When we talk about IT and automation, most people are concerned. However, the earlier you adopt it, the better success along the way.
• Technology and continuous improvement go together because development of AI is continuously improving.
• Despite much advancement in AI and automation, it is “still a kid” and in the learning process.
• Technology is a tool more than a solution, and we must use the tools in the right way.

Memorable Quotes From

“Network and be open for learning and if you have a chance to find a mentor, don't miss it. Because, they have gone through most of the trouble and will answer your questions when needed.”

CONNECT WITH

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenhisey

Website: https://laurenhiseyconsulting.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenhiseyconsulting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenhiseyconsulting/

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Every time we use our lean practices to define and solve a problem, we create knowledge. How can we improve our organizational recognition and management of all that newly created knowledge – which is key to not having the same problem occur again? It turns out that knowledge management itself requires a process and continuous improvement and Dr. Cindy Young is here to share her insights.

Cindy is the Founder/CEO of CJ Young Consulting, LLC, a knowledge management consulting firm, and Curriculum Development and Training Lead with Leidos in Virginia Beach after retiring as a Surface Warfare Officer with 23 years in the U.S. Navy. She holds professional certifications as a PMP, LSSMBB, and CMQ/OE. Cindy has written for Harvard Business Review and is a Management columnist for ISE Magazine. In September 2020, she gave a TEDx Talk called “A Knowledge Mindset: What You Know Comes from Where You Sit." In February 2023, her book, The Knowledge Management Memory Jogger®, was published by Goal/QPC.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

00:02:40 – Definition of knowledge management

00:04:44 – Importance of documentation of process improvement

00:06:38 – Managing tacit knowledge in the workplace and strategies for sharing it

00:12:51 – Tips for managing a remote working team and prioritizing knowledge management

00:19:00 – Machine vs. human-centric management

00:22:20 – The Knowledge Management Memory Jogger

00:27: 20 – Knowledge management and organizational culture

00:29:28 – Power and mode of sharing knowledge

00 32: 10 – Knowledge findability and professional knowledge management

00:36: 20 - Knowledge management as a core competency and placement of knowledge manager

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Knowledge management is the process of understanding, sharing, and managing information an organization.
• Documentation of process improvement helps ensure transparency, efficiency, and knowledge sharing.
• Tacit knowledge can be acquired from other people's lives and past experiences, and can used by finding a mentor in a related field or process.
• Establish a rhythm for your team that includes time for management and action. In return, it will enable each team member to contribute their knowledge and experience to the group.
• Knowledge management memory jogger encourages organizations to foster communication between departments and break down silos. It allows personnel to understand their roles and how they can work together.
• Leaders should create a culture of knowledge sharing, where collaboration is highly promoted, and respected, allowing colleagues to learn from mistakes and empower each other.
• Knowledge findability: knowledge managers must be skilled in research, communication, collaboration, and understanding organizational structures and systems.

Memorable Quotes From Dr. Cindy J Young

“Professionally managing knowledge requires special skills to organize information, break down silos, and make knowledge accessible, but one also needs to know how to communicate with people who may be withholding information.”

CONNECT WITH DR. CINDY J YOUNG

Website: https://www.cjyoungconsulting.com/

Email: Cindy@cjyoungconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcindyyoung/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drcynthiajyoung?lang=en

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Erin Whalen is a coach whose practice is focused on serving the people who work with the grieving and dying: bereavement professionals who need perhaps more than anyone to be seen, heard, and supported. Erin comes to coaching through the path of acting and the art of improvisation. She utilizes the tools she's learned through her artistic experience to help “fill the cups” of her clients and provide them with the communication skills they need to succeed. Erin's passion for coaching shines through her work, and her innovative approach to communication skills training makes her a leader in the field.

Erin Whalen

Erin Whalen, the founder of Compassionate Coaching, has guided teams of bereavement and end-of-life professionals toward being seen heard, and supported. Erin's dedication to effective communication and team building led her to present at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organizations Virtual Conference twice and host events such as Playback Theater to unite a community of like-minded individuals.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:02:49 Supporting bereavement professionals through team building and communication skills training

0:05:02 Building a community through creativity

0:06:43 Exploring how acting helped Erin become a better coach

0:10:17 Communication skills for bereavement professionals

0:15:11 Role-playing and compassionate coaching for professional growth

0:22:06 Challenges and rewards of Playback Theater

0:23:39 Art of storytelling through music, movement, and drama

0:25:33 Transforming lives through storytelling

0:28:56 Discovering the surprising benefits of creative expression in the workplace

0:30:37 Artful leadership: exploring the role of art in healthcare leadership and resilience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Providing support and communication training can help individuals in challenging professions to stay motivated and committed to their work.
• Effective communication involves nonverbal cues and personal histories. Bereavement professionals must show empathy and genuine compassion to support those experiencing loss.
• Practice and feedback are essential in improving communication skills. Role-playing can create a safe environment for people to practice difficult conversations and receive constructive feedback.
• Actors must connect emotionally with their characters, even without shared experiences. The highest compliment is a genuine performance. Being present and aware of scene partners is key
• Playback Theatre uses music, movement, and drama to play back essential moments of a person's story, reflecting their emotional state. The process is improvisational and honors the storyteller.
• Trust, honesty, and creativity are essential for good leadership. Supporting caregivers ensures they feel valued and heard, leading to purposeful work

Memorable Quotes From Erin Whalen

“It's all about the stories we hold. We can give and receive empathy through storytelling and reflection and creating a transformative experience.”

CONNECT WITH Erin Whalen

Website:https://www.compassionatecoaching.org/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-whalen-compassionate-coaching/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/compassionatecoachingllc/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/erin_compassionatecoaching/

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Kyle Gillette is a leadership coach. He coaches business leaders – but not all his clients wear a white collar and work in offices. Kyle works with leaders and aspiring leaders from all walks of life with a special focus on what we sometimes call “blue-collar” work. Kyle’s career path has taken him from men's mentoring to pet resorts, to HR, and running a successful personal training business. In every role, helping people reach their human potential through the power of mindset has always been his path. Kyle’s insights are valuable to all of us in the continuous improvement community.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST

0:09:23: The impact of mentorship on personal and professional growth

0:12:34: Understanding the difference between mentoring and coaching

0:14:23: How coaching and mentoring are applied in the business world

0:20:16: Moving from surviving to thriving through mindset shifts and personal growth

0:27:19: The four pillars of leadership: self-awareness, accountability, growth, and empowerment

0:31:56 Exploring the importance of accountability and mindset in coaching

0:34:51 Understanding the language and mindsets used in coaching

0:36:06: The benefits of journaling for stress relief

0:39:04: Connecting lean coaching and mentoring to empower young men

0:41:20: Using nonprofit work to connect business owners and young men

0:43:15: Learning the skill of active listening to empower your team

0:45:12: Developing self-awareness, mindset, and habits for effective leadership

Key Takeaways

• Power of making choices that lead to personal growth and positive change: it's crucial to make changes and take intentional action to improve one's life circumstances, even when facing fear and uncertainty.
• Taking risks and seizing opportunities to learn and grow is important. Mentorship and caring for others can have a significant impact. Intentional learning and investing in oneself are valuable. Success is not achieved alone, and support from others is crucial.
• Coaching draws insights through questioning, while mentoring tells what to do. Coaching is more effective in moving people forward permanently.
• Find lessons in setbacks. Take risks; improve skills and knowledge, and step out of your comfort zone.
• The four pillars of great leadership are Self-awareness, accountability, growth, and empowerment.
• Mindset plays a crucial role in achieving goals. Fear of losing control and being uncomfortable can prevent people from taking action.
• Listening is crucial for leaders to empower their teams. The "wiser way to listen" method involves giving time, respect, and empathy to truly hear people. It can be done in 2-12 minutes and improved by reading, practicing, and learning from mistakes

Connect With Kyle Gillette

Website: https://blueshirtcoaching.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-gillette/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blueshirtgroup

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Elisabeth Swan just wrote a book – which is not surprising because she’s done it before, but this one is different. This time Elisabeth wrote and illustrated the book – in fact the illustrations are what communicate the great ideas she is sharing. And Elisabeth, consultant, teacher, writer, is adding “artist” to her resume.

In addition, she has an English degree and is a consultant in the operational excellence world. She believes that her background in English translates to being a translator and a storyteller. This has influenced the work she does in helping people understand and enjoy difficult topics, such as statistics. She also has a drive to find a better way, which she realized from problem solving as a child. This has led her to Lean Six Sigma as a way to teach and help others.

Let’s hear more and how that happened.

Elizabeth Swan

Elisabeth, a Six Sigma leader and President of Swan Consultancy and Associates, with a passion for problem-solving. She is also a co-founder of the Just-in-Time Café, a co-author of The Problem-Solver's Toolkit, and an avid traveler, consultant, coach, and educator. She is empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive success through improved soft skills. Let her guide you to new heights of collaboration, creativity, and effective communication in the workplace.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:03: 45 – Transformative power of language

0:07:00 – The art of problem-solving

0:09:57 – The art of learning from other’s perspectives

0:12:58 – Importance of avoiding outer noises

0: 15:51 – Impact of emotions in illustration and real-world

0:17: 35 - The profound role of effective storytelling

0:22: 05 - The importance of effective communication in corporate

0:25:13 – Benefit of leveraging soft skills

0:28:43 – Role of six sigma skills in team management and leadership

0:31: 30 – The Importance and benefits of six sigma learning

0:35:55 – The impact of community engagement

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Confidence in problem solving allows individuals to face challenges with a positive mindset, embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, and explore creative and effective solutions.
• To be your authentic self, it is important to avoid the outer voices and distractions and focus on your own values, beliefs, and priorities.
• Understanding emotions can improve communication, productivity, decision-making, and helps leading to a more positive life.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool that can connect people with their emotions by your story and give an easy deeper and more meaningful understanding of themselves and others
• In order to be a good leader and team manager you should have effective communication, as it helps in clarity, transparency, collaboration, and trust among team members.
• Soft skills help individuals understand the complexities of the corporate world by improving communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal relationships.
• Cultural engagement can give mutual understanding, appreciation, and respect between diverse individuals and communities, promoting a more inclusive and tolerant society

Memorable Quotes From Elisabeth Swan

‘It’s intangible skills that make people want to work with you.’

Find Elisabeth:

JITCafe.comelisabeth@JITCafe.com

Co-author, The Problem-Solver’s ToolKit: A Surprisingly Simple Guide to Your Lean Six Sigma Journey

Come join us on LinkedIn!

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Lori-Ann Duguay worked in government for two decades – and it was there she says that she learned how NOT to treat employees. Now she works with organizations to help them create happier more effective workplaces by focusing on the employee experience as a process that can and should be continuously improved. Lori-Ann joined me to share her experiences and insights.

Lori-Ann Duguay

Lori-Ann Duguay helps companies become that highly-sought after employer where people want to work, stay and thrive! After working 21 years in government in various roles, she realized she had become a tenant of the workplace tethered by the golden shackles of a good pension and benefits. She decided to combine her career experiences both inside and outside government as an HR strategist, talent development expert, professional coach, and dispute resolution practitioner with her in-depth understanding of talent management and employee engagement to start her own company that teaches organizations and Leaders how to adopt a people-centered approach to leadership, talent development, and conflict resolution.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST

0:00:11 Improving employee experiences

0:02:50 How HR create happier and more engaging workplaces

0:07:45 The importance of mapping out the employee’s journey

0:09:25 Engaging employee experience

0:12:44 The people-centered approach

0:14:21 The importance of a long-term approach

0:21:47 Employee’s engagement in rapid organizational growth

0:26:09 Why you should invest in your people

0:32:20 Establishing a talent development strategy

0:36:13 The importance of change management in employee engagement

Key Takeaways

• Being well-versed in transactional operational HR will produce more overarching employee experiences
• Better bandwidth is needed to execute more strategic exercises
• Establishing a longer-term vision for people helps develop initiatives and improvements
• Mapping out the employee’s journey is a process of ensuring that the company is delivering on the pitch they made during the interview.
• Optimizing the process of engagement helps the employees set up their success
• Communication is important to make sure that the employees are happy with their experience
• Onboarding and orientation are important to provide support for the employees
• Identifying high-potential candidates is important to provide them with development opportunities

Memorable Quote From Lori-Ann Duguay

“Coalition is key because those are your champions, those are your cheerleaders, they're your Mythbusters”

Connect With Lori-Ann Duguay

Website: https://thepeopleperson.ca/about/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mother_ofgingers/ Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/rianned LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriannduguay/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loriann.duguay.3

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One of the big challenges of continuous improvement is that different kinds of workers have very different expectations for their own professionalism, customer service, and how their management should behave.  Chris Lalomia ran into this when he made career moves from engineering to financial services, and then to entrepreneurship in the home repair business.  He’s here to share how he made those transitions, and what he has learned about building a culture for continuous improvement with different types of workers.

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It’s 2022 – well it’s almost 2023, and women in technology are not unusual – but there’s still plenty of female talent not taking part or staying in the tech sector. Limor Bergman Gross has time-tested tips on how to succeed as a woman in tech – and how to be a great sponsor of women in tech.

Meet Limor, a revolutionary thinker whose valuable insights help empower women in lean. She is making an impact on how women look at success in the tech world!

Limor Bergman Gross

Limor Bergman Gross has been a mentor for women in tech for over five years. In addition, she was a director of engineering and acquired experience working as an engineer, manager, and director. She is passionate about working and supporting women due to the fact that the engineering industry is a male-dominated industry. She started supporting and helping to grow when she returned to Israel as she believes she is following her callings.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:02:28 The impact of women in technical careers

0:11:51 The power and importance of taking risks in your career

0:17:50 The difference between a sponsor and a mentor

0:19:43 The Importance of a sponsor or mentor in the workplace

0:21:41 The differentiation between a coach and a mentor

0:27:38 The differentiating factor of being yourself in coaching

0:29:43 The benefits of technology in education

0:31:23 The impact of college pressure on Israeli students

0:36:02 The importance of encouraging young people to follow their passions

0:37:41 The power of human connection

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• In order to progress in one’s career, a person should take risks and get out of their comfort zones.
• The support that the women receive from their managers at work could have a huge impact on their productivity of the work.
• Women can be successful in the tech sector if they believe in their potential and strength
• It doesn't matter in what industry you are working, if you feel you can make an impact, go for it.
• If you are lost on your way, one of the best options is to look for mentors or people who have gone your way before.
• To make progress and see more women in the tech industry, it's important to have women in leadership positions as well.
• The biggest challenge with the women is not due to their lack of education but due to the lack of confidence they have
• Women should be bold and courageous and they should not let their fear stop them from going forward.
• Women used to wait to receive, however, it should be changed, and they should ask for what they deserve.
• Challenge your weakness and alter that to your strength, this way, women could be successful in any field they wish to.

Memorable Quotes From Limor Bergman Gross

“We need women to be bold, courageous, resilient, and believe in themselves.”

CONNECT WITH Limor Bergman Gross

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limorbergman/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/limorbergman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/limorbe Twitter: https://twitter.com/limor_bergman

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I hear it every day: “It’s the great resignation.” “People don’t want to work any more!” People are exhausted and burned out – especially in healthcare, and in many other workplaces as well. Mohamed Saleh knows what it takes to address the root causes of burnout. He is here to share his insights. This is a great episode to watch on YouTube, so you can see Mohamed’s slides, but if you listen instead, we are going to describe the visual component for you, and the slides are posted with these show notes.

Mohamed Saleh

Dr. Mohamed Saleh is a thought leader in shifting cultural mindsets by redesigning business systems. Dr. Saleh has a successful track record anchored in two decades of hands-on transformations with a strong interest in making a global difference by providing distinctive leading-edge Lean-inspired education and advisory services aimed at helping organizations in an array of industries achieve the highest levels of performance excellence. Mohamed’s roles in these companies were centered around Lean transformations with much of his career serving in senior-level roles. Saleh is an executive Lean advisor, professor, and founder of Vizibility LLC. He’s an international speaker, writer, mentor, executive coach, and experienced trainer. He has a doctorate in Business Administration and teaches at both the School of Engineering & Technology Management at Central Connecticut State University and the MBA School at Elms College.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:10:21 The impact of workload on healthcare professionals worldwide

0:17:26 The opportunity for change: work-life balance and discretionary effort

0:19:06 The importance of strategy deployment in healthcare organizations

0:25:50 The importance of leader standard work in achieving organizational goals

0:27:21 The three systems of lean: production, management, and people

0:30:41 The importance of employee development in retaining top talent

0:39:11 The benefits and challenges of diversifying your lean talent pool

0:40:58 The different phases of lean and the mistakes to avoid in each

0:44:22 The different phases of a lean transformation and the mistakes to avoid in each

0:52:19 The 10 biggest mistakes leaders make when implementing lean

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Continuous improvement is key to preventing burnout; getting it done is the hard part
• The first thing as a symptom of burnout is a sense of detachment or alienation from one's work.
• Burnout is caused by several things, such as a lack of control over one's work, a feeling of being unrecognized or unappreciated, or a feeling of being overloaded with work.
• The other thing that can drive burnout is a sense of inefficiency, feeling like one is not able to accomplish their goals or that their work is not meaningful.
• Working long hours, having a high level of stress, or not having enough time to recover from work can lead to burnout and it gives a sense of fatigue, both physical and emotional.
• The biggest mistake you can make in an organization is not adjusting to change happening around you.
• The two main drivers of physician burnout are work overload and loss of control.
• The best way to combat these drivers of burnout is to level up processes and reduce volatility.
• It's highly important to make strategy deployment effectve in healthcare organizations.

Memorable Quotes From Mohamed Saleh

“If you want to work on 100 things at once, you can't get any of them done in the best way possible.”

CONNECT WITH Mohamed Saleh

Website: https://www.vizllc.com/about-us.html

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-saleh-phd/

Mohamed's slides on Reducing Burnout----more----

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There’s a crime wave out there - a cyber crimewave– and Karla Reffold is helping companies overcome the continuously changing challenges of cybersecurity. Karla started out in HR, and now is a leader in cybersecurity – her story of leadership, flexibility and innovation is inspiring for all continuous improvers.

Let's hear Karla share her thoughts and insights! We can't wait to hear what this powerful voice has in store.

