Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond

By Mark GrabanBusiness Management

Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond episodes

June 22, 2022Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, on Eliminating Fear and Increasing Joy in Work
Episode page, video, transcript, and more
My guest for Episode #448 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Rich Sheridan, co-founder, CEO and “Chief Storyteller” of Menlo Innovations, a software and IT consulting firm that has earned numerous awards and press coverage for its innovative and positive workplace culture.
He's a returning guest from Episode 189 back in 2014 — the same year that I had a chance to visit the Menlo Innovations office.
We talked then about his first book Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love.
His latest book, published in 2019, is Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear.
Rich is giving a keynote talk, “Lead With Joy and Watch Your Team Fly!”, at the Michigan Lean Consortium annual conference, being held August 10-11 in Traverse City. I'll be there and I hope you'll join us.
Today, we discuss topics and questions including:
For those who didn't hear the first episode, how would you summarize “The Menlo Way”? And how has “the Menlo Way” evolved over the past 8 years?
Why is “eliminating fear” so important and what drains joy from the workplace?
“Tired programmers make bad software”
Sustainable work pace
Paired work – Erika and Lisa
Individual performance reviews?
“We've eliminated bosses” — nobody to review you, the team gives feedback, develops growth plan
“Let's run the experiment”
Toyota talks about the need for humble leaders — why is humility such an important trait? Do you hire for humility or try to screen out those without much humility?
No longer say “we hire for culture fit”
“Not an interview, an audition”
Leadership lessons from the pandemic– 4 blog posts
In “Chief Joy Officer” you write about the proverbial “mask” that leaders feel pressured to wear… masking how we really feel. Were you able to be your authentic whole self at work, fears and all, during the early stages of the pandemic?
“Scared and panicked” – was it OK to share that with the team?
“They're all adapting” – as a result of everything we've been doing for 19 years
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.
57 min
June 08, 2022Just the Lean Talk 2 -- Mark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh Discuss Lean Supply Chains
As I did two weeks ago, when Jamie Flinchbaugh and I talked about “Lean 101” training (and should you skip it), I'm sharing another episode (as a “bonus” episode in the “Lean Blog Interviews” podcast series), a “just the Lean talk” discussion.
This comes from Episode #27 where we started the episode by taking a deep dive into coffee (making it and drinking it at home) instead of talking whiskey. We were recording in the morning, so whiskey wasn't appropriate. The weather was nice, so Jamie was sitting outside, so we get to hear some birds in his background.
Again, we know many of you don't care about the whiskey talk (or coffee talk), but Jamie suggested sharing this segment where we talked about Lean in relation to inventory and supply chains. This is from May of 2021, but we think it's still relevant. If you want to hear coffee talk, listen to or watch the whole version here.
Our inventory talk includes a news story about 10 million bourbon barrels that are “resting” in inventory. But it's barely whiskey talk. We talk more about the supposed “death of Just In Time.” Ugh.
As I said last time, Jamie Flinchbaugh and I started a podcast series just over three years ago called “Lean Whiskey.” It's a very conversational format and we've enjoyed doing it (and if anybody likes listening, then even better!).
Links From the Show (about Lean):
10 Million bourbon barrels resting – too much or not enough?
The Wall Street Journey's misinformed piece on JIT, Jeff Liker on JIT, Dr. Jonathan Byrnes on supply chain shockwaves, and Dr. Byrnes as a guest Mark's LeanBlog podcast
MIT's The Beer Game, system dynamics and accumulators and delays, and supply and demand
56 min
May 25, 2022 Skip the Lean 101 Training? Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh
This is a "bonus" episode where Mark and Jamie talk about "Lean 101" training -- experiences, lessons learned, tips, and more.
This is the "just the Lean" part of Episode #33 of our "Lean Whiskey" podcast. We realize some of you might not care about the whiskey talk or you just don't want to hear that at all. But, the Lean discussion is pretty good, so here it is.
If you're interested in Lean Whiskey, it's quite likely that you can subscribe anywhere you are listening to this post.
58 min
May 11, 2022Lauren Hisey on Bridging the Gap Between People, Process, and Technology
Episode page: https://leanblog.org/447
My guest for Episode #447 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Lauren Hisey.
Lauren is a Continuous Business Process Improvement consultant, coach, trainer, and speaker. She specializes in helping business owners and leaders from mid-size organizations uncover and solve their business problems with Continuous Business Process Improvement (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.). She helps your business and organization become simpler… faster… BETTER.
