The Improvement Nerds Podcast

Key Topics Discussed:

1. The Art of Political Savvy

Office politics is often viewed in a negative light, but as Betsy explains, it’s all about balance and perspective. Politics doesn’t have to be toxic—it can actually foster collaboration and drive initiatives forward. She shares how understanding the balance of power and aligning different departments can fuel positive change.

Betsy offers a deep dive into her work at Disney, showing how she balanced the needs of various departments to create the successful “Basics” initiative that’s now taught globally. This case study highlights how political savvy can lead to innovative results when handled ethically.

1. Good vs. Bad Politics

In the podcast, we break down the difference between good and bad politics. While good politics aligns teams toward common goals, bad politics leads to dysfunction, competition, and, in some cases, toxic environments. Betsy helps us understand the key indicators of both and how to encourage a positive culture that thrives on collaboration.

1. Dealing with Toxic Work Environments

We also tackle the tough subject of workplace toxicity. What happens when politics turn toxic? Betsy shares stories of working in toxic environments and how she maintained her integrity while guiding organizations through tough transitions. Whether you’re leading a team or consulting with a client, this part of the conversation is packed with insights into managing toxicity and staying true to your values.

1. Strategic Framing and Listening

Another key takeaway from the episode is the importance of deep listening and strategic framing. Betsy explains how truly understanding what different stakeholders need—and framing projects accordingly—can be a game-changer. By asking the right questions and listening closely, you can uncover the true goals behind a project and set it up for success.

1. Tools for Success

In the episode, Betsy also introduces her Consulting Toolbox, designed for internal and external consultants to improve their political savvy, manage stakeholder relationships, and navigate challenging environments with confidence. She’s made these tools available to help consultants and leaders thrive in any organizational setting.

Why You Should Listen: This episode is perfect for anyone working in leadership, consulting, or continuous improvement roles. Whether you’re trying to break down silos, manage complex stakeholder relationships, or handle toxic environments, Betsy Jordan provides practical advice and real-world examples that will help you succeed.

You’ll walk away with:

• Strategies for managing office politics ethically and effectively

🔍 S2 E2 - From Pooh Bear to Process Mapping: Authenticity in Branding and Improvement | Betsy Jordyn Interview 🎙️

In this insightful episode, branding expert and organizational development (OD) strategist Betsy Jordyn joins us to explore the powerful connection between branding and continuous improvement. Betsy shares her passion for helping individuals and teams express their authentic selves, offering practical tips for branding professionals in process improvement roles. Discover how empathy, political savvy, and relationship-building skills can transform your approach to continuous improvement and drive lasting, impactful change within your organization. 💡

This conversation is packed with actionable advice on how continuous improvement professionals can better position themselves by understanding departmental dynamics, adapting their communication for different audiences, and navigating organizational politics. Whether you're a change agent, consultant, or anyone passionate about improvement, this episode is a must-watch for those looking to boost their influence and effectiveness. 🌟

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: Nerding Out with Betsy Jordyn 

00:23 Betsy’s Journey & Passion for Authentic Branding 

01:16 Authenticity Meets Continuous Improvement 

02:30 Aligning Improvement with Organizational Goals 

03:43 How to Brand & Position Your CI Team 

08:56 Tailoring Language for Various Audiences 

13:14 Tips for Personal & Team Branding Success 

18:21 Navigating Organizational Politics Effectively 

24:55 Conclusion & Contact Info for Betsy Jordyn

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on the latest episodes from the Improvement Nerds Podcast! 

👉 Contact Betsy Jordyn: Betsy Jordyn | Consulting & Coaching Business Mentor

🎧 Listen to more episodes: Improvement Nerds Podcast - Hosted by The Green Dot Group

Keywords: Branding, Continuous Improvement, Organizational Development, Empathy, Political Savvy, Change Management, Process Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, Authentic Branding, Betsy Jordyn, Improvement Nerds Podcast

Get ready for an exciting comeback as Tom West, the mastermind behind the Improvement Nerds podcast, returns from a well-deserved hiatus to introduce a brand-new co-host, Mark Ryan! In this episode, Tom reflects on the heart and soul of the podcast—bringing together passionate guests to geek out over the tools, techniques, and experiences that drive real improvement.

But that's not all! Tom’s buzzing with excitement about the fresh direction the podcast is taking and the addition of a stellar new team member. Tune in as Tom and Mark share their epic journey of friendship, from Lean Coffee events to their mutual obsession with all things Disney.

Mark dives into his roots in Lean Six Sigma, revealing his transformation from automotive mechanic to improvement science aficionado. He’s thrilled to join the podcast and can’t wait to explore some human-centered improvement topics with you in future episodes.