Karla Reffold

Karla helps organizations innovate, transform and achieve their potential. Focused on operations, marketing, and sales, she understands the need to drive profit, grow revenue, and maximize efficiency. Since founding BeecherMadden in 2010, her company managed to build the organization to operate in Europe, the Middle East, and North America. In 2017, she successfully sold BeecherMadden to Nicoll Curtin where she joined as an Executive Director and a board member reporting to the CEO. Karla Reffold is also a speaker, mentor, and podcaster who talks at CapitalTea. Among a variety of awards and recognitions, she was one of the top 3 finalists in the “Entrepreneur of the Year” category at the Cybersecurity Women of the Year awards in 2022. Karla was also shortlisted as “Woman of Influence” in the SC Magazine Awards in Europe

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:00:01 A career in cybersecurity and the future it holds in our life

0:02:29 The tipping point for stepping out on thin Ice

0:04:21 The importance of cybersecurity in the cloud

0:06:14 Cybersecurity for small businesses and its impact on the economy

0:10:30 Cybersecurity for startups: ransomware and what you can do about it

0:15:51 The Impact of ransomware on businesses today

0:17:37 The importance of values in hiring

0:19:21 The importance of honesty in the workplace

0:21:10 The benefits and challenges of selling a business

0:26:12 The emotional journey of selling a business

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Cybersecurity is hugely important, especially for businesses that are moving to the cloud
• It's highly important that small businesses also improve their cybersecurity
• One of the most important things businesses can do is to configure SPF and DMARC for email security.
• Businesses should enable two-factor authentication wherever possible
• Ransomware is currently the biggest concern in cybersecurity and every company should be aware of
• Ransomware criminals are not only encrypting data but also stealing it
• Stealing data can lead to serious consequences for businesses, such as reputation damage and industrial espionage
• Skills are important in keeping the business safe, it doesn't matter if it's old or new.
• The ability to learn new skills is important in cybersecurity, as the industry is always changing

Memorable Quotes From Karla Reffold

“Cybersecurity is not just about protecting you; it's also about helping you win and succeed in business.”

CONNECT WITH Karla Reffold

Website: https://www.karlareffold.co.uk/

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Wendy Nash coaches people with meditation. She joined me to share how to make meditation part of your daily practice. Her approach is beautifully aligned with the reflection that is intrinsic to lean thinking and can help us develop our “respect for people” mindset. One note: We had some internet challenges as we were recording this podcast, and you might notice a little interference. Let’s hear what Wendy has to say.

Wendy NashWendy Nash holds a four-year somatic psychotherapy degree. She has been practicing loving-kindness and other meditations for about 20 years, and her honors thesis for her Bachelor of Psychology examined the impact of loving-kindness meditation on prosocial behavior. These guide her interactions with customers who are eager to learn how to incorporate different types of meditation practices into their daily lives. Her relationships and well-being have greatly benefited from these accomplishments and experiences, which have far outweighed the negative effects of her traumatic early experiences. Like many people, she hasn't had an easy ride. She had to deal with difficulties in her personal life, like a death in the family and a divorce. Her main objective has been to look after herself, which has helped her avoid becoming a burden to others. She is prepared for every scenario, which helps her remain composed even in the most stressful conditions.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST

0:02:41 Aboriginal wisdom and the modern world

0:06:29 The impact of meditation on daily life

0:10:23 The power of positive thinking: how kindness can create connections

0:18:33 The power of appreciation in the workplace

0:22:41 The wisdom of Confucianism and Buddhism

0:27:57 Buddhist teachings on respecting others

0:29:46 The impact of childhood trauma on adult relationships

0:31:46 Wendy's journey to understanding racism and white privilege

0:40:28 The impact of colonization on indigenous peoples

0:45:50 The importance of compassion in everyday life

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Where are we from is a highly complex question
• Knowing where are you going, knowing who you are and where you come from are keys to future success.
• Wendy recommends reading positive news first thing in the morning as it is so easy to be drawn to and absorb oneself in negative news.
• Too much expectation can drive us crazy. The most important aspect of developing is to do small things and expect small returns.
• Feedback should not be taken personally.
• The best way to start your day is to look for a small act of kindness and love.
• Two of the most important principles in a good work relationship, are being appreciated and understanding how your work positively contributes to the company.
• Having two or multiple perspectives about one certain situation will help us to learn and develop beyond our measurements.

Memorable Quotes From Wendy Nash

“The very first thing in continuous development is to understand we are both part of the good and the bad”

CONNECT WITH Wendy Nash

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-nash/

https://kindlycutthecrap.com/about/

https://www.instagram.com/kindlycutthecrapmeditation/

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Tom Hughes was an expert in lean and continuous improvement. He knew it all, and frankly found it somewhat boring. But one day, his opinion completely changed, and he became a self-described overnight lean maniac. Now, you would be hard-pressed to find someone more excited than Tom who has now written a book called “Improvement Starts with I: A Practical Guide to Building an Extraordinary Lean culture.” So what happened? He’s here to tell us!

The Book Website

https://improvementstartswithi.com/

GembaDocs Software (give it a go yourself!) 30 day free trial

https://gembadocs.com/

Tom’s LinkedIn

linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-hughes-7222562/

Tom’s YouTube

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCldKTyAie8Z--J5-VbWkJzA

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As a continuous improvement leader, you know the importance of “Respect for People,” and that “Respect for People” includes understanding and respecting yourself. How might you do that when you are dealing with the effects of generational trauma? Elena Perella has personal experience overcoming generational trauma and using that experience to help high achievers free themselves to meet their potential. She is here to tell us about that.

Elena Perella

Elana Perella is a personal coach, life coach, and speaker with over 13 years of coaching experience. She has two master's degrees with a focus on anthropology and literature. Elana Perella helps high achievers from the world of business, sports, entertainment, and social change who struggle to find and stay in the flow at work and in life. She coached herself through eating disorders and domestic violence. Once she freed and healed herself, she took the lead on her own life and now coaches others.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:04:52 The journey of dealing with emotional issues caused by trauma

0:07:03 Conducting experiments on ourselves

0:12:39 The impact of beliefs on reality

0:14:22 The impact of generational trauma

0:16:29 The difference between nature and love

0:21:31 The impact of toxic parents on their children

0:25:26 The importance of eliminating the toxic inheritance

0:29:08 The power of love and how can it affect our lives

0:33:15 The power of questioning everything

0:37:31 How to set yourself up for success

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• To be a high achiever, you need to first coach yourself.
• To truly eliminate any problem, first find the root cause of the problem.
• Clarifying the importance of quitting unhealthy habits (e.g. smoking, drinking) and the improvements these changes can bring to our lives, such as improved relationships with our children.
• The toxic effects of trauma: how emotions affect us.
• There is a big difference between “negative'' and “toxic” and we can grow once we separate them.
• Most of the things that we need to know are inside ourselves and we just need to ask ourselves.
• When a person was not wanted as a child, it can be hard for them to raise a healthy and functional child of their own.
• Nurture is when you take care of your children but love is the energy that fuels the willingness to help yourself and others to evolve without causing harm.
• We not only absorb emotional development from our mothers but also physical ones as well.
• See things as they are rather than putting a filter on different aspects of your life.
• To get the toxic energy out of your life, see things the way they are.
• What love is: love is the energy that fuels your will and others to not cause any harm.
• Love also means the road to less trouble and the more helpful you are to others, the more love you spread.
• As humans, we have to be aware of what we have inside of ourselves as there are people who believe they respect and love others but they don't spread the love at all.

Memorable Quotes From Elena Perella

“What is love: love is the energy that fuels your will and others to not cause any harm”

CONNECT WITH Elena Perella

Website: www.sentidu.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elena.perella/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsHxJugzN6XHPxpKmFdlhgA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-perella/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sentiducoaching

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Episode 75 Continuous Improvement and Couples Coaching, with Dr. Robin Buckley

If you are a coach, have you ever thought about the family relationships of your clients? If you have a coach, how does your coaching experience engage your family relationships? How might a couple benefit from engaging in coaching together? And how is that different from couple therapy? Dr. Robin Buckley specializes in executive coaching -which includes executive couples. I invited her to tell us about her approach.

Dr. Robin Buckley, CPC, helps high-achieving individuals thrive in their careers and relationships. She is an author, professional speaker, and cognitive-behavioral coach who works with executive women and high-performance couples. Her proprietary coaching model uses a business framework and cognitive-behavioral strategies to support clients in creating and executing concrete, strategic plans for developing their careers and relationships. The owner of Insights Group Psychological & Coaching Services, Dr. Buckley has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and served as a doctoral professor and dissertation chair for students in business, leadership, education, and healthcare. She has published two books, including Voices From the Village: Advice for girls on the verge of adulthood. Dr. Buckley is a columnist for Entrepreneur.com and has been featured as an expert on multiple media platforms, including Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, Nike, various podcasts, News Radio 96.7, and WGN Radio 720, and was a TEDx speaker in May 2022.

www.drrobinbuckley.com

https://www.instagram.com/drrobinbuckley/ https://www.tiktok.com/@drrobinbuckley https://twitter.com/DrRobinInsights https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-robin-buckley-8257277/ https://www.facebook.com/findingthepowerwithin/

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Continuous Improvement and Why Tools are Not Enough, with Martina Kuhlmeyer

Martina Kuhlmeyer has an impeccable lean background, including a Master Blackbelt certification from GE. So why is she not focused on lean tools these days? Let’s hear her tell the story about how she learned that tools were not enough.

Martina Kuhlmeyer

Martina Kuhlmeyer is the Founder of Power Up Your Team. As an Executive Coach, she is helping CEOs and Founders build a more resilient team so they can grow their businesses with confidence and ease. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Martina spent 30+ years working for small and several Fortune 100 companies. Moreover, Martina held a variety of executive roles focused on driving large strategic change initiatives, leading programs to build organizational continuous improvement capabilities, improving business operations, and building successful teams.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:02:47 The Impact of Lean in the Service Industry

0:07:03 The Importance of Engaging IT in Process Improvement Projects

0:18:51 The Benefits of Automation in the Workplace

0:21:08 The Dangers of Over-Emphasizing Tools in Lean Deployments

0:23:15 Why People like Tools

0:24:40 The Impact of Tools on Lean Implementation

0:26:48 The Benefits of Lean Initiatives in the Workplace

0:28:57 The Importance of Lean Principles in Business Culture

0: 29:30 The Shift that's happening around the culture of business

0:34:53 The Benefits of Building a Resilient Team

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Using tools are good techniques to foster the work in the organization, however, it should not be the main principle in development.
• Sometimes, less automation is more and the organization should know that.
• Technology has enabled work but it's not the “work”.
• The work comes first, literally the important task, and then technology can be added.
• Managers should think beyond technology.
• The important factor behind using a tool should be the intent that the company has toward the outcome
• Tools are meant to teach people a new way of thinking and coming up with a solution
• Slowing down is not fashionable, particularly in corporate America
• Lean approach could be started for a purpose and a desire to change something from activity-based to a change in culture
• In an organization where it uses Lean Approaches, as a result, the leadership approaches and the operation approaches would merge.

Memorable Quotes From Martina Kuhlmeye

• "Sometimes, less automation is more and the organization should know that”

CONNECT WITH Martina Kuhlmeyer

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-kuhlmeyer/

Website: https://powerupyourteam.com/

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Kevin Herring specializes in business turnarounds – helping organizations create high-performing teams.  His interest in how humans thrive in a workplace started all the way back in college – not in a class but at a summer job. It’s an amazing story – let’s hear him tell it!

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Do you think there are differences between a lean culture and a culture for lean innovation? Norbert Majerus loved being an engineer in part because he was better with numbers than with people. But when Norbert was entrusted with leading the lean innovation transformation at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, he had to build his skills with people. He’s written a new book that shines a light on the human side of a lean innovation culture and what leaders need to learn about themselves to drive positive culture change. He joined me to tell his story. About Norbert Majerus Norbert, born and raised in Luxembourg, has a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Universitaet des Saarlandes, Saarbruecken, Germany, and worked most of the disciplines in the Goodyear innovation centers in Luxembourg and Akron. Norbert has taught workshops and has spoken at many conferences in the United States and other countries. Since retiring from Goodyear in 2017, he continues to share his extensive lean expertise via Norbert Majerus Consulting and as a board member of LPPDE (Lean Product and Process Development Exchange). In 2016, Norbert published his first book, Lean-Driven Innovation, which received the Shingo Research Award. Also in 2016, with Norbert’s guidance, the Goodyear R&D organization applied for and received the AME Excellence Award. Norbert published his second book, Winning Innovation in 2022. KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST: 0:02:48 Leadership Lessons Learned the Hard Way 0:04:54 The Importance of Lean Culture and People 0:08:12 Leadership Development in a Lean Culture 0:12:25 Innovation at Goodyear 0:16:42 The Benefits of Taking Risks in the Workplace 0:23:03 The Benefits of a Culture of Innovation 0:25:03 The Impact of Education on Psychological Health 0:29:53 The Importance of Culture in Innovation Excellence 0:34:43 Innovation Excellence: The Process of Achieving Success KEY TAKEAWAYS Culture starts with the people Working in a Lean environment reinforced the importance of culture and people. Instead of lean tool adoption, the success of a lean system depends mostly on the activities made, the concepts applied, and organizational change. Every organization develops a culture, whether through a planned or unplanned process. Leaders need to respect people to be successful and it is something most leaders struggle with. When a corporation chooses to implement the lean business model, it cannot assume that the culture would instantly adapt to the new procedures, resources, and ideas. The culture needs to be intentionally guided to meet the demands of the model. A key to lean product development is performing a risk assessment and discharging that risk as early as you can in the process - so that you're not loading risk to the end of a product development project. Memorable Quotes From Norbert Majerus "The ideal processes inspire the ideal behaviors” CONNECT WITH Norbert Majerus Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norbert-majerus-5a746235/ Website: https://www.leandriveninnovation.com/ Norberts Latest Book: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Innovation-Excellence-Sustained-Prosperity/dp/1032139897

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Some compelling features of agile product development are flexibility and resilience. An agile project can deal with problems and new learning and pivot to take advantage of that new learning. My guest, Katja Schleicher has insights about how to apply those agile principles of flexibility and resilience to communication. We can all benefit from better communication, so check out our fascinating conversation!

Katja Schleicher is a sought-after Communications Expert Trainer and keynote speaker. She gets managers, teams, women, and men to talk - and improves their communicative impact in Public Speeches, conversations, and media interviews. Words, what they mean, and how they “come across" to the audience are her passion and business model. In this order. After a long career in PR, advertising, TV, and corporate communications for high-tech companies, she has been on the road for nearly two decades to guide her audiences through all the (intercultural) communication shallows and misunderstandings.

Websites:

www.katjaschleicher.com

www.interview-training.eu

Some compelling features of agile product development are flexibility and resilience. An agile project can deal with problems and new learning and pivot to take advantage of that new learning. My guest, Katja Schleicher, has insights about applying those agile principles of flexibility and resilience to communication. We can all benefit from better communication, so check out our conversation!

Katja Schleicher

Katja Schleicher is a sought-after Communications Expert Trainer and keynote speaker. She gets managers, teams, women, and men to talk - and improve their communicative impact in Public Speeches, conversations, and media interviews. Words, what they mean, and how they “come across" to the audience are her passion and business model. After a long career in PR, advertising, TV, and corporate communications for high-tech companies, she has been on the road for nearly two decades to guide her audiences through all the (intercultural) communication shallows and misunderstandings.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

0:05:07 Agile Communication: What It Is and How It Can Benefit Your Business

0:09:19 Agile Communication: How to Break Out of Your Filter Bubble

0:11:42 Intercultural Communication: The Importance of an "As Well As" Mindset

0:18:04 The Benefits of Humble Inquiry in Understanding Others

0:20:06 The Importance of Storytelling in Communication

0:24:06 The Power of Storytelling in Persuasive Communication

0:35:22 The Benefits of Good Communication in the Workplace

0:40:12 The Importance of Knowing Your Strengths

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Communication is difficult because people are more in love with numbers than with words. You need to communicate with people, but there's always more for us to learn about how to do that better and authentically.
• Agile communication is adapting quickly to situations with the respective communication patterns.
• Narrative communication is a way of connecting the dots logically and emotionally. Connecting the dots with emotion is easier than with facts and figures.
• Sustainable. Communication is when people talk about what you said in the way you intended it, and then they can act upon it.
• For day-to-day communication, Katja recommends keeping it smaller, engaging, and on eye level with your audience. Especially among peers, it's essential to be honest with your expertise and to build common ground with the audience.

Memorable Quotes From Katja Schleicher

“To become an agile communicator, it is important to understand one's filters and bubbles and to be curious about other people, cultures, and industries.”

CONNECT WITH Katja Schleicher

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/interviewtraining/

Websites: www.katjaschleicher.com

www.interview-training.eu

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Dr. Anjani Mahabashya had a childhood dream to be a doctor. She achieved her dream and got her dream job working in a premier medical center. Everything came crashing down the day she had a devastating fall. She is here to share what she learned about empathy, and why empathetic leaders matter when employees are at their most vulnerable. This is a story that all Continuous Improvement leaders who are working to build the habit of “Respect for People” should hear.

Anjani talks about her work in healthcare and her focus on improving the system for patients, physicians, and insurance companies. She discusses her journey of becoming a doctor and her motivation for wanting to help people. She will also share her experience of moving to the United States for medical training and how she had to serve in an underserved area to stay in the country.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• The work of a physician advisor and how her team applies continuous improvement.
• Why Anjani was passionate about becoming a physician.
• Her journey to the United States and why she worked in underserved areas.
• What happened after she had her fall, what she needed during her recovery and how empathy shown to her made all the difference.
• What hope meant to her during her recovery.
• What Anjani learned about the power of networking.
• Why empathy needs to flow both ways as the health care providers struggle in the post-pandemic world
• Anjani’s work with bridging the digital divide for senior citizens.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The importance of empathy in leadership, and how it creates connection and engagement.
• Hope is crucial even in the worst of circumstances.
• Your network is your safety net.

