
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


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
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/
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.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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/
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
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/
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
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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/
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
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
Buy his book at: https://a.co/d/dVguh9A
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
CONNECT WITH Kris Stokes
Website: https://airacad.com/
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
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/
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
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/
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
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
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
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/
From the publisher's feed