tl;dr: Kaiteki is a Japanese management philosophy focused on comfort, purpose, and respect for people–and it helps explain why motivated employees and Lean success go hand in hand. During my most recent visit to Japan (as part of a tour…
Register via Eventbrite I’m excited to announce that I’ll be participating in the upcoming 4th Rendez-vous Kata, a unique and bilingual (French and English) event that brings together leaders, learners, and kata practitioners from around the world. This year’s theme…
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…
A former Toyota leader shares firsthand insights on the mindset shifts, leadership behaviors, and management systems that transformed NUMMI from a failed GM plant into a global Toyota culture case study. The NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.) experiment remains…
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…
I’m very excited to announce that my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, has been officially selected as a recipient of the Shingo Publication Award by the Shingo Institute (the home of…
tl;dr: A visit to Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo offers a vivid Lean lesson: extraordinary quality and efficiency, but at a pace that raises questions about flow, pull, and the customer experience. Before Katie Anderson’s Japan Study Trip in November, I…
Lean succeeds when people focus on scientific thinking and action, not perfect templates. A3s, hoshin kanri, and other tools only work when they support real learning, experimentation, and reflection–mindset and behavior matter far more than format. During my recent Japan…
Blame-based cultures kill improvement. Leaders must resolve to build trust and safety if they want innovation and engagement. During Katie Anderson‘s Japan Study Trip this past November, a participant shared an observation with me that resonated deeply: “The biggest challenge…
Listen: It’s Episode 49 of the Lean Whiskey podcast with Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban! Mark shares tales of his holiday / study tour trip to Japan. Since we start with the whisky (like scotch, note the lack of an…
Just over a week ago, I got back from Katie Anderson’s Japan Study Trip. It was amazing! I have so much to write about and share. But first, Facebook reminded me of something from exactly ten years ago–the second time…
I’m thrilled to be back in Japan for the first time in five years. Today is the start of Katie Anderson’s Japan Study Trip (learn more about joining her in May 2025). It’s great to be here for another week…