Memorable Quotes From Anjani Mahabashya

• "Empathy teaches you to be mindful”

CONNECT WITH ANJANI MAHABASHYA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjani-mahabashya-848a201b9

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Continuously Improving Your LinkedIn Profile with Daniel Alfon

When I first created my LinkedIn account, I added my name, and a nice picture and uploaded my resume. It turns out, for those of us who work as consultants and coaches, those resumes on LinkedIn don’t do much to help us connect with clients. Daniel Alfon is a LinkedIn expert, and he blew my mind with his insights in this conversation. Note: I updated my LinkedIn page live as we recorded the show. So, for the full effect, check out this episode on YouTube. https://youtu.be/QM9NB4F0HKE

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for career growth and finding new positions. It's a great way to get connected with people who can help you grow, and it's also great at helping you find new connections. When, like so many lean and continuous improvement professionals, you strike out as an independent consultant, you need to use LinkedIn differently.

About Daniel John

Daniel is the author of Build a LinkedIn Profile for Business Success. Daniel joined LinkedIn in early 2004 and publishes articles, interviews, and exclusive content about advanced LinkedIn strategies to clients and subscribers on his website, www.danielalfon.com.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• 0:02 Continually improving your LinkedIn profile with Daniel Alfon.
• 2:06 Daniel’s LinkedIn profile as a way to connect with customers.
• 7:36 Who’s your ideal reader on LinkedIn?
• 12:55 How to make it easier for people to reach you on LinkedIn.
• 17:40 How to make your LinkedIn experience section easier for people to understand.
• 23:04 How to streamline your LinkedIn profile to be more aligned with what you’d like to do.
• 24:47 How to make it easier for people to reach you.
• 30:20 Do we need a massive network? Or do we need a focused network?
• 32:07 Make sure that your credentials speak for themselves.
• 33:42 Why you need to increase your social media presence to get more exposure.
• 35:30 How to use LinkedIn’s new “Add a Link” feature to your profile.
• 38:27 The importance of having a social media profile.
• 40:39 How do you find out who you can connect with?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When a prospective employer, searches for you on Google. LinkedIn will be the first one to appear in the search.
• One of the main advantages of having a robust LinkedIn profile is that even if you are not looking for a new position it’s a way for you to be engaged with your industry.
• When you want to create a business, consider your LinkedIn profile to be a website for your ideal prospect to find and contact you.
• Provide content in your LinkedIn profile.
• Remember to stay in touch with your connections at school when you build your LinkedIn profile. People don't like it when we just connect and talk to them when we need them.

Memorable Quotes from Daniel Alfon

“ People don't like it when we only remember them when we need them.

CONNECT WITH DANIEL ALFON

TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/danielalfon

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfon

EMAIL: linkedinbusinessdanielalfon@gmail.com

WEBSITE: https://www.danielalfon.com/

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Do you have a website? If you're like me and have a website (like I have at leanforhumans.com), you know that you need to work on your search engine optimization (SEO). And if you're like me and most others, how to do that can be a complete mystery. Brandon Leibowitz says that we should all get as much free real estate on search engines as possible and that it's not all that mysterious. SEO is just another thing to continuously improve. But you need to know how search engines themselves continuously optimize. He's here to explain it.

About Brandon Leibowitz

In 2007, Brandon got his first job after he graduated from college. His job was helping out a company with its digital marketing, social media, SEO, email marketing, and running paid ads. He then realized that everyone would probably be on the website in the future and there are a lot of ways to get traffic but SEO is a way to get free traffic. He thought that he doesn't have to spend money on paid ads but rather he could get there for free.

He focused on SEO over the years and helping out people get free traffic by working with different advertising agencies. On the side, while he was working, he would build his own business up and grow it until he was able to quit his job and solely focus on it, and that is what he does until today.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• 0:54 - 1:52 Brandon’s career background
• 2:24 - 3:52 What is SEO and why is it important for people to know about SEO?
• 4:27 - 5:56 Importance of being clear to your audience about what you are offering
• 5:57 - 6:39 Why is it more important to focus on the user than on keywords
• 6:42 - 8:02 Google Search result as a place to continuously optimize
• 8:07 - 10:25 What does it mean to focus more on the audience?
• 10:57 - 15:02 How SEO increases the stickiness of the website?
• 15:26 - 17:17 What is an SEO title tag?
• 19:54 - 22:20 Where does Brandon see the search going in the future?
• 22:22 - 24:39 Does Brandon watch other people use search engines and see what they do?
• 22:43 - 26:20 What are the things to consider for someone who is getting started in a business when setting up a website?
• 26:27 -28:14 Importance of reviews on websites for businesses
• 28:14 - 30:23 SEO and its use in social media
• 30:27 - 31:47 Mistakes made while optimizing keywords
• 31:59 - 34:19 What are the most recent changes happening in search engines?
• 35:26 - 36:22 What part does AI play a role in SEO?
• 37:35 - 39:09 Brandon’s advice to young people that are starting their career

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Search engine optimization is very useful to businesses and organizational websites because it allows people to discover your product or service.
• It is more important to focus on the needs of the customers rather than the choice of keywords on your website.
• Being clear and concise on what your business offers ideally brings your website to the top of search engine rank and makes it more visible to your target audience.
• When getting started on your business, it is important to have a clean minimalist website to clearly define your offering.
• Getting reviews and feedback on your website helps show the credibility of your business.
• In getting started in an SEO career, it is important to have mentors to guide you even if they are not experts in your specific niche as they can provide you with a broad industry perspective.

Memorable Quotes From Brandon Leibowitz

“For anyone that's just starting, I would say getting a mentor that's helped out over the years is having someone else that's been around to guide you, even if they're not an expert in your field.”

CONNECT WITH BRANDON LEIBOWITZ

Website: https://seooptimizers.com/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonleibowitz/

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One of the secrets of getting to “flow” in a work process is to “level the load.“

Not overburdening the process and managing the natural volatility of inputs has a remarkable effect on productivity. My guest, Kevin Gazzara, has insights into how to do this in our brains. Check out our fascinating conversation!

Kevin has an undergraduate degree in engineering and business and completed his MBA and doctoral work in Organizational Leadership. Kevin then moved to the technical side when he worked for Transamerica Corporation. He also worked at Intel for 18 years as an Operations Manager and General Manager, and in his last 10 years at Intel, he focused on managing Intel University and the Management Leadership Development, as well as residential programs around the world.

Currently, Kevin is a senior partner at Magna Leadership Solutions, a firm that started 15 years ago when he retired from Intel in 2007. Magna Leadership Solutions provide management and leadership programs including the Lean Forward Academy which offers global programs virtually and in person. In addition, he is an ICF (International Coaching Federation) executive coach, and Positive Intelligence coach.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Kevin’s background before he started Magna Leadership Solutions
• What made Kevin transition from the technical and business side to the organizational side of the organization?
• His big leap, moving from engineering to the people side of the business.
• The difference between leading a technical team and being a leader training teams from all over the company.
• Kevin’s ideas, principles, and how he deals with how other people see and perceive things.
• Three commandments of leadership
• What does Kevin do to help other people get deeper knowledge and become more flexible with their approach?
• Why communication is by far the number one missing leadership practice or competency across the globe.
• Systems influencing the performance of the team
• Organizational performance and aligning it to business results
• Why do organizations obscure the cost of turnover?
• What managers should do to improve problem-solving.
• Why managers should balance their employees’ workload and how to balance the workload for your brain.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• No one can do one type of task effectively for extended periods. Changing task types throughout the workday leads to better overall productivity and happier employees.
• Allowing people control over the types of tasks they perform and when and how long they perform them will allow people to gravitate towards what they love.
• When you can retain employees, you are always going to get better performance, engagement, and motivation.

Memorable Quotes From Kevin Gazzara

“Go find someone to mentor you or to coach you… to be a sounding board for you.”

CONNECT WITH KEVIN GAZZARA

Main website: https://magnaleadership.com/

Positive Intelligence website: https://pqtrainingandcoaching.com/

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The role of a good coach in continuous improvement is a key to CI success.

At some point, we all need to step into the role of a coach whether as a leader, a professional coach, or simply coaching others in our day-to-day interactions. Sam Morgan has been developing his coaching skills but had to overcome many obstacles to become a confident coach. I invited Sam back to the Edges of Lean to talk about his growth as a coach and what he has learned as he gains experience and expertise as a coach.

About Sam Morgan

Sam is a self-proclaimed “confident learner” and earlier this year after 5 years of practice in the continuous improvement space he landed at KataCon, a conference for continuous improvement professionals who practice the Toyota Kata (Helping managers develop coaching skills). There he had a powerful moment realizing where his true passion lies, transforming people through coaching.

Ever since then he has been on a mission to help folks illuminate who they are, and what they were created to do, and give them the confidence to live it through the powerful practice of daily coaching.

Sam is looking to change the lives of people through the process of uncovering their PURPOSE, helping them understand the PATTERN of the Improvement Kata, tied together through the PRACTICE of daily coaching cycles.

Sam takes joy in seeing his clients move from fearful to fearless; from insecure to confident. He resonates deeply with the quote from Henry David Thoreau “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.”

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• 01:26-05:47 Sam’s career background
• 05:48-08:20 How does Sam overcome impostor syndrome in starting his coaching career
• 08:21-11:56 The importance of self-awareness being a coach
• 12:12-20:48 What is Improvement Kata all about?
• 21:06-24:28 Sam’s advice to people who are afraid of stepping out on their own
• 24:30-28:57 His unique way of inspiring others to have a clear vision of purpose
• 29:36-33:44 What experiences helped him to serve the clients better?
• 33:45-36:39 Top skills that coaches must have
• 36:42-38:30 What type of clients does Sam work with?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Coaching can be useful in the personal development sphere, helping individuals to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
• Overcoming impostor syndrome is a journey, but it is well worth taking if you want to reach your full potential as a coach and serve clients confidently.
• By valuing yourself first and having self-awareness you will be able to develop into a more effective coach who can help others reach their full potential.
• The Improvement Kata is a core component of the Toyota Kata practice, which is designed to help individuals and organizations continuously improve their performance
• Being a great coach is about more than just asking the right questions. It's also about being a great listener

Memorable Quotes from Sam Morgan

“ What is my purpose? For me, it's being a light, encouraging, empowering, being someone who provides hope and inspiration. And that brings passion and all the things that the different elements of light are how I want to show up.”

CONNECT WITH SAM MORGAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelvictormorgan/

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In Lean, we know the value of getting ideas from the people who are doing the work, especially when it comes to ideas for improvement. But what happens when your organization feels like it is too big to get ideas from everyone effectively? What if you're just too far away? Soushiant Zanganehpour is a social scientist and an entrepreneur, and he is the founder and CEO of Swae, a platform for crowdsourcing innovation, and making inclusive decisions powered by artificial intelligence. Let's hear what he has to say.

About Soushiant Zanganehpour

Soushiant is a social scientist and entrepreneur. His career spans the fields of policy-making, impact investing, social entrepreneurship, and sustainability. He focuses on upgrading inclusivity and democracy within companies and transforming democratic institutions to be 21st-century compatible.

He is the Founder & CEO of Swae, an award-winning idea management, and decision-making platform, powered by AI and bottom-up decision-making.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• 01:32-02:50 Soushiant’s career background and What Swae is all about
• 02:51-08:12 The most common problems of companies/organizations that need attention
• 08:13-10:41 The importance of decentralized decision-making in a crowd-sourced environment.
• 10:43-15:50 Disadvantages of hierarchical structure
• 15:51-19:57 What are Decentralized Autonomous Organizations(DAO) and how do they work?
• 20:14-30:05 A confluence of trends presentation explained from a Free Fall of Trust to Decentralization to Personalization to changing demographics to social movements and finally leading to changing of guard.
• 30:06-39:18 How the Swae platform supports anonymity when it comes to idea-sharing
• 39:21-42:18 Things that next-generation leaders need to be paying attention to
• 42:37-45:06 Soushiant’s advice for young people who are starting their careers

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A DAO is an organization represented by code that is running on a decentralized network of computers, rather than a single central server. Because DAOs are code-based, they can be run completely transparently and autonomously. This means that DAO decision-making can be done without the need for a hierarchical structure or central authority
• One of the main disadvantages of a hierarchical structure is that it can lead to a high level of bureaucracy. This means that there are a lot of rules and regulations and decision-making takes a long time
• Swae is a decentralized software platform that helps organizations to make better decisions. It does this by providing a protocol for decision-making and crowdsourcing.
• Anonymous idea-sharing can help to prevent bias, as employees are less likely to be influenced by the opinions of others.
• When employees feel like their voices matter, they are more likely to stick around.

Memorable Quotes From Soushiant Zanganehpour

“ Don't waste your time trying to reform systems that are inherently designed for the past, build something different”

CONNECT WITH SOUSHIANT ZANGANEHPOUR

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/soushiant

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soushiant/

MEDIUM: https://medium.com/soushiant

EMAIL: soushiant@swae.io

WEBSITE: https://swae.io/

SWAE OVERVIEW (A CONFLUENCE OF TRENDS): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WY46tdfwcw9p3ksjbMNEFhrB52u0Y3Wk/view?usp=sharing

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Practicing Lean changes your brain. Do you agree? I know for me, repeating the patterns of the Plan-Do-Check-Act, or the pattern of the improvement kata, and because of using and adapting lean tools, I think very differently from the way I used to think. This conversation with ST Rappaport illuminated what cognitive functions we are improving when we practice Lean thinking, and why that practice works. I think you will be as fascinated as I was when you meet her.

About ST RAPPAPORT

ST is a productivity coach, who like many people, struggled to be more efficient and effective - until, she says, she changed the way her brain is wired. Now she helps others, through her organization, LifePix University. LifePix University helps growing entrepreneurs solve their core problems so they can become more efficient and effective in their personal and professional life.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• ST’s career background
• How did she get into teaching about the growth mindset?
• What is Feuerstein's Method?
• How does Feuerstein's Method help ST with her reading difficulties?
• The connection between a Growth Mindset with Feuerstein's Method
• Cognitive function explained
• How cognitive deficiencies affect people’s emotions

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A growth mindset is a belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort and practice. This mindset is in contrast to a fixed mindset, which is the belief that abilities are set in stone and cannot be changed.
• Practicing lean thinking may be a way for people to develop their cognitive functions.
• Reuven Feuerstein's method is a cognitive intervention program. The goal of the program is to improve cognitive functioning in individuals with brain injuries and other cognitive impairments.
• Cognitive function refers to the ability to think, learn and remember. It is a broad term that encompasses many different mental processes, including attention, planning, problem-solving, decision-making, and working memory.
• Understanding how your brain works can help you to learn new things more easily and to use your strengths to your advantage.

Memorable Quotes From ST Rappaport

“ Time-saving was the best thing. This is part of the challenge with cognitive functions because we're so used to doing it the same way. We think this is the right way and this is the best way to do it. “

CONNECT WITH ST RAPPAPORT

https://www.lifepixuniversity.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/st-rappaport-869b7619b/

https://www.instagram.com/lifepixphotography/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqwMNmGg9DS0ebpDZZ-Ff3A

https://www.tiktok.com/@lifepixuniversity

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In continuous improvement, we love our numbers. Data is the bedrock of knowing what our current situation is, and whether we are improving. Kevin Palmieri is the CFO, Founder & Co-Host of Next Level University, a Global Top 100 Self-Improvement podcast with more than 1000 episodes reaching over half a million people in more than 125 countries. Kevin and his business partner are all about helping people to continuously improve – and Kevin started out not really being a numbers guy. But he changed his mind. Let’s hear how it happened.

Kevin Palmieri

Kevin is the Founder, CFO & Host of the Next Level University, a Global Top 100 Self-Improvement podcast with more than 1000 episodes reaching over half a million people in more than 125 countries on how to improve your life, love, health & wealth

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Kevin’s career background
• How he started podcasting
• How he was introduced to math and why he didn't like it
• How he faced and embraced math
• Why must businesses continuously improve their system?
• Growth is crucial for every relationship
• How does he understand the value of math now?
• Leaders' biggest organizational continuous improvement challenges

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Growth is essential for fulfillment. Without it, we would be stuck in the same place, both figuratively and literally. We would never learn or experience new things. We would never reach our potential
• By taking the time to identify and address our bad habits, we can make positive changes that will have a lasting impact on our lives.
• Small changes really can create big impacts. If you're looking to make a positive difference in your life, don't underestimate the power of starting small.
• While skills can be learned, passion and humility are two things that cannot be taught.
• By making self-improvement a priority, businesses can position themselves for long-term success.

Memorable Quotes From Kevin Palmieri

“Understand what you're really good at and understand what you're really not good at.. Self awareness, true humility is having the courage to admit what you're good at, but having the courage to admit what you're not.”

CONNECT WITH KEVIN PALMIERI

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/

Websites: https://speakerhub.com/speaker/kevin-palmieri

Podcast: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/

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Kaj Smit was a typical student with a typical life – until the day he woke up in a hospital and learned he had suffered two brain hemorrhages. Physically he had to start over again and mentally he was in a very dark place. What does it take to recover from something like this? And what did Kaj learn that continuous improvers should take to heart? Just a note before we get started: we will be discussing suicidal thoughts. If you or a loved one are considering suicide, the number to call for help and support in the US is 988, and in the Netherlands, it is 0900 0113

Kaj Smit

Kaj Smit is a young man who has experience in designing and creating websites online. He's also an escape room expert!

On May 12, 2021, he had two brain hemorrhages. That's not the end of the story, but the beginning. He went from a vegetative state to being once again a fit young man who's capable of everything, and he did this in less than one year. This has given him a new view of the world and incredible perseverance and a positive attitude that no one can take away from him.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Kaj's experience of brain injury following his brain hemorrhages
• Why did he consider suicide?
• What made the difference for him to pursue life, not death?
• How did he help himself to regain his memory
• What activities helped him recover quickly
• The valuable lessons he learned from his experience.
• The three steps to move forward, even in a difficult situation: Wish, believe, dare!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• It's important to remember that suicide is not a solution. When someone is considering suicide, they are usually in a great deal of pain and they see death as the only way to escape that pain.
• When someone is going through a tough time, it's important to have a supportive network of family and friends.
• Being positive is important when you are trying to recover from an illness or injury. Your body responds to your thoughts and emotions, so if you are constantly thinking negative thoughts, your body will produce stress hormones that can make it harder to heal.
• To achieve our goals, we must be willing to take risks. This is especially true when it comes to our health. Too often, we allow fear to hold us back from doing what we need to do to heal and live normal lives.
• Tiny steps are important.

