All posts from Mark Graban’s LeanBlog.org, including podcasts, announcements, articles, and more.
What Pickleball Taught Me About Kindness, Kaizen, and Culture “Don’t worry about your mistakes–you’re learning.” That’s what an instructor said during my first 1×1 lesson at a local indoor pickleball center. It was my second time ever playing the sport.…
This edition of Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape focuses on what real, sustainable improvement actually requires: leadership commitment, respect for people, and disciplined learning over time. From reframing “continuous improvement” as everyday improvement, to lessons from Larry Culp’s lived Lean…
TL;DR: AI can support Kaizen when it’s treated as a thought partner, not an answer engine. The right way to explore AI in continuous improvement is through small, low-risk PDSA cycles that emphasize learning, judgment, and real-world validation–not big bets…
Why do so many Lean efforts stall after early wins? In this episode, Darren Walsh explains why firefighting feels productive but prevents real progress–and how leaders can build daily routines and standards that sustain improvement over time. Scroll down for…
TL;DR for Leaders: A $5 fix to keep coffee filters clean became the first formal Kaizen at Franciscan Health–and helped spark a culture where tens of thousands of employee-led improvements followed. This story shows how small, everyday ideas, when taken…
TL;DR Larry Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace, shows that Lean leadership isn’t about tools or slogans–it’s about daily behaviors. By grounding Lean in safety, respect for people, and continuous improvement, Culp practices kaizen at every level, including his own role…
When I placed a mobile order at Starbucks recently, I was told up front that it would take 17 to 20 minutes to receive my drinks. That’s a long time to wait–for coffee (or two espresso-based drinks, I should say).…
Back in 2009, my friend and KaiNexus co-founder Dr. Greg Jacobson and his colleagues at Vanderbilt University Medical Center published an article that still feels as fresh and relevant as ever: “Kaizen: A Method of Process Improvement in the Emergency…
Leadership isn’t about avoiding mistakes–it’s about responding to them with honesty and humility. This week, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn offered a clear example. After quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow late in a blowout loss (read more),…
TL;DR: If Lean improvements put jobs at risk, people will stop improving. Organizations that commit to “no layoffs due to Lean” create trust, unlock ideas, and sustain better performance. When I worked with Johnson & Johnson’s ValuMetrix Services consulting group…
This edition of Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape highlights how Lean thinking continues to deliver real results when it’s treated as a management system, not a toolkit. From GE Aerospace’s measurable gains under Larry Culp, to Toyota’s application of flow…
tl;dr: Halloween might be about ghosts, zombies, and monsters — but those same creatures sometimes show up in our organizations all year long. They lurk in old processes, mindless routines, and fear-based management habits. Here’s how to spot the spooky…