Today, we discuss topics and questions including:
Why is it important not to jump to solutions with technology (Robotic Process Automation, AI, Machine Learning, or the new Hyper automation)?
What is RPA?
What do you mean by “digital transformation”?
Bridging the gap – people, process, and technology
Don't automate a bad process
Why should you start with Value Stream mapping and then process mapping the current state and future state?
VSM vs. process maps? Differences?
Current state observation vs. future state creation?
Virtual suggestion box situation – technology adoption?
Virtual Gemba walks?
Why are Gemba walks so important with understanding the current state and then the future state?
Putting two things together — Lean transformation and digital transformation?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.
56 min
April 26, 2022Sumitra Vig on Lean & Quality: First Time Right or Next Time Right?
Partner with Svakarma Advisory, LLP, based in Mumbai India.
Episode page: https://leanblog.org/446
My guest for Episode #446 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Sumitra Vig. She is a partner with her advisory firm Svakarma Advisory, LLP, based in Mumbai India.
She is a customer experience specialist, an ASQ (American Society for Quality) Certified Manager of Quality & Organizational Excellence, and a master trainer & retail banker with years of hands-on international experience in Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Sumitra has designed & conducted successful training programs, mentored employees & created an impact across continents
Today, we discuss topics and questions including:
How did you get introduced to Quality?
First time right / first time quality from a customer lens — What is this?
Does this mean “no mistakes”? What do we learn from mistakes?
Does “first time right” put too much pressure on people?
How can we design the product or service in a way that ALLOWS first time right?
Design thinking — what does the customer really want?
Measures — Problems vs reported problems — how to handle unreported problems?
Customer is king? The employee is really king to then deliver a transformational experience??
The 5 Toyota Precepts
The book Atomic Habits
Women in Lean – Our Table group on LinkedIn
Has a master class available online on First Time Right
Working with a foundation – mobile hospital for villages, remote Himalaya
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.
58 min
April 13, 2022Michael Parent on ”The Lean Innovation Cycle” -- Human-Centered Design and More
Consultant and author of "The Lean Innovation Cycle"
Episode page: https://leanblog.org/445
My guest for Episode #445 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Michael Parent. He is the Managing Director of Michael Parent Consulting Services and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with AAA Auto Club Group in Michigan.
He has written a new book titled The Lean Innovation Cycle: A Multi-Disciplinary Framework for Designing Value with Lean and Human-Centered Design.
Today, we're going to take a dive deep into topics that augment both the Lean and Human Centered Design frameworks.
Today, we discuss topics and questions including:
How about an Operational Definition: What is Human Centered Design?
Tools — but more than the tools
Design something… empathize with the end user
“Transparency is a good thing”
Design thinking (prototyping?) vs. human-centered design??
Observing people vs. asking them about needs as customers?
Converging toward a design?
What made you interested in exploring Human Centered Design?
What value does Human Centered Design offer for Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement? Methodology, being an experimentalist
Customer journey vs. VSM? Or Customer Journey VSM hybrid?
What is the Kano model?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.
57 min
March 30, 2022Michele Smith on Winning the People Side of Lean Transformation
Episode page: https://www.leanblog.org/444
My guest for Episode #444 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Michele Smith. She is CEO and an Executive Coach with her firm Better Possibilities, LLC.
Michele is the former director for the Sutter Improvement System at Sutter Health. She is a Catalysis faculty member and she is is leading a workshop June 7th at the Lean Healthcare Transformation Summit called Winning the People Side of Transformation in Salt Lake City. The Summit is being held June 6 to 9 (with the main days being the 8th and 9th). I hope to see you at the Summit.
Michele is a dedicated Executive/Leadership Coach with extensive experience coaching individuals across all levels of the organization. She has broad experience as a designated leader and change management consultant, with expertise in team building, leadership development, and facilitation/coaching of leadership to arrive at an organizational strategy with aligned goals, solutions, and ultimately culture change.
Today, we discuss topics and questions including:
Tell us a bit about Lean at Sutter — the Sutter Improvement System