Memorable Quotes From Kaj Smit

“ Don't look at the end goal. Look at where you started”

CONNECT WITH KAJ SMIT

Website: www.kajsmit.com

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Today we're talking about knowing your priorities and achieving your goals. So often we get bogged down in the day-to-day, and we lose sight of what's important to us. In this episode, we're going to talk about how to identify your priorities and how to plan to achieve your goals with Adam J. Walker.

Adam Walker

Husband, Father of six, Wearer of fedoras, Nonprofit co-founder & CMO, Co-founder of TogetherLetters, a collaborative newsletter service for groups to share without using social media. He is also a co-host of Tech Talk Y'all, a self-proclaimed tech comedy podcast.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Adam’s career background
• The importance of valuing your time
• How setting priorities helped Adam to become more productive
• Why is saying no not a bad thing?
• Why is choosing wisely spending your time so important?
• How to balance your time with your priorities?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, but it's how we use our time that matters. Time is our most precious commodity and it's important to recognize and value our time.
• Allocate your time to something creative and productive
• Use a to-do list and save your time
• One way to regain a sense of balance is to know your priorities and save time. By taking a few moments each day to assess what's most important, you can ensure that you're spending your time in the way that best supports your goals.
• If you want to be successful, it's important to focus on your priorities and use your time wisely. That means saying "no" to things that are not on your list of priorities.

Memorable Quotes From Adam Walker

“ I want to say yes to only the things that I emphatically and joyfully shout yes to!

CONNECT WITH ADAM WALKER

Adam Walker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjwalker/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/onewaywalker

Website: http://www.adamjwalker.com/

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In this episode, Fiona Valentine joined me. We've talked a lot about what continuous improvers can learn from artists, and about how and why we can’t practice continuous improvement without building our skills for creativity. Fiona Valentine is an artist, who works right at that important intersection of art, creativity, and business. She helps artists learn how to sell their art – and she helps businesspeople tap into their creativity. And she knows a thing or two about lean thinking as well!

Fiona Valentine

Fiona Valentine paints the beauty and joy she finds in nature, hosts The Confident Artist Facebook Group, and is the creator of The Profitable Artist Method for aspiring artists who want to paint for fun and profit, even if they’ve never sold any of their work before. Her teaching challenges the typical advice given to creatives because she believes that both painting and the art of selling art can be learned by anyone willing to follow The Profitable Artist Method.

Fiona's mission is to help each student enjoy their creativity and discover that real artists don’t starve, they thrive.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Fiona’s career background
• What is creativity?
• Common misconceptions about creativity
• How does Fiona define "artist" and "creativity?"
• How to develop creativity?
• How to incorporate arts in business and our daily routine?
• Art explained
• The Importance of a combination of art skills and business skills

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Creativity is often described as the ability to come up with new and innovative ideas. However, creativity is much more than simply coming up with something new. It also involves the ability to see things from a different perspective and to find new ways to solve problems
• Many people believe that creativity is a trait that is reserved for artists and musicians, but the truth is that everyone can be creative. Creativity is simply the ability to come up with new ideas and see the world in new ways.
• One of the most important skills that any business person can possess is the ability to think creatively. After all, it is often the out-of-the-box ideas that lead to breakthrough products and services.
• By incorporating the arts into businesses, we can allow employees to explore new ways of thinking and problem-solving. In addition, the arts can also be used as a tool for marketing and promoting businesses.

Memorable Quotes From Fiona Valentine

“ Anything is possible. You've got an enormous amount of potential, You've got enough talent and creativity to make beautiful art and a beautiful business. What you need are skills so focus on getting those skills and enjoy the journey. There's no hurry.”

CONNECT WITH FIONA VALENTINE

Website: https://fionavalentine.com/

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Remote work: it's here to stay, and that impacts everything! For many remote workers, it’s still something new. But for Mari Anne Snow, who is the author of the soon-to-be-released “Remote Work Handbook," remote work has been her area of expertise for more than 20 years. That's how long she has been leading remote teams and continuously improving how to operationalize remote work. Mari Anne is the CEO and founder of Sophaya, and the Remote Nation Institute (RNI), Tune in to this episode to learn more about how to handle a team in a remote work environment.

Mari Anne Snow

Mari Anne Snow is a recognized expert on remote and distributed team leadership. As CEO and founder of Sophaya and the Remote Nation Institute (RNI), Mari Anne is rewriting the rules of remote work and setting new professional standards that ensure business results, team engagement, and top productivity in today's dispersed workforce.

Mari Anne is a business expert who can help you create engaged remote team cultures. Mari Anne and her team work with your company to set up, implement, and maintain remote work or distributed team programs that lead to top business productivity. We provide the knowledge, coaching, and implementation support to operationalize any size remote work, work from home, virtual or dispersed team program as well as optimize existing ones.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Mari Anne’s career background
• How did she get involved with coaching leaders who are managing teams working remotely?
• How leaders effectively implement change management with a remote team
• What leaders can do to help team members adapt to changes in their process
• The importance of engagement and the reward system in a remote work setting
• Common pros and cons of working remotely and some countermeasures for the "cons"
• What a leader should have to be able to effectively manage teams working remotely
• What Mari Anne's upcoming "Remote Work Handbook: is all about

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• One of the biggest challenges is dealing with change. Because the remote work setting is constantly changing, we must learn to be adaptable and flexible in our approach.
• Leaders must be adaptable themselves so they can effectively lead their team through change.
• By making change a positive experience, you can help your employees become more flexible and adaptable, which will benefit your company in the long run.
• Being a successful leader requires a great deal of strategic thinking. This is especially true when leading a team in a remote setting. Because there is no face-to-face interaction, it is important to find other ways to build relationships and foster communication.

Memorable Quotes From Mari Anne Snow

“The only way to learn is to put your hand up and to make yourself available... So take a risk and then be ready to not be perfect, because you won't be perfect. And admit your mistakes, learn from your mistakes. Just don't keep doing the same thing. “

CONNECT WITH MARI ANNE SNOW

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannesnow1/

Email: masnow@sophaya.com

Website: https://www.remotenation.com/

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What does a PhD candidate look like? What does a “Lean Six Sigma expert" look like? How about a CEO? My guest Kathryn McIver wants you to know why how we look impacts our opportunities. So, she changed the topic of her PhD dissertation to research lookism. She's here to share her research.

Dr. Kathryn McIver

Dr. Kathryn McIver is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and earned her doctorate from the University of Maryland where she studied the impacts of appearance on women’s careers. Prior to shifting into operations management, McIver focused on Lean Six Sigma program inception and development where she strongly emphasized the employee’s role in program sustainability and success. When she isn’t designing Lean programs, McIver teaches at the University of Colorado Denver Business school and spoils both of her Bassett Hounds rotten.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Dr. Mclver’s career background
• How her looks/pink hair impacted her profession
• “Lookism” explained
• How making assumptions about other people’s looks may affect them negatively
• What does it mean to look “professional?”
• Why we believe that people in certain professions need to look a particular way, and how this is intersectional with sexism, racism and other biases.
• What can leaders do to reduce lookism inside their organization?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Lookism is the prejudicial or discriminatory treatment of people based on their physical appearance. It can manifest as discrimination in hiring, promotion, salary, and other areas of employment.
• Combating lookism can be difficult, but raising awareness about the issue is a good place to start. Increasing understanding and acceptance of the different types of beauty can help to reduce the harmful effects of lookism..

Memorable Quotes From Dr. Kathryn McIver

“ It is okay to have a bad day, it's okay to have a bad week or a bad month or even a bad year that we don't always have to always be on. And that doesn't erode who we are, what our contributions are. And I certainly think coming out of the pandemic, everybody will resonate with this idea that it's okay to have a bad year.”

CONNECT WITH DR. MCLVER

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kathryndmciver

Email: kathryn@thecomplexmanager.com

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Where do we work? It is one of the biggest questions facing leaders today. It doesn't look like employees are flocking back to offices, and remote and hybrid work sure seem like they're here to stay. Does that mean we can't have the culture we want? In his book “Remote, Not Distant” Gustavo Razzetti argues leaders can design a culture for remote work. And by the way, that includes a Lean culture - so tune in.

Gustavo Razzetti

Gustavo Razzetti is the CEO and founder of Fearless Culture, a culture design consultancy that helps teams do the best work of their lives. For more than 20 years, Razzetti has helped leaders from Fortune 500s, startups, nonprofits, and everything in between on every continent but Antartica.

Gustavo is also the creator of the Culture Design Canvas, a framework used by thousands of teams and organizations across the world to map, assess, and design their culture.

In addition to his consulting work with clients, Gustavo regularly speaks with leaders and teams about culture change, teamwork, and hybrid workplaces. His coaching and tools have helped countless executives and teams develop work environments where people collaborate to accelerate individual and collective performance.

A prolific writer and author of four books including the recent “Remote, Not Distant,” Gustavo’s insights have been featured in The New York Times, Psychology Today, Forbes, BBC, and Fortune, among others.

KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:

• Gustavos’s career background
• Company culture defined
• What is a culture retrospective?
• The importance of leaders demonstrating vulnerability
• How a "stinky fish" tool helps team to boost trust and collaboration
• Hybrid and remote company culture explained
• The importance of trust in a remote company
• How the book “Remote, Not Distant” helps companies to build a strong and positive culture

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• People need to feel that their leaders are reliable and dependable, and that starts with ensuring that words and actions are always in alignment
• When expectations are clear and communication is open, employees are more likely to be aligned with the company's goals and values.
• Communication is vital to maintaining a healthy culture.
• Being a leader doesn't mean that you have to be perfect. In fact, admitting that you're not perfect can actually help to build trust and credibility with your team.
• The most important thing in a company culture is not your location, but your ability to be flexible.
• A strong company culture doesn't just happen, it has to be built intentionally. Creating a culture of respect, trust, and teamwork is essential for any organization that wants to function at its best.

Memorable Quotes From Gustavo Razzetti

“ Culture is something that everyone creates. So the behaviors of all the employees shape the culture”

CONNECT WITH GUSTAVO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavorazzetti/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gusrazzetti

His Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Not-Distant-Company-Workplace/dp/0999097385

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Many of us start our continuous improvement learning in a training class. And many of us deliver CI training. How effective is that training? Does it prepare us to lead improvement? Some training programs are more successful than others in preparing people for the real world. One way to measure the effectiveness of a training program is to look at the outcomes. Amita Sherwood joined me today to talk about what’s missing from your continuous improvement training and share her insights on making training much more effective.

Amita Sherwood

Amita Sherwood is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over 22 years of CI experience in Insurance, Federal (DoD and Civilian), Health Care, Higher Education, Financial Services, Information Technology, Energy, and Manufacturing. Amita has a B.S. in Management Science and Information Systems from The Pennsylvania State University. Amita is passionate about developing peoples' CI skills and "seeing the lightbulb go off".

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Amita’s career background
• How she get into Lean Six Sigma and her involvement in training
• What is was like being trained at GE training
• What is missing from a lot of CI training related?
• The importance of training
• The importance of effective communication
• Why coaching is one the most important aspects of team development

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• There is no point in providing comprehensive training if the person being trained never has the opportunity to put their new skills into practice.
• Training must be tailored to the needs of both the individual and the organization, and it must be ongoing.
• By providing adaptive training that is aligned with the goals of the business, businesses can ensure that their employees have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful.
• The role of a coach is to help individuals identify their areas of improvement and then create a plan to address those areas. Without the guidance of a coach, it would be difficult for individuals to make the necessary changes to their methods and procedures.
• Certifications are important but the real value lies in the experience and learning that comes from the training itself.

Memorable Quotes From Amita Sherwood

“The focus should be that it's learning, it's learning the skill set, it's learning about the process area, You're attacking from the problem solving, it's learning about the people that you're working with?, there's many aspects of that learning.”

CONNECT WITH AMITA

Company Website:

https://www.esquaredsolutions.biz/

Blog:

https://www.esquaredsolutions.biz/blog/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitasherwood/

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As a lean leader, you take "Respect for People" very seriously. What happens when one of your colleagues, team members or employees is going through a serious illness like cancer? How should you demonstrate "Respect for People?" And what should you not say? Kim Hamer joined me to share her insights and learnings from her husband's journey with cancer, so tune in

Kim Hamer

On April 16, 2009, Kim Hamer watched her 44-yr-old husband take his last breath. During his illness and after his death, she was amazed by the helpful ways their coworkers, bosses, friends, and family supported them. Kim started calling their kind actions "acts of love". After the death of her husband, Kim, an HR leader, noticed how little guidance leaders received when navigating cancer, health crisis, or the death of a team member. She knew their lack of knowledge negatively affected morale, employee engagement, and productivity. She set out to change that. Combining her personal experience with her professional knowledge and leadership skills, Kim launched her business to support leaders and coworkers when cancer (or any health crisis) affects a team member.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Kim’s career background
• Her husband's cancer story
• How to support someone who’s dealing with cancer in the workplace
• Why managers should avoid assumptions about sick employee's capabilities and wishes
• What managers can do to manage the situation the right way
• Vulnerability is not a weakness
• How your support greatly impacts someone who’s dealing with cancer
• What leaders and team members can do to avoid the sick employee feeling discriminated against, and better yet, still feel engaged
• What your leader standard work should be in this situation
• What not to say!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Show Respect. Showing respect for your employees always shows that you value them and their contribution to the company. It also creates a more positive work environment for everyone.
• Show Support. Employees who feel supported by their employers are more likely to be productive, positive, and engaged in their work, even if they are sick.
• Communicate effectively. By being an effective communicator, you will be able to create a strong foundation for your team that will allow them to thrive in spite of any challenges that may come up.
• Understanding creates a big impact. if you have an employee who is facing a tough health challenge, make sure to let them know that you're on their team. It will make a world of difference for them.
• Create a positive environment. By creating a positive environment, you can help someone dealing with illness feel valued and appreciated, instead of marginalized.
• Be flexible and ready to pivot. What your employee needs will change. Incorporate frequent communication to understand changing needs in your leader standard work.

Memorable Quotes From Kim Hamer

“When you can help your team support an employee with dealing with whatever crisis they're working with, you are supporting their mental health and their well being. You are providing them with tools that they can take with them for the rest of their lives.”

CONNECT WITH KIM

Website: https://www.100actsoflove.com/whatnottosay

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It’s an odd thing to say, but one of the worst things that can happen to your business is to grow too fast! Marco Koeniger just happened to be in the right business at the right time, when he was suddenly faced with explosive growth. What helped him lead successfully? His Green Belt training. Listen to hear the story!

Marco Koeniger

Marco is a young professional who has been working in different leadership positions for more than 4 years now. He is experienced in recruiting and coaching loyal team players who are willing to build a successful and caring organization. In his different positions, he encountered various challenges and was often left without guidance, which led to him getting interested in self-development and empathetic leadership. In January 2022 he started his Podcast Leading Better Lives, which focuses on self-improvement, communication and empathetic leadership.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• How Marco get into Lean
• His career background
• The importance of having SOP’s in an organization
• Marco’s process of writing SOP’s
• His learnings from managing the Green Belt Project
• His learnings from the Change Management
• The importance of active listening skill as a leader
• His plas for continuing Lean Mindset and Continuous Improvement
• The Importance of root cause analysis

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• SOPs are an important part of any organization as they help to ensure that tasks are carried out consistently and accurately. They also help to improve efficiency by eliminating the need for employees to constantly reinvent the wheel.
• When creating an SOP, it is important to be as specific and detailed as possible. The more clear and concise the instructions, the easier it will be for employees to follow them
• One of the most important aspects of effective change management is communication. Leaders need to be clear about the reasons for the change, what will be different, and what the expectations are.
• The key principles of lean are reducing waste, improving quality, and increasing value for customers. When these principles are applied to change management, they can help to simplify the process and make it more efficient.
• Root cause analysis is a methodology used to identify the underlying cause of a problem. By understanding the root cause of a problem, we can take steps to fix it and prevent it from happening again in the future.
• When Leaders actively listen to their employees, they create an open and respectful environment where everyone feels comfortable communicating and working together.

Memorable Quotes From Marco Koeniger

“If you do a root cause analysis, you see how deep these causes are sometimes or how much they vary from what we’re actually expecting, Root cause analysis is somewhere active listening as well”

CONNECT WITH MARCO

Website: https://leading-better-lives.com/

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Do you hate get up to speak in front of people? Do you have to do it achieve your goals? Brenden Kumarasamy knows just how you fell, and he is ready to help! Brenden joins me for some surprising tips on how to not only get comfortable - but maybe even enjoy speaking in public.

Brenden Kumarasamy

Brenden is the founder of MasterTalk, where he coaches ambitious executives & entrepreneurs to become top 1% communicators in their industry. He also has a popular YouTube channel called MasterTalk, with the goal of providing free access to communication tools for everyone in the world.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Brenden’s career background
• Why is public speaking so scary?
• How to apply lean to help you overcome your fear of public speaking?
• What is the random random word exercise? (AND hear it in action!)
• Brenden's tips on how people can easily retain information from presentations
• The importance of getting feedback for improving presentation skills
• The very best age to start coaching kids to develop communication skills

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Many people experience fear when they have to give a presentation. This fear can manifest itself in different ways, but one of the most common is a fear of communication. This occurs when a person feels like they are not able to effectively communicate their ideas to the audience.
• Feedback is an essential part of any communication process. It helps us to assess how our message is being received and to make necessary adjustments. In the context of presentations, feedback can be extremely helpful in ensuring that our message is clear and concise.
• When it comes to effective communication, it is never too early to start coaching kids. Children who are coached early on in the basics of communication tend to be more confident and successful communicators as they grow older.
• When it comes to developing communication skills, many people tend to feel shy or uncomfortable. However, research has shown that making coaching communications skills fun can help learners feel more comfortable and confident.

Memorable Quotes From Brenden Kumarasay

“For your future goals, start picturing the person you want to be... And just ask yourself, what would that person do and how can I be like that person today rather than in 10 years?”

CONNECT WITH BRENDEN

Website: https://www.rockstarcommunicator.com/

MasterTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MasterTalks

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Here at the Edges of Lean, one of my great pleasures is learning from people who practice lean thinking, but who don't think of themselves as lean practitioners. William Attaway is one of those people.

In lean, we know how vital leadership is. William joined me to talk about how we all can be better leaders, how to continually improve our leadership, and why coaching is the best way to improve our leadership skills .

