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.
Listen: Here is LeanBlog Podcast #40, an interview with a retired UAW/GM employee who wishes to remain anonymous, at this point. We have traded many emails over the past year, about Lean, and I’m impressed with this individual’s true passion…
For a long time, we have been saying that leadership is one of the top reasons that lean efforts fail. Many have begun to figure this out. Lean is more than changing a few systems and training a few people.…
A few short thoughts from today’s WSJ:‘Headwind’ Blows As Top Executives Navigate Trouble – WSJ.com As I was reading the first article, above, about executives blaming “headwinds” and macroeconomic problems for business woes, I thought, “Sure, there are economic problems,…
Earlier this week, I asked some questions that managers and leaders should ask, prompted by an email I received through the blog. I’ve been thinking about this and I’ve been trying to keep my “no blaming” hat on. Managers are…
Some rhetorical questions to managers who say they want to “be Lean”: Do you properly train new employees or do you just throw them into the job to figure it out themselves? Do you label those who speak up and…
NWLEAN : Message: Why does Lean struggle to take hold in the U.S.? I’m a member of the Yahoo Group called NWLEAN, where there’s often some good discussion about Lean. The question was posed: “Why does Lean struggle to take…
Listen: LeanBlog Podcast #34 is a discussion with Chris Harris, from Harris Lean Systems, and co-author of the book Developing a Lean Workforce: A Guide for Human Resources, Plant Managers and Lean Coordinators. If you enjoy this podcast, I hope…
Even CEOs think CEOs are overpaid? – Yahoo! News From a recent survey: Sixty-four percent of top executives view CEO compensation as excessive, according to survey released on Tuesday. It’s something we’ve often talked about here, excessive CEO pay, particularly…
Management Leaders Turn Attention to Followers – WSJ.com This article caught my eye, this idea that someone other than top executives might actually have some ideas. In “Followership,” a book being published this winter, Ms. Kellerman argues that a big…
What your CEO drives says a lot – USATODAY.com: One thing I love about the Toyota Way is the humility and down-to-Earth nature of leaders, it’s such a contrast to the arrogance you so often see in other circles. USA…
If you’re a regular reader, you might recall the Cedar-Sinai medical error that harmed Dennis Quad’s twins (and others). Quaid and his wife are now suing the maker of the drug, Baxter, claiming the company is negligent for not designing…
C.E.O. Evolution Phase 3 – New York Times In this quote: Mr. [X] “is disarmingly unpretentious,” he added. “…he towers over other C.E.O.’s when it comes to putting in people stronger than himself or his ability to talk about setbacks.”…
