Tag: Leadership

Leadership That Builds Better Systems, Better Results, and Better Work

Leadership isn’t about titles, charisma, or quick decisions—it’s about creating systems where people can do their best work and continuously improve. This archive brings together blog posts, podcasts, and reflections on leadership through a Lean lens, drawing on ideas from Deming, Toyota, healthcare, and real-world management practice. The common theme: leaders shape culture, influence behavior, and own the systems that produce results—for better or worse.

Blame: Human Error Occurs Even IF We’re Being Careful

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I'm not sure why "error" was put in quotes since this seems like an actual error, not a quote-unquote error: Staff 'error' blamed for chlorine...

Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich, Deming, and Lean Leadership

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Since moving to San Antonio two years ago, I've become a big fan of the San Antonio Spurs. For one, it's essentially a civic...

Lean Leaders are Inclusive Leaders, Humble Leaders

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This article caught my eye over at Becker's Hospital Review: "The Hospital CEO Dilemma: Abandon Ship or Change Leadership Style," written by Shirley Engelmeier, Founder...

Beyond Heroes in Healthcare: Kim Barnas on Lean Leadership and Management...

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Why healthcare organizations need fewer heroes--and better systems--according to former ThedaCare leader Kim Barnas. In memoriam: Kim Barnas (1956-2026)I always valued my interactions with Kim...

Things That Make Me Worry About My Colonoscopy: Patient Safety

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Sorry to get all Katie Couric on you, but I'm going to have a colonoscopy on Friday. I turned 40 last October and I...

Steve Jobs on Continuous Improvement: Rare 1990 Video Shows Early Lean...

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tl;dr: This post features a rare 1990 video of Steve Jobs describing continuous improvement in ways that closely echo Lean and Kaizen principles. He...

Are Today’s Hospitals Too Much Like “The Old GM?”

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As a former GM employee and a GM customer, I'm really fascinated by the reaction of the public, the media, and Congress to the...

A Collection of Past Posts About Lean, Basketball, and the Workplace

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Since today is the first full day of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament, many of you might be checking scores or watching games instead...

Is it Lean’s Fault or the Old Management System’s?

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It's easy for an organization to say they are "doing Lean" or they have "started a Lean transformation." They might hire a consultant or...

The Leadership Pond Usually Isn’t Stocked with Humble Fish

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A big theme in Lean management is the idea of "leading with humility." The first chapter of an excellent book written by Toyota employees and...

Podcast #195 – Steve Montague, Lean + TeamSTEPPS for Patient Safety

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Joining me for episode #195 is my friend Steve Montague from LifeWings. Steve and I met initially through our shared interest in Lean and,...

What I’ve Been Reading Lately: Not Doing Kaizen, Engaged Sailors, Etc.

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Every once in a while, I have too many browser windows open and it slows my computer down. That's when I dump a bunch...
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