William Attaway

William Attaway is a Leadership Coach for Catalytic Leadership, LLC, a company he founded to help leaders to INTENTIONALLY grow and thrive. He has served in local church ministry for over 25 years, and is currently the Lead Pastor of Southview Community Church, a church in Herndon, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) where he has served since 2004. He holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament (with an emphasis in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology), and he loves to read and speak about leadership, organizational change, archaeology, and building up people and teams. His newest book is Catalytic Leadership (January, 2022). Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, William now lives in northern Virginia with his beautiful wife Charlotte and their two daughters.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• William’s career background
• How he got into leadership coaching
• His perspective about leadership
• What is the secret sauce of leadership?
• What can leaders do to make a difference in the organization
• Why leadership coaching is the best investment for leaders to make in their career development
• What are the most misconceptions about leadership?
• Why continuous improvement in leadership is the key ingredient in organizational success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Being a good leader requires more than just having the right skills and knowledge. It also requires a willingness to grow and learn.
• It is essential for leaders to be coachable in order to improve their leadership style.
• Coaching allows leaders to learn about their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as how they can better motivate and inspire their team.
• By being open to coaching, leaders can ensure that they are always learning and expanding their capabilities. This, in turn, allows them to more effectively lead their teams and organizations into the future.
• What it means to have a teachable spirit.

Memorable Quotes From William Attaway

“One of the most undervalued skills that every leader has to possess, you have to be able to listen, when you ask the right questions. And when you listen, you can help to avoid the ditch of those missed expectations.”

CONNECT WITH WILLIAM

Website: https://www.catalyticleadershipbook.com/

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Michaell Magrutsche thinks that systems get in the way of our humanity. I believe that (good) systems are necessary for humanity to thrive. I thought a conversation was in order!

Michaell Magrutsche

Michaell is a California Multimedia Artist, writer, advisor born in Vienna-Austria, Magrutsche’s visual work has been coined Liminal Hard Edge, Reductive Pop and Antidepressant.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Michaell’s career background
• What does it feel like to be a person that doesn't fit the system?
• Chaos theory painting explained
• The difference between knowledge and wisdom
• How does system harm us and help us and how humanity can flourish in a system-driven world.
• What is art and its importance in our system

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• In order to have a good system, humans must be allowed to be limitless and powerful.
• Knowledge is an important part of life. It can be defined as the understanding and abilities that someone has obtained from experience or education; it also may refer to information about some specific topic that they possess due to their expertise on the said subject matter
• Wisdom is the ability to take practical action in your life. It's not something that can be given or bought, it has been developed through experience and this takes time
• The arts are a powerful tool for improving our society. They can help us to better understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us by providing opportunities that lead towards self-expression in all shapes and forms!
• Human appreciation for value is an essential part of being human.

Memorable Quotes From Michaell Magrutsche

“Be yourself which is on the way, and understand what's real”

CONNECT WITH MICHAELL

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellart/

Website: https://michaellm.com/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michaellart/sets/michaell-magrutsche-music

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. A leader is the one who steers the ship in the right direction. Direction setting is not easy - and Greg Offner has applied the benefits of root cause analysis to help leaders explore goals: Greg joins me to share this approach Root GOAL Analysis) and to talk about how it benefits lean leadership and a lean culture. He also discussed why coaching leaders is important, so tune in!

Gregory Offner

Gregory Offner is one of the most in-demand experts on the topic of professional performance, and navigating disruption. His clients include Fortune 100 companies, and he is often asked to keynote at conferences where industry leaders and executives turn to him for new perspectives on how to elevate performance, eliminate disengagement, and make work suck less.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Gregory’s career background
• What is leadership and the characteristics of a good leader
• The 3 important evaluation questions
• Gregory’s leadership coaching approach
• What is the misconception about leadership?
• The steps of Root Goal Analysis
• The importance of self reflection for leaders
• What do most leaders miss in their leadership style?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A true leader is always willing to reflect on their own choices and actions. After all, it is only through honest self-reflection that we can learn and grow. By looking back at our successes and failures, we can gain invaluable insights into what works and what doesn't.
• All leaders can benefit from coaching to improve their leadership style. A coach can help leaders to identify areas where they need to develop, and provide guidance and support as they work to improve their skills.
• Leaders who are committed to continuous improvement will be better able to meet the challenges of a constantly changing world.
• A coach can also help leaders to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and to develop strategies for leveraging their strengths and addressing their weaknesses. In addition, a coach can provide an objective perspective on leadership issues, helping leaders to make better decisions.
• Root goal analysis leads to stringer and more meanigful personal and organizational goals.

Memorable Quotes From Gregory Offner

“One of the most undervalued skills that every leader has to possess (is this): you have to be able to listen, when you ask the right questions. And when you listen, you can help to avoid the ditch of those missed expectations.

CONNECT WITH GREGORY

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoffner

Website: http://www.gregoryoffner.com/

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Whatever form of continuous improvement you practice, it's all about learning through experimentation. But once you've learned something, what happens to that knowledge? Clark Shah-Nelson joined me today to talk about knowledge management, why it is essential for organizations, and how to get started managing knowledge.

Clark Shah-Nelson

Dr. Shah-Nelson has taught, designed & led award-winning virtual, online, instructional design and distance learning teams; supported end user and learning management platform implementation and led teams for training, professional development and project management. Recently published articles include human resource management of virtual teams and collaborative tools for knowledge management.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Clark’s career background

• What is knowledge management?

• Understanding taxonomy
• The importance of Human Resources in knowledge management
• Why documentation is so important in knowledge management, and what to do with all that documentation.
• The importance of the documentarian role

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Knowledge management is the collection of methods relating to creating, sharing, using and managing the knowledge and information of an organization. It refers to a multidisciplinary approach to achieve organizational objectives by making the best use of knowledge
• Corporate taxonomy is the hierarchical classification of entities of interest of an enterprise, organization or administration, used to classify documents, digital assets and other information. Taxonomies can cover virtually any type of physical or conceptual entities (products, processes, knowledge fields, human groups, etc.) at any level of granularity.
• Corporate taxonomies are increasingly used in information systems (particularly content management and knowledge management systems), as a way to promote discoverability and allow instant access to the right information within exponentially growing volumes of data in learning organizations.
• Human resources are crucial to onboarding for knowledge management. The key is having the right people in place and making sure they have all of their information available when it comes time to sit down with new employees, so that process can go smoothly from start to finish

Memorable Quotes From Clark Shah-Nelson

“Look into knowledge management, because it's a growing field, it's going to grow more, It's maturing, it's evolving and it's going to become even more mission critical and more and more organizations and companies are going to prioritize knowledge management.”

CONNECT WITH CLARK

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkshahnelson/

Website: https://clarkshahnelson.com

Dissertation: https://youtu.be/F7EqZXhkRfs

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Everyone "knows" that you can't deploy lean without engaged leadership. So, just how do you get leadership engaged? Rebecca Snelling shares her insights at The Edges of Lean.

Rebecca Snelling, owner of RS Consulting, coaches people, teams and organizations on Leadership and Lean Transformation with an emphasis on advancing culture. She is active in the Design and Construction industry, speaking at various industry events across the US and abroad. Rebecca also serves on the Boards of Directors for the Lean Construction Institute (LCI) and the Center for Innovation in the Design and Construction Industry (CIDCI).

We had such a great conversation about engaging leadership - and lots more! Rebecca shared that she will be hitting the road soon at these two events:

5/19/2022 :Lean Construction Institute "Lean Roadshow" Chicago, IL https://lnkd.in/e__FYEKA

6/15-16 2022: Lean Construction Institute "Lean Roadshow" Austin, TX https://lnkd.in/eC-JgxCq

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Rebecca’s career background

• How she got into leadership

• How she applied Lean in her previous company
• How she got into into coaching and the challenges she faced
• How Lean transformation solves the problems in an organization
• How Rebecca handles people who are resistant to change
• Engaged leader and leadership explained
• How good organizations start with Lean thinking

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Applying lean in your organization can be a great way to help improve efficiency and productivity.
• An engaged leader is one who genuinely cares about helping those around them grow and succeed. They create an environment where people feel comfortable taking risks, trying new things, and speaking up. This type of leader fosters a sense of camaraderie and collaboration, rather than competition.
• Lean thinking can help you create a culture of continuous improvement, where employees are empowered to identify and solve problems. As a result, applying lean in your organization can have a profound impact on your bottom line.
• When it comes to helping people who are resistant to change, it's important to have empathy and understanding. Put yourself in their shoes and try to see things from their perspective.

Memorable Quotes From Rebecca Snelling

“Just be better today than you were yesterday and drag someone with you”

CONNECT WITH REBECCA

Linked In:

linkedin.com/in/rebeccasnelling

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EA Csolkovits joins me today to talk about his life experiences and how they've molded him into the person he is today. He also talks about the Givers University he founded, which is helping people from all walks of life to achieve their dreams. And we find out what a "Giver" is and how to find yours.

EA CSOLKOVITS

E.A. was born in 1956 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a milkman (not everyone will remember what a milkman was!) At age 16, he started his business career selling janitorial services to business owners. At the age of nineteen, E. A. Csolkovits met Sam Robbins, a millionaire businessman from Detroit, Michigan. Sam took E. A. under his wing and began to mentor him. E.A. learned the value of having mentors like Sam Robbins and June Martino to support his growth.

Key Topics in this podcast:

• EA’s career background
• How June Martino influenced his life
• The importance and the difference between coaching and mentoring
• What is Givers University?
• "Deeds" explained

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Follow your curiosity. Being curious allows you to learn about new ideas and helps you to better understand the world around you. Whether it's delving into a new hobby or seeking out advice from others, following your curiosity can help to unlock endless opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
• You need a coach and mentors to succeed. When it comes to succeeding in life, having a good coach or mentor can make a world of difference. Having someone to guide and support you is key to overcoming the challenges that inevitably arise on the path to success
• Be a giver. EA had no clue about who he wanted to be in the future. He just knew he loved helping others and being a giver so he started sharing his knowledge and helping those around him. And it quickly became his passion.
• Invest in your self growth. Investing in your own self-growth is one of the best things you can do for yourself. With the right mindset and a coach or mentor to help you along the way, you can make significant strides towards achieving your goals and reaching your full potential.

Memorable Quotes From EA Csolkovits

“I will never give up, I will keep rising up, and I will always overcome”

CONNECT WITH EA

YouTube:

https://YouTube.com/GIVERSuniversity

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/giversuniversity

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/GiversUniversity

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/GiversU

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/giversuniversity/

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How many PowerPoint presentations have you seen? How many have put you to sleep? Betsy Lawson joins me to talk about how to end boring PowerPoint presentations and have engaging and fun training Listen in to this episode and learn how the stories you know by heart can help your trainees remember more and have more fun.

BETTY LAWSON

Betsy Lawson specializes in Lean edutainment for the workplace. She is a Performance Improvement Coach at Augusta Health, has a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, an ATD Training Certificate and a Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia (’07). Betsy lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her fiancé and two cats.

CONNECT WITH BETSY

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-betsy-lawson-5587725/

Betsy's Spotfiy playlist for training (so much fun and inspriation here!) : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Xndj4Mm0oEt80voapNREr?si=5637bf5bc80d4572&nd=1

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Betsy’s career background
• Her ideas on improving PowerPoint
• How she uses well-known stories to enliven her training
• How she aligned "Jaws" and PDCA training
• Her vision for how people deliver training in the future

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Naming characters and giving examples plays an important role in improving any presentation. This trick captivates the audience's attention and knowledge.
• Using creative PowerPoint templates can give your presentations a professional look that will impress your audience and make them more likely to listen to what you have to say. With a little creativity, you can turn a boring PowerPoint presentation into an engaging and informative experience for your audience.
• Relatable characters are a good way for an enjoyable and engaging training. The use of well-known characters like Cinderella and Snow White bring the story to life in a relatable way. The story provides context and understanding to the listener. In addition, it is also motivating and inspiring to see someone like yourself succeed.
• In today's rapidly changing world, it's more important than ever to be adaptable and continuously improve. To do this, we need to be creative and come up with new ideas. We also need to be open to change, willing to experiment, and always learning. This can be a challenge, but it's essential for keeping up with the times. By being adaptable and continuously improving, we can stay ahead of the curve and make sure that our skills are relevant in an ever-changing world.

Memorable Quotes From Betsy Lawson

‘’Get your Lean Six Sigma certification, whether that's a green belt, black belt, if you'd like math, go for the black belt immediately. it's just more math, that's my biggest piece of advice is get that certification. It'll open more doors.”

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Innovation is the key driver of continued organizational success. In this episode, Dr. Heather Johnson joins me to discuss radical innovation and its connection to lean innovation. Dr. Johnson is an expert on innovation, and her insights will help all organizations looking to improve their innovation process.

HEATHER JOHNSON

Dr. Heather Johnson is a scientist, an engineer, and a radical innovation scholar-practitioner with a doctoral degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She also has a master’s in quality management with a focus in engineering & technology from Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Heather Johnson is a certified quality auditor (CQA), quality management systems expert with over 30 years of experience, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with ISO expertise. She has extensive work experience living and working internationally in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Website: http://www.montroseconsulting.net/

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Heather’s career background
• Defining Radical Innovation and Lean Innovation
• The importance of knowledge retention, and what to do when your knowledge has left your organization
• How companies need to innovate
• How Heather helps other leaders innovate
• The innovation process that makes the team work faster and efficiently
• The importance of having a great leader

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Radical innovation is a term used to describe a game-changing idea or product that drastically improves upon existing technology or solutions. Radical innovations are typically characterized by their ability to create new markets or significantly disrupt existing ones.
• Lean innovation is about innovating with limited finance, resources, and assets. Lean innovation is not just a money thing; it's about using less people and fewer assets, whether they are tangible or intangible assets. Lean innovation also includes using less time to bring an innovation to customers.
• Knowledge is a valuable asset for any individual and organization. It allows us to make better decisions, solve problems more effectively, and create new opportunities. Knowledge retention is the process of keeping this valuable asset up-to-date and readily available.
• No organization or person has all the knowledge needed for radical innovation Partnering across internal and external organizational boundaries is essential.
• A leader with a growth mindset understands that intelligence and ability are not fixed traits. They recognize that everyone has the potential to grow and develop their skills. This enables them to create an environment where employees feel supported and motivated to learn and develop. As a result, employees are more engaged and productive, and the organization can achieve its goals.

Memorable Quotes From Heather Johnson

‘’Don't get hung up on figuring out everything and knowing where you need to be. Go along for the ride. Go be adventurous, go explore, explore things outside of the box. You may have studied one thing in college, challenge yourself to look at something else that you never thought of going into. And it will broaden your horizon and it will change the game for you.”

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Did you know that 25 to 40 percent of the people you meet are introverts? Jenny Toh joins me today to talk about coaching introverts, how to coach if you are introvert, why managers need coaching and the future of coaching.

Jenny is an expert in coaching introverts and extroverts and helping her clients to find their voice. She believes that empathy is key when coaching introverts, as it helps them to understand that their experiences are valid. It's also important for managers to give feedback that is tailored to the individual’s introversion or extroversion style.

JENNY TOH

Jenny is passionate about helping introverted women find the right balance between the marketplace and the home front. She is also a strong proponent of mental fitness for her clients to achieve their highest level of success with sustained happiness.

CONNECT WITH JENNY

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-toh-cpc-acc/

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Understanding the definition of Introvert
• The difference between Introvert and extrovert
• How Jenny adapts coaching
• How empathy is crucial for her coaching style
• What drew her into coaching from being a lawyer
• The importance of defining our version of success as a woman
• How coaching mostly happen outside of the workplace
• Why managers should have a coach

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• An introvert is a person who draws energy from time alone. Introverts feel comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.
• When a coach demonstrates empathy, they are signaling to the introvert that they are safe, they are understood, and that their feelings matter. This creates a foundation of trust and mutual respect that is essential for effective coaching.
• Coaching allows managers to understand the perspectives of their employees, empathize with them, and develop a more effective leadership style that takes into account the needs of the team.
• Coaching is a process that enables managers to have continuous improvement in their leadership style. Coaching managers may involve giving feedback to managers about their performance and then providing them with guidance on how to improve.

Memorable Quotes From Jenny Toh

‘’Purpose is important. It sounds cliche, but for a young person, the world is your oyster, and so many things are out there so you may not know your purpose right away. So start exploring, be open about it. But at the same time, identify what your values are, and what your strengths are and that's the starting point. “

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The connection between Lean and Agile is widely misunderstood. In this podcast we will answer all your questions about these two different approaches. Join us as Samuel Gregory explains when an agile approach is needed and what's really behind the word.     SAMUEL GREGORY Samuel Gregory is the founder of Jupiter and the Giraffe, a website design consultancy as well as hosting the weekly That Tech Show Podcast. During his time Samuel has helped world-class tech companies like Netflix and Corning as well as Conde Nast build engaging and experiential websites, working as both an engineer, leveraging his experience coding since the early 2000s as well as a technical program manager and a project manager. Using his experience and appreciation for creativity gathered during his time at Framestore, Samuel has also consulted with UI designers and user experience designers on many digital products. With this experience, Samuel has seen many of the ups and downs that can happen on website projects from both the technical side and the business side. He uses this knowledge, along with his ability to communicate complex, technical ideas into more accessible language teaching what he believes is expected in modern website development. This streamlined approach helps to keep both clients and teammates working effectively together    CONNECT WITH SAMUEL

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samgregorydigital/ Website : https://www.thefullstackagency.xyz/ Book: https://www.thefullstackagency.xyz/books/lingo-agile-book

Key Topics in this podcast: ● Samuel’s career background ● How he came up with the name of his company ● What is Agile and its connection to Lean? ● Simplifying the term “Agile” ● Why some people dislike Agile ● The history of the connection of Agile and lean ● How Agile originated from Lean ● Interactivty of websites and Its benefits for companies ● What needs to change in education to help industry to focus on learning and not just delivering ● Samuel’s advice for the young people who just started out their career KEY TAKEAWAYS ● Agile is an iterative approach to project management and software development that helps teams deliver value to their customers faster and with fewer headaches. ● An agile team delivers work in small, but consumable, increments. Requirements, plans, and results are evaluated continuously so teams have a natural mechanism for responding to change quickly. ● Scrum is a framework that helps teams work together. Much like a rugby team (where it gets its name) training for the big game, scrum encourages teams to learn through experiences, self-organize while working on a problem, and reflect on their wins and losses to continuously improve. ● Kanban is a popular framework used to implement agile and DevOps software development. It requires real-time communication of capacity and full transparency of work. ● Agile isn't required for for building websites but may be more appropriate for software product development.