And here’s the big moment: Tom officially passes the hosting torch to Mark, who’s ready to bring you the same nerdy goodness you love—plus some fresh, exciting content to keep you hooked. This episode is packed with energy, nostalgia, and a promise of great things to come. Don’t miss it!

If you listened to Episode 40, in which Mary Andrawis and I explore the topic, and nerd out a bit about Leadership Speech Acts, you probably sensed that we had a lot more that we wanted to talk about. And you'd be right.

In this bonus episode Mary and I revisit Leadership Speech Acts and dive a bit deeper sprinkling in a few complimentary topics such as "Yes, and...", "Loose/Tight", "Power of Choice", and "Assuming Positive Intent".

As Mary puts it, "our words can help shape the future if we use them intentionally."

To connect with Mary, please refer to the preferred communication channels listed below:

• Website - www.serafinahealth.com

Keywords - leadership, leadership speech acts, share a vision, speech act theory

In Episode 40, Mary Andrawis and I explore the topic, and nerd out a bit about Leadership Speech Acts. As Mary puts it, "our words can help shape the future if we use them intentionally."

In this Episode we explore the four common speech acts of...

• declarations

This is an episode you will want to listen to again in again.

Mary A. Andrawis, Pharm.D., M.P.H. is Founder and President of Serafina Health Strategy. She has more than 20 years of experience in quality improvement and patient safety, complex program planning, management, and leadership with expertise in medication safety, data analysis, strategic thinking, and regulation interpretation. She founded Serafina Health Strategy in 2020. 

Dr. Andrawis brings unique perspective and a wealth of experience from her training at and leadership of various organizations including CMS; HSAG, the nation's then-largest Quality Improvement Organization (QIO); HRET HIIN, the nation's then-largest Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network (HIIN); the American Hospital Association; the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. 

She received the Pinnacle Award in 2016, the highest award in Pharmacy, for her work with the Partnership for Patients, which resulted in an estimated 87,000 lives saved, 2.1 million fewer patient harms, and $19.8 billion in cost savings. 

Dr. Andrawis has nationally recognized communication skills (both written and verbal) and has several publications on quality measures related to medication-related outcomes. She has also led government negotiations which resulted in more than $100 million in savings to taxpayers. 

Her leadership of a team of nearly 55 individuals achieved substantial results in reductions in patient harm in 1,600 hospitals nationwide. Her collaboration with one hospital system to track and trend rates of adverse drug events and implement interventions resulted in 65.5% reduction in harm over a ten-month period across 35 hospitals.

Dr. Andrawis is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and proficient in teaching and applying quality improvement tools (including LEAN, Six Sigma, and High Reliability), coaching techniques, facilitation, capturing quality measure data, and creating compelling visual displays to drive sustainable improvements in quality. She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of pharmacy and adverse drug event quality measurement.

She trained in patient safety through Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Pharmacy Administration residency in Baltimore, Maryland, and is a graduate of South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She was born and raised in Brookings, South Dakota. 

To connect with Mary, please refer to the preferred communication channels listed below:

• Website - www.serafinahealth.com

Keywords - leadership, leadership speech acts, share a vision, speech act theory

In Episode 39, I have the great privilege of nerding out with the bestselling author, Jodi Brandstetter as we discuss how the improvement method, Design Thinking can be applied to HR -  helping to identify, recruit, onboard, and retain top talent.

Jodi Brandstetter, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is passionate about being an entrepreneur that focuses on providing talent acquisition strategies to businesses, career guidance, and training and development. 

With 20 years of Human Resources, Recruiting, and Talent experience, Jodi provides expertise in recruitment and sourcing strategies including online and passive sourcing, social media, grassroots, and high-volume recruiting. Jodi uses design thinking methodology to create an innovative selection and hiring processes focused on business and people.  She is passionate about finding the best recruitment solution and tools for fast-growing businesses in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Jodi is the CEO and founder of Lean Effective Talent Strategies which includes The Hiring Blueprint, talent acquisition consulting firm, and Talent Acquisition Evolution, a community for recruiting professionals to connect, learn, and work together.

September 2020, Jodi published her first book, Hire By Design, A Hiring Blueprint with Design Thinking.  Hire By Design hit bestseller in 7 Amazon Categories on its launched date.

Jodi lives outside of Cincinnati, OH with her husband, Ron, and daughter, Lena.  

To connect with Jodi and to buy her book Hire By Design, please use the following links:

Hire By Design Book - Get the Book on Amazon

Website - www.letscincy.com

LinkedIn (personal) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodibrandstetter/

LinkedIn (business) - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leaneffectivetalentstrategiesllc/

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/Jodi_Recruiter

In Episode 38, AJ Hobbs and I discuss the multiple ways an belt can add value to an organization. During our conversation we discuss the advantages of becoming a generalist when it comes to improvement. We can appreciate that there are two sides to this coin, generalizing vs. specializing. We do tip our hats to the specialists, but we don't necessarily nerd out about that. Instead we dive deep on becoming an Improvement Nerd Generalist, while discussing what it is like to go to grad school during a crisis.

