Bending Granite

Meet David Gustafson, a real-life quality guru, and his team from the University of Wisconsin Department of Engineering – where Dave leads the Center for Health Systems Enhancement Systems Studies – CHESS.  We’ll be exploring their applied work in the world of addiction and mental health treatment.  Tom Mosgaller will begin by sharing his story “Walk in Their Shoes” from our book Bending Granite.  You’ll learn that it can be hard, yet essential to keep it simple.

Possibly the best way to show you care is to pay attention to the basics.  Come listen as Matt Albert of SSM Healthcare, a quality expert, reveals the value of purpose, process, and people.  Hospital staff, including a president and nurse epidemiologist, embark on a project expressing how much they care by washing their hands.  Along the way, they strengthen relationships and improve their culture of being a healing presence.

Meet Ian Gurfield, the young visionary owner of a popular pizzeria - Ian’s Pizza.  Ian shares his adventures on the road to leadership.  Kathleen Paris’s interview with Ian is packed full of gems for success.  Lead by empathy, kindness, and authenticity is his credo – Couple that with listening, asking others what they think, and engaging his staff in change, and you have a formula for success.  Ian is young with an old soul and a superpower – he makes people MATTER!

Here is a story by Michael Williamson ripped right out of our book Bending Granite.  Michael tells a classic tale of getting started.  There are numerous lessons, such as jumping to conclusions and solutions - the blame game - making decisions by facts - involving people in the process - picking the right project - having great mentors - and more.  You will enjoy listening to this master storyteller.

Here is Part 3 of Tom Mosgaller’s interview with the past Mayor of Madison for 22 years, Paul Soglin.  In this episode, Paul and Tom visit about how they merge community organizing skills and total quality management to address critical issues, including healthcare.  By focusing on bold action, they demonstrate the power of community engagement and empowerment.  In addition, you will meet Tia Murray, a current leader who carries on the work they started.  Paul could have picked from hundreds of projects to write about in our book Bending Granite.  But he chose this because the Harambee Collaborative was a testament to what he believed was necessary.

This podcast is Part II of Tom Mosgaller’s interview with the past Mayor of Madison. Paul Soglin tells the story of getting one of the most disputed and iconic buildings in America built - The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. Although based on the original Frank Lloyd Wright design, it took over 60 years before someone could bring both advocates and critics together. Joining Paul is three Monona Terrace Community Directors to share this story of coming to an agreement.

Mayor Paul Soglin is the most significant figure to shape the current landscape of Madison, Wisconsin. The citizens of Madison trusted him to serve 22 years as their mayor. In this first of three episodes, Paul talks about Total Quality Management - TQM - and how he evolved from some initial skepticism to embracing these concepts in supporting his agenda forward. Especially important for Paul is learning to share and earn trust when working to accomplish important things.

Kathleen Paris, a Bending Granite author, reads her story “Disaster at the Ritzy Restaurant.”  She shares a memorable experience that has steered her approach to leading change for many years. Listen as Kathleen focuses on the importance of people in the system.

They say the value you provide isn’t nearly as important as pushing yourself to provide it.  Listen as former Mayor Joe Sensenbrenner tells his story of meeting Dr. Deming and being so profoundly influenced that he introduced the science of quality as an approach to make the City of Madison a better place to work and live.  Along with Michael Williamson, Elizbeth Fadell, and Tom Mosgaller, they share their story of what it took to start and succeed in making a difference.  This was a “Moment in Time.”