Memorable Quotes From Samuel Gregory ‘’Whenever you encounter something, whenever you see something new, don't just observe it, and let it fly by. Go down that rabbit hole! I am encouraging you to follow your nose.”

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If you want to be an effective leader, then character is key. Skills and knowledge are necessary, but self-knowledge and clarity on core values are what separate the great leaders from the rest of the pack. Brad Smith joined me to talk about how constant self-improvement of our own character can help us help other leaders to have a better leadership style.

BRAD SMITH

Stellar Insight founder, Brad Smith has spent over 20 years helping companies pursue growth and excellence through coaching, consulting, facilitation, and strategic planning.

CONNECT WITH BRAD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-smith-7458858/

Website : https://www.stellarinsightinc.com/

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Brad’s career background
• How he got into strategic planning and what he’s learned from it
• What are the limitations of leaders today and how to overcome them?
• The importance your personal time horizon
• How you can be more intuitive?
• Defining character
• Brad’s advice for leaders

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• In order to be repeatedly successful in business, you must constantly improve yourself.
• It is important for leaders to ask the people who work for them what their motivations are; by understanding an employee, you can help them grow their leadership skills.
• The length of a personal time horizon can determine what leadership position someone is able to fill.
• Meditation is about watching your thoughts instead of acting. This can help you be more intuitive and listen to your own thinking better.
• People's characters are not always fixed, and people change throughout their lives.
• It is important for you to know your rely on your values.
• Self-awareness is important for leaders since it allows them to be aware of their own emotions as well as other people's.

Memorable Quotes From Brad Smith

‘’You can be repeatedly successful, but you have to be self aware. You have to be situation aware, and you continually have to improve who you are”

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Many small businesses are franchises. What is franchising, and how can lean thinking improve franchised businesses? Or Steve Taylor and I delve into the franchise world in this episode of the The Edges of Lean.

STEVE TAYLOR

Steve Taylor has an extensive background working in large businesses and small, in both sales and operations roles. In addition, he has owned and been partners in several business ventures and is passionate about spreading the "gospel of small business". He lives in Northern California with his wife and three children.

CONNECT WITH STEVE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/psteventaylor/

Website: https://www.thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com/

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Steve’s career background
• What is franchising?
• What are the benefits or advantages of franchising over starting from scratch?
• Understanding the importance of standards in the franchising industry
• How to resolve the problem of misalignment of standards franchisors. franchisees and employees
• How are lean principles applicable in terms of building quality and standard procedures in franchises
• What are the unexpected issues in franchise leadership - and how to resolve them?
• Understanding the difference between leadership and management
• What are the factors contribute to being a successful franchisee?
• What is a multinational franchising and how does it work?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Franchisees usually pay the franchisor for permission to use their brand and a particular area, with McDonald's being an example of this model.
• The franchisee gets a proven business model, and the franchiser can learn from the success.
• It is important to have standards and compare what actually happens with the standards - you can't improve if you do not know what needs improvement!
• A franchisor and franchisee must be able to communicate consistently with one another.
• Understanding management versus leadership is a struggle for many. Successful franchisees must be good at self-evaluation and reflection and understanding what defines each.
• The reason why multinational companies license their brands is because franchising laws are different in other countries.

Memorable Quotes from Steve Taylor

• ‘’Be gracious with people, be forgiving and understanding.You have two ears and one mouth; listen twice as much as you talks and you'll be fine."
• "Find your superpower and double down.”

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The need for change is an inevitable part of life today and change demands leadership. Art Bierschbach joins me today; he's been working on leading change his whole career! We'll discuss diverse types of leadership and what they mean when it comes time to lead change of every kind – whether in environment, culture, or a physical change.

A successful leader can't just hope that things will go smoothly; there must be planning, and leaders must set direction.

ART BIERSHBACH

Art is the Principal Consultant with BtenConsulting, LLC. Art’s passion is to help companies achieve better business results by improving a company’s leadership, helping a company grow their top line with new products and services, and improve processes. Art is an international business coach and consultant in the areas of leadership, management, marketing, sales, operations, and finance.

CONNECT WITH ART

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artbierschbach/

Website: https://btenconsulting.com/ , YourBusinessWingman.com

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Art’s career background
• The importance of training leaders
• Understanding the difference between leaders and managers
• How leaders must value and engage with their people
• The importance of coaching leaders so they can lead their teams effectively
• Art’s advice for people who resist change
• Art’s advice for leaders on how to succeed when leading change
• What are the distinct roles of a leader when change is happening ?
• What are the changes Art would want to implement in the U.S if he were to be given the opportunity?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The leader needs to be willing to listen and take risks on workers' suggestions for continuous improvement to flourish.
• Leaders must value their people to be successful.
• If the owner can't do everything, it's better to hire people who are self-starters.
• If a large change is made by the top leaders, it must be communicated and clear to everyone for the plan to work.
• A leader should remove obstacles and motivate the team, who will take over once that's achieved.
• When a person performs an action, they should evaluate what happened, to learn and make better decisions in the future.

Memorable Quote From Art Bierschbach

‘’ Find a great mentor: when you first get commissioned, one of the first things you're told, is go find some crusty old sergeant, follow them around for a couple of years, figure out what works, and what you can learn there. And they'll give you great lessons, they'll give you leadership lessons, they'll give you lessons about life.”

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Collaborative leadership is the key to success for organizations struggling with siloed decision-making and collaboration. Teri Beckman joins me, discussing how an absence of common goals can lead companies down a path from which they may never recover, Why does having a shared goal play such an important role in a company's successes? Listen in to our conversation to lean about what it really means when we say "We're all on board!"

TERI BECKMAN

Teri is CEO of HIGOl: “We help purpose-driven CEOs align their people, boards, and financial resources to increase revenue and community impact”

CONNECT WITH TERI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teribeckman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teribeckman

Website: https://higo.co/

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Teri’s career and company HiGOI background
• Where does Lean originate from?
• Lean Refugee explained
• Siloed leadership in organizations
• What is leadership collaboration all about?
• Why is giving up control and authority the scariest thing?
• How to handle employees who are not performing well: What is the process?
• How to engage volunteers in a collaborative leadership perspective?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Employees are less likely to feel like their voice is heard if they can't participate in discussions about what needs improvement.
• A company should have a way for employees to voice their opinions.
• Executive teams can have siloed leadership that cuts off the potential for the company.
• Collaborative leadership is where the team works together to achieve common goals.
• The leader needs to be willing to trust and develop different kinds of relationships with their direct reports.
• If we don't teach our young adults how to work together, the future won't be good.
• To gain strategic insights from executives, you must be vulnerable and get them in on the process.

Memorable Quotes From Teri Beckman

• ‘’ Take the time to get to know yourself on a deeper level. And that means maybe some time off from the computer off of your devices. So that, you know, you can know yourself on a deeper level and begin to trust yourself.”

• “You have everything you need to have success in life; to have joy, happiness, you really do. The messaging that there's something wrong with us that we have to fix, that we have to make a certain amount of money by a certain point, that we have to get married by a certain time. Those are all artificial constructs”

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Continuous Improvement and Telling the Truth About Yourself with Arnoud Herremans

Telling the truth is important. But what happens when telling the truth about what you are feeling isn’t comfortable, or you're concerned about how it will impact other people? !

Arnoud Herremans reached out to me after he attended a webinar I gave - and he shared a brilliant insight that I want you all to hear. Arnoud will uncover why is it important to tell the truth about yourself, so listen in and learn more about it

ARNOUD HERREMANS

Dr. Arnoud Herremans is a psychologist by training and holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and he is experienced in pharmaceutical research as a researcher and manager, he is also a founder and CEO of Y47 provides a service to introduce processes that continuously improve workflow and bring Innovation Excellence to Life Science and Chemical organizations where research is an important part of daily life. The center of Arnoud’s service is Lean Thinking. builds a mindset in every employee to clearly identify problems in their work processes. By creating awareness, it is possible to learn how to analyze and improve these processes in a way that is rather “not telling what to do'' but teaching how to identify and change unproductive habits and procedures

CONNECT WITH ARNOUD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnoudherremans/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/arnoudherremans

Website: https://y47.eu/

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Arnoud’s journey and career background
• Understanding the brain’s reactions to to new or threatening ideas
• Importance of being honest about yourself
• The “fight or flight” reaction explained
• Reasons why we feel uneasy or uncomfortable in a meeting or a particular situation
• How do we balance working formally (setting aside emotions) and being authentic?
• Difference and similarities between product development and operations
• Learning cadence explained

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• It is imperative that we normalize the conversation about what it means to disagree with other people. We need more open discussions, less shame, and guilt
• We all have a natural response to certain situations: the way we feel and think about things is determined by the environment in which they occur, and our own past history.
• When we speak up about what's in our minds and tell the truth, we actually create a psychologically safe environment for others.
• We feel uncomfortable when what happens is different than what we expected, and that is normal
• Telling the truth and speaking up are two important keys to resolving issues for both parties.
• We have a tendency to get frustrated about our reactions at work, but it is important for us not to be reactive.

Memorable Quotes From Arnoud Herremans

‘’ You have to find your own voice, who you are as a person: in your work, in what you do. Because if you know that, and there's only one person that can be that is best at doing that, and that's YOU, yourself, you're the best person at being you. And trying to find that and living to that and constantly reflecting on is "This, is this really me?' "is this is what I enjoy?" is where quality is. Build on that!”"

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Linguistic barriers are common in any business, but they can be especially challenging when you're working with different languages. Today I will speak to Bruno Pešec about the importance of plain language and applying lean ideas across an organization whether your team speaks English (or lean!) or not!

BRUNO PESEC

Bruno Pešec helps business leaders innovate profitably, leveraging his broad experience from different industries – including defense, manufacturing, education, and financial services.

He is an active member in the global startup community, co-founder of Norwegian Lean Startup Circle, and Founder of Institute Norway. Bruno is the co-creator of Playing Lean, an award-winning board game for teaching entrepreneurship and innovation.

CONNECT WITH BRUNO PESEC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pesec/

Twitter: brunopesec

Website: pesec.no/

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Bruno’s journey and career background
• How does he bring lean ideas and thinking to Toyota Production System
• Understanding language barrier
• Importance of using plain language
• How does using jargon create an entry barrier?
• How he applied his experience and expertise to help his clients
• What are the biggest challenges in his field?
• Importance of vertical slice in organization
• What is “Playing Lean” all about
• Bruno’s upcoming book
• Advice to young people

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Bruno found his passion in Toyota Production System, but he wanted to bring lean thinking and principles into the company. Unfortunately for him, it was hard because of language barriers
• Plain language makes it easier for anyone, even those who don't know the technical jargon associated with certain topics.
• When you use jargon words, it creates an entry barrier because these special terms are only understood by those in the industry. This makes talking like this sound exclusive and elitist. That doesn't align with being inclusive for everyone else who wants to learn!
• Bruno's knowledge and experience as an expert in his field are put to use for the benefit of clients, with whom he helps share his lean or innovative ideas with others.
• Playing Lean is an excellent game to create an understanding of lean startup

Memorable Quotes From Bruno Pesec

‘’ First, is understanding that everybody learns differently, including you, as a young person. So some things that worked for others might not work for you. And second, learning how to learn is one of the most scalable skills, the earlier in life, you learn that the more reward you will get out of it. “

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Collaboration is an essential part of any successful organization, but how do you find individuals that have natural communications and collaboration skills? Join me as I talk with Mark Herschberg about lean thinking and why universities aren't doing enough in this area! We will also discuss his book “The Career Tool Kit: Essential For Success That No One Taught You” which provides valuable insights on gaining knowledge from collaborative efforts. Mark has been teaching at MIT for 20 years. In addition, he's built multiple startup companies as a CTO.

Mark Herschberg

Mark is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia. He helped to start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, dubbed MIT’s “career success accelerator,” where he teaches annually. At MIT, he received a B.S. in physics, a B.S. in electrical engineering & computer science, and an M.Eng. in electrical engineering & computer science, focusing on cryptography. At Harvard Business School, Mark helped create a platform used to teach finance at prominent business schools. He also works with many non-profits, including Techie Youth and Plant A Million Corals. He was one of the top-ranked ballroom dancers in the country and now lives in New York City, where

He is known for his social gatherings, including his annual Halloween party, as well as his diverse cufflink collection.

CONNECT WITH MARK

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hershey

Website:https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com/

Where to purchase “The Career Tool Kit: Essential For Success That No One Taught You” https://www.amazon.com/Career-Toolkit-Essential-Skills-Success/dp/0960100709

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Mark’s career background
• Importance of Upskilling
• “Agile” explained
• How to develop collaboration skills
• Advantages of upskilling your team
• How to engage your team in learning new skills openly
• Mark’s mobile app built for his book and future plans
• Agile techniques: application for better collaboration

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Mark is not an average software engineer--he knows how important it is to keep up with new skills and knowledge, which makes him a great leader.
• Miscommunication leads to a breakdown of successful teamwork, and this can only be solved by collaboration.
• Developing "soft" knowledge and skills are important to help drive company success, especially for leadership roles.
• The higher education system must focus on teaching leadership, teaching how to learn, and teaching real management skills to prepare students for the workplace.
• Collaboration is a valuable tool that can be used to help teams succeed. It's easy and quick for anyone, even those without any previous experience in this field of work or leadership roles
• Mark's book, "The Career Tool Kit: Essential For Success That No One Taught You" is a useful guide for any team or leader looking to achieve success through collaboration.

Words of wisdom with Mark Herschberg

“That rectangle analogy is recognizing we have long sides and short sides. Yes, keep developing the long sides. That's your expertise. But don't ignore those short sides. Because as you develop them, you will become so much more effective. And that can be whether it's a particular skill that we've talked about, like communication or leadership, it could just be known in another area. “

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Every boss has their own style, but we know that the "bossy" boss will have a very hard time building and mainting a productive lean culture. In today’s episode, I talk about that with Elizabeth Were, who focuses her consulting practice on coaching managers to get comfortable not being bossy (or to get comfortable speaking up, if they are the other kind of boss). She also shares her lean story and how she came to learn that lean implementation requires a change in leadership behaviors.

Elizabeth Were

Elizabeth Were is a certified Business Process Manager and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt who specializes in helping companies improve their processes and is recognized for her facilitation skills and ability to resolve complex issues with practical and simple solutions.

CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-were-548ba217

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Elizabeth’s career background
• Conducting experiments and training the team
• What are some reasons team members might not be cultivating their skills?
• What are the solutions to help managers and team members develop their skills?
• The right process for the right team management
• Different approaches to help bosses stop being bossy
• Solutions to help the team members work efficiently
• Automation in the organization, Good or bad?
• State of lean in Kenya

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Feeling comfortable with not knowing everything allows leaders to empowering their employees. Improvement is always possible!
• Different coaching programs are necessary in different organizations, depending on the skill sets of the team members.
• Leadership styles vary from shy to aggressive, so it is important to understand how each person operates.
• Having a good leader makes team members confident
• Team members need to understand how to work together
• Navigating the conversation about not diving into technology right away can be difficult, but is important for financial services organizations, and all organizations.
• Human interaction is still important in many aspects of business and should not be underestimated, or automated out of existence.
• Keeping a balance between automation and human interaction is key to maintaining your company's efficiency.

Words of wisdom with Elizabeth Were

“Whatever you do, taking one step, and just being very curious, is really, really helpful”

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Episode: Continuous Improvement and Customer Satisfaction with Sumitra Vig

It’s not just the customer’s satisfaction with an organization but also how the organization rewards and appreciates its employees, that drives organizational success. In this episode Sumitra Vig joins me to talk about how organizations can achieve a goal of satisfying customers by focusing on employees. We talk about her experiences working across countries, learning from diverse cultures and how to create a satisfied customer who keeps coming back again and again.

SUMITRA VIG

Sumitra Vig is a Customer Experience Specialist, and an ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence. She helps organizations be more effective by increasing the quality of their interactions with employees and customers through focused attention on goals that are tailored specifically to each organization’s unique needs.

CONNECT WITH SUMITRA VIG

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sumitra-vig-34680527

Key Topics in this podcast:

• Sumitra’s journey and her career background
• Adjusting working in different countries and cultures.
• What are Customer Experience Boards?
• Step by Step process to achieve customer satisfaction
• AAA model explained
• How does a customer’s script bring back the voice of customers?
• Gratification and appreciation for employees as important pathway towards customers satisfaction.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sumitra gained a lot of learnings working across different countries and cultures on how she can apply them for customer satisfaction
• When she moved to Europe, the work-life balance there came as a surprise because it was so different from India and more holistic.
• Citibank implemented methods in newer locations that had been successful in other parts of the world and hence tried and tested.
• In a nutshell, the way to please customers is by taking care of employees first.
• The company uses well researched and refined scripts to reduce mistakes in interactions with customers
• Three ways to measure customer satisfaction is by tracking their satisfaction score, defect rate (problem incidence rate), and problem resolution.
• Employees who work in a culture of fear and stress do not provide the best service to the company’s clients.
• A company's success is tightly coupled with how it treats its own employees, who in turn provide great service to the company’s customers.

Memorable Quotes From Sumitra Vig

• ‘’I think the one important thing is to have fun because when you have fun, you raise your energy and when you raise your energy, you attract a lot of good things”.
• ‘’Understand that there will always be hurdles, and every hurdle is a turning point for something good. Go out and have your fun and have a practice to be the best, most authentic person pursuing your dream”.

