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https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/DamienLacey1EpisodePage

Please let me know if I’m on the right track with the podcast. It means the world to me to know I’m adding value.

• Are your people working hard but results still fall short?
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• Do frustrations in daily work stop your business moving faster?
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• What if your team could do more — without working harder?
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If you want your organisation to achieve more without burning out your people, this episode is for you.

 In this episode, I speak with Damien Lacey, a former Toyota engineer and lean manufacturing specialist, about how CEOs can use continuous improvement to drive better results. Damien shares how he takes the lessons from global giants and applies them to mid-sized businesses, showing that you don’t need radical transformation or new systems, just discipline around the fundamentals.

What You’ll Learn:

== Why continuous improvement is not about speed, but removing frustration

== How fundamentals (like an athlete’s routine) build operational discipline

== A manufacturing case study that lifted profits by $550,000

== How visual management boards unlock accountability in teams

== Why service businesses, including banks, benefit as much as factories

== Leadership’s role in making change stick

 Highlights

00:00 Defining Continuous Improvement and Lean Principles

01:31 Applying Continuous Improvement in Business Operations

03:08 Applying Continuous Improvement in Business Operations

06:17 Case Study: Improving Productivity in Manufacturing

13:30 Challenges and Solutions in Implementing Change

18:53 Continuous Improvement Beyond Manufacturing

24:24 Overcoming Roadblocks in Loan Approval

25:09 Visual Management Boards: A Team Approach

30:12 Starting with Simple Tools

31:17 Tailoring Continuous Improvement to Your Business

36:07 Leadership in Continuous Improvement

40:35 The #CriticalFewActions™ for Senior Leaders

 The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today:

When I work with successful business leaders, I often find they confuse transformation with continuous improvement. CEOs assume they need radical change, when the real value lies in fixing daily frustrations. Here are the three key insights I took from the conversation:

Insight 1 – Fundamentals

Problem: Most businesses lack discipline in the basics.

So, what can you do?

• Define a few non-negotiables your team must do consistently.
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• Build a rhythm of daily or weekly review.
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Insight 2 – Visibility

Problem: Without a scoreboard, teams lose focus.

So, what can you do?

• Set 3–4 simple measures your people track.
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• Review them daily as a team.
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Insight 3 – Removing Frustration

Problem: People resist change if it just feels like pressure.

So, what can you do?

• Ask staff what slows them down or wastes time.
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• Fix barriers quickly to show change helps them.
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 If you found this conversation valuable, please Subscribe / Follow, leave a comment, and share this episode with your peer business leaders. Your support helps us reach more CEOs who want to improve organisation performance and value. 

Resources: 

If you want to dig into this further, download ther Contiuous Improvemenet eBook for further details, references, checklists and an Assessment:

https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/DamienLacey1EpisodePage

Stay in the loop with show updates and exclusive content: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

Sponsor: The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation

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Find out more here: https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/DamienLacey1SP

Final Thought

Continuous improvement isn’t about working harder. It’s about removing the roadblocks and frustrations that stop your team doing their best work. What’s the first barrier you’ll clear for your people this week?

Other Related #CriticalFewActions™ Podcast Episodes:

• (EP 4) From Vision to Reality – 4 Steps to Craft a Winning Strategic Plan with John Downes https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/crafting-your-strategic-plan-in-4-steps-with-john-downes-cfa004/
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(EP 3) Damien Lacey - 5 Keys to Transforming Your Business Operations https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/five-keys-to-a-successful-business-transformation-with-damien-lacey-cfa003/