Mark Graban’s newer Lean Blog Audio podcast series with “audiobook” style readings of selected blog posts. Learn how to subscribe.
Imagine an NFL team that has been on a decades-long streak of winless seasons. The owner, who has been at the helm for most of that period, always believes that finding the right coach will solve the team’s woes. But…
Think about the last time you made a major career decision. I’m thinking of one of mine, in particular. Was it about leaving a job for a new one? Changing directions in your career altogether? Was it a debate about…
TL;DR: Most organizations are running on a fraction of the intelligence they’re actually paying for. The people who know what’s going wrong often don’t say so. That’s not a personality problem — it’s a design problem. This post draws upon…
On NPR recently, the hourly news update covered economic indicators: Gas prices are UP 5 cents from a week ago Gas prices are DOWN 10 cents from a month ago So gas prices are both going up and down —…
My latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, has turned one year old! Join me and my co-host, Elisabeth Swan, for what we hope will be an engaging, insightful, and fun discussion about…
TL;DR: Digitizing a suggestion box doesn’t fix what’s broken. Real Kaizen requires fast feedback, local problem-solving, and systems designed for continuous improvement — not idea parking lots. Digital transformation is about rethinking and reinventing with digital tools. For over 13…
TL;DR: Psychological safety doesn’t mean everyone agrees or gets their way. It means people can speak candidly, be challenged, and still feel respected–when leaders model, encourage, and reward candor. Psychological Safety means everybody gets their say, but it doesn’t mean…
I’m very happy to be participating in Jared Thatcher‘s “Global Lean Summit” event this September in Indiana. I’ll be there to network and learn, which includes time visiting a Toyota Material Handling factory (an entire day!) I’ll be speaking and…
I’m excited to share my breakout session at the Michigan Lean Consortium Annual Conference! In this session, I dive into the critical role of Psychological Safety as a Foundation for Continuous Improvement. We explore how fostering an environment where team…
TL;DR: Psychological safety doesn’t mean comfort or avoiding disagreement. It means people can speak up, challenge ideas, and surface problems without fear–essential for learning, improvement, and better decisions. The Big Picture: In the Lean community and beyond, some people mistakenly…
TL;DR: Organizations that learn from mistakes outperform those that hide them. Psychological safety enables people to speak up, strengthen problem solving, and sustain continuous improvement. The Shingo Institute invited me to share insights on learning from mistakes, psychological safety, and…
I was talking recently with a trusted friend in the Lean community. He told me a story. It’s certainly believable, even if it’s second or third-hand to me. He had no reason to make up a story like this. A…