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It's one thing to know the principles of conflict resolution - it's another to put them into action. And leading a continuously improving organization will result in times of conflict. In today’s episode, Jerry Fu joins me to talk about his time working at a large pharmacy chain and he shares some incredible stories from the trenches. We talk about his leadership journey, and his effective methods (Five C’s) for resolving conflicts in an organization or a workplace.   JERRY FU Jerry Fu is a pharmacist and a conflict resolution coach. He works with Asian-American professionals on their career and life journeys. He focuses on resolving clients’ conflict at work, in the broader culture, and within themselves. CONNECT WITH DOM LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jerry-fu-pharmd-acc-53710187 Company Website: adaptingleaders.com   Key Topics in this podcast: Jerry’s career His leadership journeys Conflict resolution explained Effective methods to resolve conflicts ( Five C’s) Leadership and becoming an effective leader Reward good behavior or token of appreciation Learning to dance “salsa” with Four C’s How did Jerry get into dancing “salsa”? Exclusive coaching for Asian American leaders Understanding the difference between preference and principle Importance of principle and values to an organizations Jerry’s advice to a young person who is just starting their career   KEY TAKEAWAYS   Jerry understands clinical skills are important but the most overlooked skill within healthcare is building good team relationships. Jerry underwent many twists and turns in his career that led him to become an effective leader that he is today. The workplace (the pharmacy!) is Jerry’s place to experiment with various leadership frameworks. Conflict resolution is addressing broken expectations in a way that is both respectful and beneficial to both parties involved. Compassion, courage, curiosity, collaboration, and closure are the effective ways to resolve conflicts   Important questions from Jerry to remember: What does success mean to you? What is the benefit of achieving that success? What kind of legacy do you want to leave? What can you do today to work towards that legacy?

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How do you build a winning team? It's not just about hiring the best people or getting them to work together. You need to create an environment where they can be themselves and feel connected to the organization. Today, Barry Moline discusses how important it is in building a good environment for an organization where connection and collaboration are important ingredients for success.

Barry Moline

Barry is a Keynote Speaker on Building Connection, Inclusion & Great Teams in an Online World; Lead at Every Level; and CEO/Executive Director at California Municipal Utilities Association and the author of the book “Connect: How to Quickly Collaborate for Success In Business and Life”

CONNECT WITH BARRY

LinkedIn :linkedin.com/in/barry-moline-29b99a53

Website: https://barrymoline.com/ OR https://barrymoline.com/resources/ (for the list of icebreakers)

Key topics in this podcast:

• Barry’s career background
• Collaboration and connection explained
• “Connect” the book
• Political polarization or polarization
• Trigger words
• Rebuilding connection and collaboration
• How to build connections within an organization?
• How to develop a team?
• Effective Ice breakers
• Team engagement
• Get along and make connections with others.
• Advice to a young person working in a team.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The book “Connect” explores how to collaborate with people quickly.
• Organizational success and collaboration.
• Barry discusses the importance of choosing words well, and how choosing a wrong word may be seen as offensive to another person.
• The benefits to engaging with someone and having common interests.
• A bad boss can lead to a lot of people leaving the organization.
• Icebreakers are effective to build connection
• Companies that engage with their employees are 84% more productive
• Barry hires people based on how well they get along in a team.

Words of wisdom or Tweet-ables

Barry Moline

• “Be accountable, and that means, whatever you do, take responsibility, know you're doing something, do the best you can”

• “If you're responsible for getting something done, get it done “

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Do you experience self-doubt? Have you ever wondered if you have “Imposter Syndrome?” Does it impact your ability to influence and drive continuous improvement? Today I speak with Dr. Tara Halliday who is an imposter syndrome coach about her career and about principles that can help us when we experience imposter syndrome.

TARA HALLIDAY

Tara has a Ph.D. in engineering and has practiced as a holistic therapist and coach for 21 years. She specializes in solving what is commonly referred to as “imposter syndrome”. She is the author of Unmasking: The Coach's Guide to Imposter Syndrome, and Understanding the Science of Imposter Syndrome

CONNECT WITH TARA

Website: completesuccess.co.uk

Linked In: linkedin.com/in/tara-halliday-phd

TAKE THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME QUIZ

http://bit.ly/ImpostorQuiz

Key topics in this podcast:

• Tara’s career background
• How her coaching career started
• What is Imposter Syndrome?
• How did it impact her career?
• How do you get out of your comfort zone?
• What is the amygdala?
• Negative impacts of having Imposter syndrome
• Imposter syndrome in-depth explanation
• Imposter syndrome and your sense of right and wrong
• Imposter syndrome myths
• Why neuro-linguistic programming doesn’t help with imposter syndrome
• Tips to manage to imposter syndrome
• How parents can help their children not develop imposter syndrome.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Imposter syndrome is very common (up to 70% of people experience it)
• It is created early in life - and is part of our brain's way of protecting us from the world.
• Many of the methods that people use to manage imposter syndrome are not effective, but there are effective measures out there that can be used
• Having trustworthy allies can help to manage and get rid of the imposter syndrome
• We benefit from appreciating our own worth as a human.
• If you think you have imposter syndrome, Tara has a quiz you should take to find out more about it.

Words of wisdom or Tweet-ables

Tara Halliday

“Learning involves mistakes and mistakes doesn’t mean you’re bad”

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Lean thinking is flourishing in the Gulf States. Today I’m speaking with Dr Deborah Salimi, who is a co-founder of the Lean Gulf Institute, about her career, and how the Lean Gulf Institute was created.

She shares how she has applied lean thinking across industries with great success, including stories from male-dominated workplaces, and how women are advancing at a rapid pace in these workplaces. She also shares learnings throughout her career working in different countries, and how she shifted from being an engineer to being an educator.

DEBORAH SALIMI

Deborah is a speaker, mentor, author and recognized as a Lean Sensei who enthusiastically shares her knowledge and insights. She enjoys success in the practical application of Lean Six Sigma and project management to IT, construction, high-tech manufacturing, and healthcare. She has held high visibility roles at fortune 500 industry leaders such as Intel Corporation, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, Hughes Aircraft/Boeing, and Honeywell and in the not-for-profit healthcare and education sectors. In 2010 Deborah co-founded the Lean Gulf Institute (LGI), (leangulf.org) based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

CONNECT WITH DEBORAH

Website: leangulf.org

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leangulf/

Key topics in this podcast:

• Deborah’s career background
• How did she end up working in the middle east?
• What led her to lean?
• Lean as a lifestyle
• Her journey working in male-dominated workplaces
• How did she deal with country culture in so many different places?
• How did she become an educator from being an engineer?
• Her variety of experiences working from different places
• Diversity of countries she worked in, in terms of female advancement
• Female advancement in UAE
• How lean applied across industries in the Gulf States
• Coaching and management in a lean way

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Deborah was an international worker who had the opportunity to work in many different countries: the USA, Japan, UAE, and Mexico.
• Deborah's career has given her the opportunity to see many different cultures and learn about them.
• Why her gender did not hold her back working in male-dominated fields.
• How she applies lean thinking across different industries.
• Female empowerment in the UAE, and why they are a leader in the advancement women.

Words of wisdom or Tweet-ables

Deborah Salimi

“Don’t discount your education”

“If you want to succeed, you need to become a lifelong learner”

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Continuous Improvement and Being a People Pleaser As continuous improvement professionals, we relish the work of helping others to become better problem-solvers, But sometimes this as lead to an over-reliance on people pleasing, and as a result, not developing and wielding our own personal power. Brenda Florida joins me and shares her insights on moving away from people-pleasing, building our personal power, and understanding why people-pleasing is counter-productive to a lean culture.

BRENDA FLORIDA Brenda is a Certified Life Coach, Lifestyle Adviser, and podcast host. She teaches how to live your best life and how to liberate your authentic power and unique self-expression.

CONNECT WITH BRENDA FLORIDA Website: https://www.brendaflorida.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendafloridacoach/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brendaaflorida/ LISTEN TO HER PODCAST https://www.brendaflorida.com/podcast or Liberate Your People Pleaser Podcast

Key topics in this podcast:

Brenda’s background and Coaching career

People-pleasing explained Setting boundaries on helping others

The difference between inner wisdom and anxiety Importance of self-growth

KEY TAKEAWAYS We should set boundaries so that other people can learn more about helping themselves.

We only have power in our own lives and not with other’s life Everyone should make a fair contribution of role in a team or project

Some people pleasers can experience resentment

Managers should seek to understand what’s going on inside the company

We must focus on ourselves and not always please others

Words of wisdom or Tweet-ables

Brenda Florida:

“I think the most important thing is to remember to really stay in your own sandbox and to develop your skills. “

“Learn about yourself and learn how to set boundaries,”

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Every person in every organization faces problems, and has to solve them. Jamie Flinchbaugh has been observing what organizations do about the problem of having problems - and how they often fail to achieve the full impact of being able to solve problems well. In this episode, Jamie talks about his new book, "People Solve Problems: The Power of Every Person, Every Day, Every Problem" and how it can be a roadmap for organizations and companies when they are faced with the challenge of problem solving, no matter what problem=solving approach they choose to use.

Jamie Flinchbaugh

Jamie Flinchbaugh is an accomplished Entrepreneur, Senior Executive, Consultant, and Board Member with 30 years of learning-oriented experience spanning a range of roles across exceptionally diverse industries and functions. As the founder of JFlinch, Jamie helps teams accelerate by solving the most challenging problems using resources, education, and tools. He helped purpose driven leaders craft effective resilient organizations in over 300 companies. Jamie collaborates with leaders and their teams to bridge capability, strategic cultural and systems gaps, so they can safely span potential pitfalls, and have a purposeful impact on their organizations. Jamie is coauthor of The Hitchhiker's Guide to lean: Lessons from the Road, and is the co-host of the podcasts Lean Whiskey and Happy Heuristics.

CONNECT WITH JAMIE

LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieflinchbaugh/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/flinchbaugh

Website:https://www.jflinch.com/

Key topics in this podcast:

• We know Jamie as a Lean Organization advocate, so why is his new book not categorized as a “lean” book?
• What is Jamie’s definition of “lean” and a “lean organization?”
• What are the pica problem-solving methods Jamie sees in organizations?
• What does Jamie see as the keys to effective problem solving no matter the method used?
• How can a manager be a coach and why is coaching by managers the most effective approach to solve organizational problems?
• What is the core behavior that makes problem solving more effective?
• What are the cons of using processes or templates to solve problems?
• Why is human intuition and creativity necessary for effective problem solving?
• What did Jamie learn while writing his new book?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• There is a difference between thinking about your problems in the negative vs. seeing them as opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Solving problems effectively is vital for organizational success, especially in the environment of rapid change we are experiencing today.
• Good problem solving is team sport - and it requires great leadership, the right behaviors, capabilities and coaching.

Words of wisdom or Tweet-ables

Jamie Flinchbaugh

• “Treating problems like a failure, essentially leads to a very different response to when that happens”

• “Problem solving is that fundamental capability that makes you resilient to the future yet-undefined problems that we are surely going to face. We just don't know what they are yet.”

• “ Take ownership over your own learning journey.”

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Jessica House

Jessica House is an experienced mental health counselor and coach, She is the founder of LightHouse Counselling and Wellness and she has a formal training in Children’s Mental health and she has a counselling psychology background, she is also a child and family therapist in a Children’s Mental health in Ottawa then moved into a leadership position later on.

CONNECT WITH JESSICA

LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-houselighthouse/

Website: https://www.lighthousecw.ca/

Key topics in this podcast:

• Jessica’s background and how her counselling background enhances her lean work and vice versa.
• What is the Importance of mental health awareness and wellness for everyone, including children and families?
• What is the difference between coaching and counseling and where might they overlap?
• How can we determine if someone is struggling with their mental health?
• What are the red flags and signals that we need to refer someone into a psychologist?
• What are the ways to help someone who is having anxiety, suicidal thoughts or mental health issues? Is therapy the only solution?
• How does Jessica use lean with her kids? And how it can help her children to be more disciplined and resourceful?
• What are the programs that Jessica is currently building? How can it be beneficial for the parents that are struggling handling and counselling their kids?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Mental health is a really important topic for everyone, especially with children and families. Unfortunately it's often taken lightly or even ignored because people don't always know what they can do to help out their loved ones who suffer from depression.
• Counselling can be an effective way to help someone struggling with their mental well-being.
• It’s important for people who care about the person they're interacting with to identify signs before things get worse - and anyone can start helping by listening and caring.
• Lean practices can really help family life.

Words of wisdom or Tweet-ables

Jessica House

“I think sometimes when there's so much information, and we already know the answers deep down inside, we've got some good intuition, but unfortunately, other people's opinions cloud our own voice.”

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Many of us in the continuous improvement community want to write a book. It can be a lot of fun to write a book, but it takes planning and effort. Today on the podcast we're talking with Dom Brightmon who has been writing his own stories for as long as he could remember, a hobby that turned into something more than just a pastime or creative outlet. Dom is also the host of the Going North podcast which helps authors share their books and and where he shares his knowledge with aspiring writers. He explains the necessity of planning how to write a book and what things you should consider when starting your own story, as well as why collaboration is important for creativity. He also tells us about some tips that will help our stories reach their full potential!

DOMINIQUE BRIGHTMON

Dominique "Dom" Brightmon, DTM is an award-winning speaker and certified member of the John Maxwell Team. He is the bestselling author of "Going North! Tips & Techniques to Advance Yourself", "Stay the Course: The Elite Performer's 7 Secret Keys to Sustainable Success", and contributing author for “Crappy to Happy: Sacred Stories of Transformational Joy”. Dom host's the Going North podcast, a top-rated self-help podcast that interviews authors from all over the world. His mantra is advance others to advance yourself.

CONNECT WITH DOM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dombrightmon/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/DomBrightmon

Personal Website:https://dombrightmon.vip/

Portfolio: https://www.amazon.com/Dominique-B.-Brightmon/e/B07B7F37N5/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Key Topics in this podcast:

• What drives Dom to write books, and host a podcast and be a coach?
• How can someone who is interested get started in writing a book and what are the steps to write a book?
• Why continuously improving your book so important?
• Why is it important to write in your own voice and be who you are in terms of writing? Does it apply in any aspect of book writing?
• Reasons why the writing phase and editing phase must be separated
• And conversely why sharing your writing goals, dreams, and aspirations with others might a bad idea!
• How Fiverr helps Dom in his writing career, how it can be helpful for aspiring writers and existing authors.
• What are the ways to market your book?
• What are the things to consider before you are finally able to publish a book?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Dom is an introvert, but being an introvert doesn’t mean he can't communicate and express himself, and inspire others!
• You don’t need to be a technically accomplished writer to write a book: just be yourself and express yourself through writing.
• Knowing your purpose and why you are writing a book is the basic foundation of book writing.
• Writing and publishing a book is a never-ending process; to make your writing successful you always need to have a sense of continuous improvement.
• Audiobooks are in today and it is one of the challenges that Dom is facing today as a book writer.
• Haters and constructive criticisms help Dom to build himself and gives him another way to defend his ideas and improve his books.
• Separating creativity from judgment helped Bella improves her book
• It is important to be selective in the people with whom you want to share your book because some people can kill your momentum; choose people that can help you improve, and support your growth.
• More advice from Dom and what you can learn from his books which can be found here

DOM’S WORD OF WISDOM/TWEET-ABLES

• ‘’Success is not a straight line’’
• ‘’Realize that success is tangible’’
• ‘’Collaboration, were better together, we don’t wanna be butter’’
• ‘’Be selective of who you share your writing and your goals and your dreams and aspirations with because there are some folks who may kill your dream before even get your plane off’’

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Episode: Continuous Improvement and Getting to the Root of Belonging with Sonia Lewis

Sonia Lewis joins me to delve into what it really takes to get to the roots of belonging and how to improve belonging within an organization. You’ll find Sonia on the frontlines of many social justice movements as she works to change the many systemic, institutional and structural inequities. For over a decade, Sonia has been on a mission to marry equity/humanity work with social justice/cultural shifting of mindsets. At the end of the day, her battle cry is "The Future is Anti-Racist and we all have a part to play." We’re talking about the part continuous improvement professionals have to play in anti-racism and improving belonging in the organizations they have a chance to impact.

SONIA WILLIAMS LEWIS

Sonia is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the professional training & coaching industry. She describes herself as an Anti-Racism impact strategist and her mission is to create a society that values equity and humanity. She works at the intersection of anti-racism work and belonging within organizations. Sonia wants the fight against racism to take into account present-day realities rather than just rely on history lessons.

CONNECT WITH SONIA LEWIS

LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-williams-lewis-m-ed-0b166b50/

Website: https://www.ascribesuccess.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soniasaidittho?lang=en

Key topics in this podcast:

• What is racism and how does it impact Black people overall and specifically within organizations?
• What is Sonia’s advocacy within diversity and equity all about and what has driven her since her childhood?
• How have the twin pandemics of COVID and racism come together to create urgent problems organizations must solve?
• Why “belongingness” is vital in organizations and how organizations can improve.
• What are the ways in which organizations can change to make sure that everyone’s voice is being heard?
• Why mission and vision statements are important foundations for an organization’s goal alignment.
• How to differentiate between equality and equity?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Racism is ubiquitous but there are multiple ways to improve belongingness in your organization.
• Leaders must work on equity and belonging within the company – and what we already know about features of lean culture – like respect for people and the need for psychological safety can also be used to improve belonging.
• Belongingness helps organizations to improve their bottom line and increase productivity.
• Equity, belongingness, and humanity are important.
• Humanity is important and if humanity is important, that means everyone who shows up is important and should be valued.
• The Continuous improvement professional has a key role and key opportunities to increase belongingness in an organization.

Words of wisdom or Tweet-ables

Sonia Lewis’ advice for a young person

‘’Trust your gut… your gut is very intuitive as to who you are and you should trust it.’’

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Episode 24: Continuous Improvement and Building a Resilient Culture

In Jodi Woelkerling's book, World Class Leadership :10 Critical Insights Every Leader Needs to Know to Foster, Create and Build an Enduring Resilient Culture she shares how stress as well as resilience is common across all industries. Through her book leaders can find activities that help them build strength within themselves as well as others which will lead them towards a more productive workforce.

