TL;DR: These were the 10 most-read LeanBlog.org posts from July-December 2025, based on Google Analytics.
Each year, I take a year-end look at what readers are finding most helpful, most shareable, and most interesting across LeanBlog.org. It's a chance to reflect on the topics that resonated–whether Lean leadership, psychological safety, continuous improvement, or lessons from industry case studies–and to see how people are engaging with the broader Lean community.
This roundup highlights the ten most-read LeanBlog.org posts from the second half of 2025, based on Google Analytics. If you're looking for trends in Lean thinking, practical examples of improvement, or evergreen topics that continue to draw interest, this list captures all of that. You'll also find which older posts continue to rise to the top year after year, thanks to ongoing searches and long-term relevance.
Thanks, everybody, for reading my blog here in 2025. And for listening to podcasts… oh so many podcasts.
I released 13 episodes of the “Lean Blog Interviews” podcast in the last six months.
I was also happy to continue the “Lean Whiskey” podcast series–although it's been retooled as the “Lean Coffee Talk” podcast, and we released three episodes of that series by me and Jamie.
I also released 25 more episodes, including bonus episodes, of “My Favorite Mistake” for the first half of the year (a podcast that inspired my most recent book). I also started a “Mistake of the Week” sub-series.
Below are the ten most-read posts of the year, according to Google Analytics (popularity doesn't imply quality, but it's interesting to see what people are reading and sharing) — data through December 15th.
You can also see which posts or pages have the most views, all time, since I started the blog in 2005.
Top 10 Most-Read LeanBlog.org Posts (Second Half of 2025)
As I reviewed the last six months of 2025, I was reminded of one of the things I enjoy most about blogging: the chance to think out loud, learn in public, and connect with readers who are trying to make sense of the same challenges in leadership, Lean, and everyday work. I also picked up the blogging pace a bit this year, and it's been energizing to see which topics resonated most.
Based on page views through December 19, here are the ten most-read posts from the second half of the year:
- I'm Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro's Sushi in Tokyo (2043 views in the 2nd half)
- Leader Standard Work Is About Behavior, Not Just Your Calendar (899)
- GE's Larry Culp: Why Lean Thinking Starts with Safety and Respect for People (486)
- Ryan McCormack's Operational Excellence Mixtape: May 16, 2025 (339)
- 40 Years of New Coke: What Coca-Cola's Biggest Mistake Still Teaches Leaders Today (295)
- Jim Womack on the Origins of ‘Lean' and Why It's Often Misunderstood (294)
- Plan, Do, Check, Act… or Plan, Do, Cover Your A**? Leadership Makes the Difference (292)
- John Willis on the Deming Journey to Profound Knowledge in IT & DevOps (261)
- Kaizen Alone Isn't Enough: Why Leaders Must Fix the System for Real Improvement (232)
- How Safe Is It to Admit a Mistake at Work? New Poll Results on Psychological Safety (230)
Evergreen Lean Posts That Still Draw Readers
Every year, a handful of evergreen posts continue to draw steady interest–often because they answer common questions, challenge familiar assumptions, or tap into topics that people keep searching for. Others rise and fall depending on what's happening in the news, in sports, or in the broader Lean community.
Here are the older posts that attracted the most readers in this six-month period, mixing long-time favorites with a few newcomers to the list:
- Gemba vs. Genba — Different Spellings or Different Words and Meaning (1233)
- Toyota's Respect for People Principle: The Heart of Lean Thinking and Practice (946)
- Streamline Your Lean Daily Management Boards with Free Process Tracking Letter Downloads — Safety Cross, SQDC, and More (878)
- Lean Healthcare: Real Hospital Examples of the Eight Wastes (780)
- Analyzing MLB Tommy John Surgeries: Data Insights and Trends from 2000-2024 (571)
- Is Lean an Acronym? Is it “LEAN”? “L.E.A.N.?” — Understanding the Origins of the Term (566)
- Just Do It? Don't Forget to Then Just Study It and Just Adjust It (517)
- Don't Threaten People with This Famous Dr. Deming Quote on Change and Survival (516)
- When 5S Goes Wrong: A Hilarious (and Cringe-worthy) Office Fiasco Caught on Video, Sort Of (426)
- The Inconsistent Mobile Order Delivery Process at Starbucks Can Be Frustrating (395)
Thanks for being part of my community here! Thanks for reading and listening!
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If you’re working to build a culture where people feel safe to speak up, solve problems, and improve every day, I’d be glad to help. Let’s talk about how to strengthen Psychological Safety and Continuous Improvement in your organization.
