Thanks, as always, to Ryan McCormack for this. He always shares so much good reading, listening, and viewing here! Subscribe to get these directly from Ryan via email.
News, articles, books, podcasts, and videos about how to make the workplace better.
Operational Excellence, Improvement, and Innovation
Reminder: Data Have No Meaning Apart From Their Context
Data is more accessible than ever, but so is the risk of drawing misleading conclusions. While comparing averages is common, relying solely on these comparisons can lead to incomplete or inaccurate understanding if taken out of context. Dr. Wheeler emphasizes the importance of visualizing data by plotting individual points to gain genuine insight, rather than depending solely on significance tests.
P-Hacking: It Could Happen To You
I recall a powerful executive asking if I could manipulate the data to produce a significant result, even though the full data set showed no meaningful difference. I chose not to, but I could have. It's tempting to cherry-pick data, exclude outliers that don't fit the narrative, or run multiple tests until something appears significant. However, these practices are dishonest and are known as p-hacking. Here are five ways p-hacking could happen to you.
From ER Doctor to Continuous Improvement
I have always believed in the value of improvement huddles. However, I have come to realize that they don't always work well for diverse teams or for introverts who need more time to process questions. Dr. Greg Jacobson shared a valuable perspective on how improvement software can address this issue by creating a buffer between individual contributors and problems. Hear more on this engaging episode of “People Solve Problems” with Jamie Flinchbaugh.
Creating a Culture of Improvement
How Toyota and Other Lean Cultures are Leading with AI
A recent MIT study reports that for 95% of organizations using genAI, implementation is falling short. Why? In part because of how it can be misapplied to enterprise workflows.
Many companies now adopt an “AI-first” mindset, asking, “Can AI do this?” In contrast, more human-centric organizations focus on, “How can AI improve the work?” Jacob Stoller, author of Productivity Reimagined (which I reviewed in the November 15, 2024 mixtape) explains that organizations won't achieve lasting, meaningful results with AI if they view it solely as a means to cut costs.
Ownership Mindset Drives Innovation at Milwaukee Tool
The issue with the idea of “empowering” teams is that when you ask people if they want to be empowered to make decisions, they all say yes. However, when you then ask if they are prepared to be accountable for those decisions, their enthusiasm often diminishes. Milwaukee Tool CEO Steve Richman discusses how an 83-year-old company embraced extreme ownership and achieved a double-digit compound annual growth rate in a slow-growth industry.
How to Drive Change When Everything is Uncertain
The old adage is “never let a good crisis go to waste”. Change can be easier to drive amid major disruption, but you may have to go big and move fast, as organizations are equally as likely to become more rigid during major disruptions. Here's how to successfully drive change when everything is uncertain.
Coaching – Developing Self & Others
“Your Experience Is What You Attend To”
In a world of increasing distraction, how does one (re)learn how to pay attention? It starts with dimming the light on things that don't matter. Read more.
Discipline is not the opposite of spontaneity
One of the biggest barriers to improvement is a story we often tell ourselves–that discipline stifles creativity. We believe that craft is art, not science, and use this as an excuse to avoid difficult challenges. However, excessive discipline can lead to rigidity. The true secret top performers understand is that structure creates freedom, and that freedom, in turn, rewards discipline. Embrace the balance between discipline and spontaneity to unlock your full potential. Read more.
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Let’s build a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety—together. If you're a leader aiming for lasting change (not just more projects), I help organizations:
- Engage people at all levels in sustainable improvement
- Shift from fear of mistakes to learning from them
- Apply Lean thinking in practical, people-centered ways
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