JODI WOELKERLING

Jodi is an Author, Coach and Consultant. passionate about assisting businesses to build an enduring resilient culture at the whole culture level, the various levels of leadership within the business and at the individual level, so that the business as a whole and the individuals within the business can experience the enormous benefits of an enduring resilient culture

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/resilient-culture-consultant/

Personal Website : https://www.jodiwoelkerling.com/

Topics in this podcast:

• Jodi in her career reached a turning point when stress increased in her job so much that it started impacting her health. That’s when she started down a path of helping herself and then turning and helping others who were in the same position.
• What is resilience? When we have stressors, and all of us will have it in our life, picking up signs of stress early and being self-aware enough to get us back as much in that state of calm as quickly as possible.
• Understanding why people quit their job due to stress and how can leaders help them to stay in the organization and how they can mitigate some of the reasons for stress.
• What is psychological safety and understanding the positive effects it has on employee wellbeing and success.
• In a small businesses or company investing in people is very imprtnat. You gain benefits you can gain when your leadership has a positive impact of on your employees.
• Healthcare organizations dropped their continuous improvement plan due to the pandemic, but what can they do to keep it going? What motivates them to pursue it?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Jodi’s new book is a road map for leaders and employees to handle stress within the workplace. It also provides advice on how managers can motivate their team in addition to keeping them going even when they are faced with challenges.
• Stress is common in any industry, which can be exhausting; we need people to motivate us and push the boundaries of our abilities and that is what leaders are supposed to do.
• Employees with psychological safety are more confident in their work. This confidence makes them produce better results for the company, further encouraging a positive atmosphere where everyone can succeed together
• Leaders should have a close relationship with their employees to boost their trust and confidence working together because that is the great foundation of teamwork that leads to success.
• Despite the pandemic, healthcare workers still have a job to do. They need someone who can motivate them and give them time for themselves so that they don't burn out entirely.
• Leadership is not limited to just managing the team’s work; you can always reach out to your people in ways that show that you really care about them.

Memorable Quotes from the Episode

JODI WOELKERLING

‘’Knowing what your triggers are, knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are, knowing what situation helps you perform at your best self-awareness will go an enormous way and help you develop your strengths.’’

So there are different stressors in different industries, definitely but stress is a common I think across all of them.

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CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND THE KIND LEADER WITH KARYN ROSS

In today's age, when companies' primary outlook is to compete and win, bad management and leadership practices are rampant. Many people suffer inside organizations because of this. In this episode I discussed with Karyn Ross how to be a Kind Leader. AND how important it is to be kind even if you are not in a leadership role. We discuss why this will help you to lead a happy life and help others within your organization. Karyn Ross, who is the author of “The Kind Leader: A Practical Guide to Eliminating Fear, Creating Trust, and Leading with Kindness ‘’ defines kindness as when we take EMPATHY (which is our ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes} and move to ACTION, deciding what to do and then doing it.

KARYN ROSS

An experienced lean consultant, coach and practitioner, Karyn Ross is the coauthor, with Jeff Liker, of the Shingo Award-winning The Toyota Way to Service Excellence: Lean Transformation in Service Organizations. Ross is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, consultant, coach, and practitioner. Focused specifically on services, Karyn has worked with small, medium, and large organizations in sectors as diverse as insurance, financial services, HR, transportation, and retail. Using her unique approach, Karyn teaches people how to combine creativity with lean practices to ensure that every customer receives exactly what they want, when they want it, right the first time with a personal, human touch and she's the author of six books one of her book is “The Kind Leader: A Practical Guide to Eliminating Fear, Creating Trust, and Leading with Kindness ‘’

LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/krclean4service/

Personal Website: https://karynrossconsulting.com/

Topics in this podcast:

• “The Kind Leader: A Practical Guide to Eliminating Fear, Creating Trust, and Leading with Kindness guides leaders how to treat the people under them with kindness - in any aspect of leadership.

• How far does good leadership go? It's not just about bringing people with the vision and helping them in a direction, but also being there as an individual.

• Understanding the key to a difficult conversation in a way that is kind and how leadership kindness can help employees and co-workers change the way they work - and be more positive.
• In a world where competition is present, teams should not compete with each other. They should collaborate and cooperate instead. This will lead to the growth of their team as well as improvement for everyone on that team

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Kindness isn't only about having empathy but requiring some sort of expression for that kindness towards others - whether it's through actions or words, you can really impact how people feel toward one another without even knowing why they're being kinder than usual.
• Being a leader doesn't just mean presiding over an office full of employees. Every person has the opportunity and capability to be a leader in their own sphere, whether it's within your family or among friends.
• Leaders should be a kind listener, and practice the art of having difficult conversations in the right (and kind) way. into others misbehaving as well.
• Leaders are important for their ability to guide the people towards a common goal. These leaders can create an outcome that is both beneficial and rewarding, not only for themselves but also reporting to them.
• A leader's treatment of their followers impacts how these people feel about the job and company. If a person feels that they are appreciated, it makes them less likely to leave or complain - even in difficult conditions. By being kind and humane towards your team members you can keep things running smoothly for yourself as well!
• A team with good leadership that is helping, collaborating and cooperating with each other without competing can help them reach a common goal successfully.

Memorable Quotes from the Episode

KARYN ROSS

“When we experience fear we tend to treat others unkindly because were focused on ourselves but remember the definition of kindness, kind leaders are focused on the positive outcomes for others’’

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Robin Tillotson is an advocate for successful aging and a budding Kata Geek. She joins me with her coach, Deondra Wardelle, to talk about the joys of and strengths of black women over 50, international travel, and the Toyota Kata. You will be inspired!

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When you're striving to improve, you might might some of the problems you want to solve are due to internal conflict.  And sometimes the changes you hope to make create conflict!  Dr. Ted Thompson tells us about the field of peace and conflict resolution - there's a lot for us to learn!

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Have you had your lean thinking history lessons?  We are told that what we call lean is derived from the Toyota production system, and that is true. But there’s more to the story. Lean principles are found in many places and situations beyond Toyota – that is what this podcast is all about.  You may know the story of the P51 Mustang fighter aircraft and how it was developed in a record 12 months, during World War II, which is often touted as an example of lean thinking outside of Toyota. My guest, Ruth Stanley, has another war-time story of lean thinking to share, and it is about her member of her own family.  Ruth Stanley is the Founder of Boann Consulting, and she is ASQ’s Deputy Region Director for the Canada Greenland Region  She is a blogger, Storyteller, Presenter, Mentor , and the author of “A Different Kind of Bombshell: The Tin Hats' Journey Through World War II”

What lean stories can you learn from your family’s past?  No matter where you listen, your ratings, reviews, and comments are greatly appreciated!

Please join me in exploring more of the Edges of Lean! There’s a lot to learn. And check out my friends in the lean communicators community at leancommunicators.com  You’ll find more podcasts and videos – with lots of great new content every week.

The Edges of Lean is written and produced by Bella Englebach.  This is a Lean for Humans production.

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What a year we’ve been through!  One thing you can say for sure about the COVID-19 pandemic is that we’ve all experienced massive change, and a lot of that change has involved loss.  Some have lost family members, friends, neighbor, some have lost jobs, others have lost their businesses. For those of us who practice lean thinking, this means that we are working with people who are living thorough many levels of grief: our employees, our clients, our bosses, our colleagues, and even ourselves.

How does a lean leader address an emotional elephant in the room like grief? My guest is Anthony Casablanca – who has been researching and learning what it means to lead grieving employees. 

Anthony Casablanca is an accomplished lean-thinking senior executive who consults with business leaders on purpose driven leadership. He is the co-author, with his brother Guy Casablanca, of “The Dying Art of Leadership: How Leaders can Help Grieving Employees Excel at their Work.

Don't forget to subscribe! Your ratings and reviews are pure gold - keep'em coming!

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Continuous improvement is something we learn at work (usually) and it's complicated, right? Tools. process maps, new language, new ways of thinking - once we learn it, we can take some of it home. My guest, Katie Labedz has a different idea - why not learn continuous improvement at home, improve our home lives AND take it to work She's written a book about it: "How to Improve Absolutely Anything," and it's the book you can give your family - and read yourself!

No matter where you listen, or watch "The Edges of Lean, your ratings, reviews, and comments are greatly appreciated! Subscribe and tell your friends! Please join me in exploring more of the Edges of Lean. There’s a lot to learn.

Check out my friends in the lean communicators community at leancommunicators.com You’ll find more podcasts and videos – with lots of great new content every week. The Edges of Lean is written and produced by Bella Englebach. This is a Lean for Humans production.

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Few of us win world championships – it takes talent, skill, and extraordinary dedication to become a world champion in any sport. Can you imagine becoming a world champion while also excelling at a full-time job? My guests is Shanti Abelha, who has an inspiring story to tell about how she did that – and how lean thinking was part of her journey.

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My guest today, Dale Power, says that encouragement is rocket fuel. She’s seen encouragement change lives and today she’s going to share her passion project and help us see how we can use that rocket fuel to propel ourselves, our colleagues, and our families in our continuous improvement journeys. Dale Power is a creative connector of ideas, people, and organizations. She has been a Founder of the Outreach Division of a school for children with different learning abilities, a Non-Profit that connects the professionals who work with those children, and now The Encouragement Project. She has owned a catering company, worked as a professional clown, and for the last 21 years, owned Big Shoes Marketing, a brand consultancy. She is now turning her passion to her newest endeavor: The Encouragement Project having learned that encouragement is as powerful as rocket fuel when used properly. She teaches the skills and tools that when practiced have the ability to make a better world for businesses and individuals.

Who are you going to encourage today? You can connect with Dale at The EncouragementProject.com Please join me in exploring more of the Edges of Lean! There’s a lot to learn. And check out my friends in the lean communicators community at leancommunicators.com You’ll find more podcasts and videos – with lots of great new content every week. The Edges of Lean is written and produced by Bella Englebach. This is a Lean for Humans production.

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As a manager, supervisor, continuous improvement facilitator, or coach, you know that communication is a key skill for success and improvement. So, how we are communicating?  We know what we say is important,  right? And most of us would acknowledge that HOW we say it is important too.  But think about this –you’re still communicating, even when you are not physically the shop floor or in the room or on the Zoom call. We’re going to take a trip to the Edges of Lean and explore many aspects of non-verbal communication -even the ones that happen when you are not there!. 

My guests are Shelly O’Donovan and Jason Haines. 

Shelly O’Donovan is the CEO of the Authentic Influence Group. She teaches Persuasive Speaking at the Wharton School, of the University of Pennsylvania. She has led vaccine advocacy for Glaxo Smith Kline, worked as a healthcare lobbyist, and served as a staffer in state government. She has been focused on cultivating authentic influence her entire career, and decoding what makes people tick. Shelly has an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania, a Marketing certification from Wharton School (of UPENN), a BA in political science. She has a certification in body language training and the big 5 personality from a behavioral research lab.

Jason is a Lean practitioner who uses Standard Work to help with communication throughout the workplace to help reduce chaos and frustration amongst the frontline workers and between the frontline and leadership. Jason is a managing director with Industrial Solutions, based in Arizona,  & he has worked in the manufacturing industry for over 20 years. He is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt who works with logistics, manufacturing, service companies, and office areas on developing Lean processes.

How are you communicating? Shelly, Jason and I would love to hear back from you on your thoughts and ideas.   

Please join me in exploring more of the Edges of Lean! There’s a lot to learn. And check out my friends in the lean communicators community at leancommunicators.com  You’ll find more podcasts and videos – with lots of great new content every week. This is a Lean for Humans production.

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Take a look at the building that you are in.  Foundation, walls, floors, roof, wiring, lighting, windows, doors, plumbing, heat, air conditioning, and  so much more..  So many components – and so many people involved from design to delivery. It’s nothing like a factory, so you might think that there’s not much opportunity to use lean thinking..  But if you’ve been involved in construction in any way, you know that a lot of construction projects have problems.  And lean – well in lean, we know something about solving problems.  

My guest today is Susan Reinhardt.  Susan began her career as an architect in 1991 designing schools in Switzerland and now coaches facility owners, designers, and contractors on Lean methods for building projects.  Susan has a fascinating story to tell, and has lessons learned from lean construction that continuous improvers in other industries can learn from!

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When you’ve been practicing continuous improvement for a while, whether as an internal or external consultant, you follow your own advice, and create standard work for yourself. You have an approach to training, and approach to coaching, and an approach to kaizen events.  But what happens when your standard approach needs to be updated and improved? We can get as stuck in our ways as we see our clients being.

My guest today is Peggy Fry Barnes who is just such an experienced operational excellence professional. Certified as a Master Black Belt she has enjoyed working with operations and customer support teams in both Financial Services and Technology. She is passionate about customer and employee experience and enjoys coaching teams, individuals and small businesses towards continuous improvement goals.   Peggy is sharing her journey of improving her own standard work for kaizen.

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The mysteriously silent lean sensei is an archetype - but is that the only model for a lean leader?  My guest, Tina Provost, joins me to talk about the value of positivity, encouragement, even of of peppiness, and the lessons she brings from college athletics into her role as a lean leader.  

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A long time ago, in a breakroom far far away, I got into a heated debate with a fellow improvement professional over the topic of standard work. I had just completed my Creative Problem Solving facilitation training, and was excited about using my new skills. My colleague was pretty sure that creative thinking had no place in the creation and implementation of standard work. I argued that if you wanted to have the best possible standard work, you would have use creativity, and many experiments. 

I guess you could say I am stubborn, because I still think I’m right! In fact, I’m more convinced than ever that creative thinking is absolutely necessary to get to the highest levels of effectiveness, efficiency and employee engagement. And today, my guests, Kimberly Green-Goldsborough and Erlin Kakkanad are here to share their perspectives on lean, continuous improvement, and creative thinking.

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I can only imagine what you’re thinking! What on earth do dentistry, and piercing have to with each other, never mind to do with lean or continuous improvement?  But when I think about it, there are a lot of parallels between a dentist’s office and a piercing parlor.  Each is usually a small business, each has important health and sanitation requirements, and each, frankly carries an element of fear, or at least concern for some customers. And yet, there’s an opportunity to turn that fearful expectation around and create one that results in delighted customers and patients, and drives continuous improvement. 

My guests today are Stephanie Hill and Karyn Ross who have great stories to share!

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If you made a list of organizations that were unlikely to implement lean practices, you might put law firms pretty high on the list.  But Barry Appleman Leiden, (BAL) a top corporate immigration law firm, would not be on that list, because they are a law firm that is lean at heart, priding themselves, and acknowledged by their clients for their effectiveness and their efficiency.  My guest is Jaclyn Harder, who is a certified Lean Agent and operational excellence leader at BAL, firm. Jaclyn leads BAL’s lean transformation, initiatives, training, and works with teams at all levels across the organization to pursue the exceptional. Jaclyn is also a lean gardener! We talk about lean in the legall profession and lean in the garden. 

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Think back to your first continuous improvement training?  What did you learn about? Define, measure, analyze, improve, control (DMAIC)?  Or was it a lean training, and you talked about single-piece flow and how to define waste?  Did the topic of racism ever enter the conversation?  Probably not.  But the root causes of racism and the problems in the world for which racism appears to be a root cause are now hot topics in the continuous improvement community.  My guests are Deondra Wardelle and Mark Graban who join me to share the story of #RootCauseRacism.

You can find Deondra at www.deondrawardelle.com  and Mark at www.leanblog.org.  We all urge you to follow #rootcauseracism on social media and visit the website rootcauseracism.com

What is your one small thing to act on or to do differently to address racism ? How might your continuous improvement practice advance equity and justice?

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There are those places in our world that are arrival and departure points.  A port, a bridge that crosses a great river, an airport, a helipad.  At these places, drivers, transportation companies, airlines, shipping companies, passengers and more rely on a well-connected and continuously improving infrastructure.  Who is working on those improvements? Here to tell us how it happens are Lisa Dewey-Mattia of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and from the other side of the US, Jared Thatcher of the Port of Seattle.

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That laptop on your desk - where is it going when you are done with it? Most e-waste is not recycled to reclaim its precious metal components, and it ends up in in landfills. From a lean perspective, there’s a lot of waste n the e-waste problem!  That’s where organizations like FreeGeek.org come into play.  In this episode we hear from John Ashcraft of Freegeek, in Portland Oregon, and Maria Grzanka and Brion Hurley, continuous improvement professionals,  who volunteer with Lean Portland to assist non-profit organizations. Brion, John and Maria share how lean thinking helps to reduce waste with the folks who are working hard to address the e-waste problem.

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Teachers of lean practice emphasize the importance of human interaction and some even eschew the idea of automating processes.  Lauren Hisey has a very different perspective when it comes to our relationship with the machines that are everywhere – especially those that use artificial intelligence.  She's not afraid, and she works actively to help companies use human intelligence together with artificial intelligence. In a world where the next person you speak with might be a bot, how do we use our lean principles, especially respect for people?

Lauren is a consultant and coach who guides business owners to create effective change, bringing together her technical expertise and continuous improvement skills gained working for major technology based companies. You can find Lauren at laurenhiseyconsulting.com.

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At the edges of lean are the practices that look just like lean - but the people who practice them don't think of themselves as lean practitioners. My guest is Brandon Williams of LeadTAC. Brandon was an F-15 pilot for the US Air Force, and in this podcast we talk about what leadership lessons can be learned from the people who fly planes at 1,800 miles per hour, and how human factors and situational awareness can improve work for everyone. And we talk about how lean leadership is like the leadership Brandon learned in military, and focus on overlaps in the thinking patterns - and what's different.

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In lean thinking, we talk a lot about respect for people.  And that means we need to understand the physical and mental conditions affecting the people we work with.  I know that my training as a lean thinking, continuous improvement professional included very little about how our brains work – and even less about the effects of mental health and mental illness on how our organizations work.  Yet many of the people we work with, and even we ourselves, struggle with aspects of mental illness and seek better mental health.

In this episode of "The Edges of Lean" Michelle Dickinson and Gemma Jones share their learnings about mental health and mental illness - and we talk about what it means for anyone working in continuous improvement. 

September is Suicide Awareness Month, an important time to pay attention to everyone's mental health.

If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24-hours a day at 1-800-273-8255

In the UK, you can ring the Samaritans (also 24 hours a day) on 116 123.

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How can you use lean thinking with your children?  Karidja Sakanogo, and Sam Morgan, two deeply engaged continuous improvement thinkers, share how they have taken lean thinking home to the family. We also talk about the challenges of raising Black and biracial children and what it means to teach kids "respect for people." 

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Every weekday morning at 10 AM Eastern, women from all over the world meet on Zoom for 30 minutes.  All these women are practitioners of continuous improvement, lean or six sigma. Who are they? Why are they meeting? And who got this started?

In this inaugural episode of "The Edges of Lean," meet three women who got tired of women's voices not being heard in the lean community, what they did about it, and what it has become.   Crystal Y. Davis, Karyn Ross, and Dorsey Sherman founded a unique co-creative group of lean thinkers that is growing every day. 

I'm Bella Englebach, and this is our first adventure at the "The Edges of Lean."