We also take a walk down memory lane, as we reflect on attending the Health Systems Process Improvement (HSPI) Conference we attended in February 2020. Be sure to check out HSPI's many professional development services, and consider attending the HSPI 2021 Conference occurring this February (https://www.iise.org/HSPI)

AJ Hobbs is an industrial engineer (B.S. Clemson University, M.S. Purdue University) and current MBA student at Goizueta Business School. AJ has worked in operational improvement consulting with healthcare and airline clients. She enjoys college football, Vinyasa yoga, true crime podcasts, and a good dinner party. AJ lives in Atlanta, GA with her goldendoodle puppy, John Prine, and will remain in Atlanta after graduation to join Bain & Company as a strategy consultant.

To connect with AJ Hobbs, please reach out to her by LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/amandajanehobbs.

In Episode 37, I nerd out with Craig Willis of Skore (www.getskore.com) about the importance of process mapping. Per Craig, organization's need to make mapping processes as simple as having a conversation. In fact, that is Craig's personal mission, to help organizations map at the speed of conversation.

Craig's goal is to make process mapping and analysis easy and accessible so that anyone can do it. Providing insights and process maps to your process improvement team so they can focus on fixing the gnarly problems. Creating a common language and simple taxonomy for the organization that doesn't require extensive training.

Craig Willis is the CEO of Skore, a cloud based process mapping, analysis and management software that's designed to be used by anyone. Skore's vision is to make these advanced tools accessible so anyone, anywhere, can grow their business without fear or pain. I've been working in technology led change and transformation for over 20 years and the biggest challenge has been getting people to engage with change and come along on the journey. This is about deciphering the complexity that surrounds us and creating a common language for everyone in the business.

To connect with Craig and his team check out Skore's company website at www.getskore.com.

Other channels to connect with Craig include:

• LinkedIn (Craig Willis) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigjwillis/

In Episode 36, guest Minid Epstein gives the Improvement Nerds audience permission to be their authentic selves. To embrace their imperfections and to go forward even when you don't have it all figured out.

As the founder and former owner of Peace through Yoga, a full service yoga studio with multiple locations in the greater Indianapolis area, Mindi coaches entrepreneurs on how to identify, implement and operate the business of their dreams. 

She successfully built communities around each of her studio locations, which became the catalyst for starting Top Floor Women, a networking group to inspire personal achievement through connection. Top Floor Women’s success in bringing women together in the spirit of camaraderie and collaboration ultimately was the driving force for the launch of Wabi Sabi. Mindi identifies Wabi Sabi as the culmination of her life experiences and teachings.

Previously, Mindi has enjoyed a career as a Sr. Vice President of Communications at a large not-for-profit, a top saleswoman in advertising, a freelance writer and graphic designer and most notably, a published archaeologist working overseas in multiple locations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors from the University of Michigan and post-graduate studies from the University of Chicago and Tel Aviv University.

At her core, Mindi is deeply committed to inspiring women to celebrate their uniqueness and give themselves permission to live the life of their dreams. As a lover of travel, animals, Nature and yoga, Mindi will tell you unequivocally that she loves her life.

To connect with Mindi, please reach out through the following channels:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindi-epstein/

https://www.facebook.com/wabisabi4women

https://wabisabi4women.com/

You can also connect with Mindi and collaborate with her by joining the Achievers Circle: A Private Facebook Community for Women Who Aspire & Inspire.

Achievers Circle is a virtual gathering space where women come together in fellowship, mentorship, collaboration and friendship to achieve unimaginable possibilities.

• Weekly Facebook Live sessions — join me and surprise guests for coaching, inspiration and tactics to keep you moving forward

Monthly membership available as a holiday special - buy 3 months (discounted) for yourself and get 3 months to gift to a friend

Have you found yourself at a career crossroads and not known what to do?

In Episode 35, Marla Holdread shares that the best thing to do when at a career crossroad, is to think like a designer. Her advice is to stay curious, to be willing to experiment, to reframe the problem, and to collaborate.

Marla Holdread is an executive coach, career strategist, and founder of Shift Leadership. Her passion is to help senior leaders and professionals shift into the next level of career success. 

Marla created her unique methodology and coaching program, The Career Revisionist, as a framework for clients to go from waking up exhausted, frustrated, and dreading work, to feeling confident, energized, and leaping out of bed each day.  

She whole heartedly believes that we deserve to feel alive and aligned with our work, and she is on a mission to reinvent career experiences for professionals around the globe.

You can connect with Marla through the following channels:

• www.linkedin.com/in/executivecoachrecruitercareercoach