A management system?
A roadmap vs. GPS?
Wanting an “organization of problem solvers” – how do we define problem solving?
How to help shift from fire fighting and workarounds to problem solving to root?
Short-term countermeasures vs long-term countermeasures
Management behaviors that lead to the continuous improvement culture?
“Leaders to let go of control”
Helping leaders through this via change management methods?
Motivations to change?
What is ADKAR? Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement
Ah-has — Change management vs. “just change”
Shoehorning change (communication to the masses) in at the end of an improvement event?
Bringing the broader team along — keeping them informed, getting their input before and during the event, not just after?
Leaders going through their ADKAR process and then how do you help others go through it???
The important of joy / happiness in accepting change??
Secret sauce – “The Happiness Advantage”
1 hr 2 min
March 16, 2022Nicole Tschierske: Lean Reduces Stress and Burnout in the Workplace
My guest for Episode #443 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Dr. Nicole Tschierske, a scientist and positive psychology coach who helps experts and teams in STEM do better work.
Nicole works with her clients to improve their collaboration and communication skills so their work gets the momentum and recognition it deserves. She also helps construct ways of working that reduce stress, increase motivation and engagement, and deliver results.
Nicole lives in Hamburg, Germany, holds a PhD in chemistry and is trained in coaching, positive psychology, change management, and advanced problem-solving.
When she's not buried in research papers and books you can find her taking long hikes in the German countryside or mesmerised by Mary Poppins on the screen.
Her new podcast is called “Better Work” and I had the honor of being her first guest!
Today, we discuss topics and questions including:
How and where were you first introduced to Lean?
Why she was burned out in a product research team
Moved from science to supply chain — they were starting with Lean
Why was this important to you? Was was energizing about this?
The collaborative, engaging approach of Lean
Workshops? Kaizen events (and then into science areas, finance)
As a scientist likes an approach that's “rigorous not rigid”
Avoid moving too fast, avoid jumping to solutions, not jumping to causes
“When ‘is' deviates from the ‘should'
What does Lean have to do with stress and burnout prevention?
Physical, cognitive, emotional demands on people
Getting to the root causes of stress vs countermeasures?
Supply chain impact and social support with war going on?
Tell us about some Deep-dive process improvements
How does Lean apply to Roles & Responsibilities and partnerships?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.
59 min
March 02, 2022Crystal Davis on Courageous Leadership and Pandemic Supply Chains
Episode Page: https://www.leanblog.org/442
My guest for Episode #442 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Crystal Davis, the Founder, CEO & Principal Lean Practitioner at her firm, The Lean Coach, Inc. She was previously a guest in Episode 363 of the series, at the start of the pandemic.
Crystal Davis is an experienced business management consultant with twenty years of experience in the design, development, and implementation of Lean Business System solutions. She has extensive domestic and international expertise in the design and implementation of solutions for automotive and healthcare manufacturing, and consumer packaged industries.
Her podcast is “Lead Lean with Crystal Y. Davis“
Today, we discuss topics and questions including:
Reflections back on Covid times, in general?
How do we move from crisis mode, to survival mode, to recovery mode?
How long was the crisis mode? CPG supply chains — hoarding
Why do we need courageous leadership during these challenging times?
Courageous to do something everyone else isn't doing
Eric Dickson – UMass Memorial Health, link to latest episode
Principles — Toyota vs GM during this current shutdown
Principles and values are scaleable
Principles vs. biz decisions
Focused on honing in on what it takes for Leaders to make a shift with all of these supply chain challenges?
What leadership characteristics are needed?
How do you define a “Lean Business System”?
People, process, and infrastructure and how that works together
Using the Socratic method?
People sometimes get annoyed by this?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.
1 hr 6 min
February 26, 2022 Dan Pink’s Favorite Mistake -- and the Power of Regret
This bonus episode is a cross posting of Episode 137 of "My Favorite Mistake" with author Daniel H. Pink. Show notes and more: https://www.markgraban.com/author-dan-pink-on-the-mistake-of-not-having-a-mentor-and-the-power-of-regret/
43 min

About Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond

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Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations features thoughtful, in-depth discussions with leaders, authors, executives, and practitioners who are applying Lean thinking in the real world.