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Chain of Learning: Leadership Strategies for Transforming Culture, Developing People, and Getting Results
Chain of Learning: Leadership Strategies for Transforming Culture, Developing People, and Getting Results
Chain of Learning is a leadership podcast hosted by Katie Anderson, award-winning author of 'Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn.' It focuses on people-centered leadership and helps leaders transform organizational culture, develop leaders at every level, and build capable, confident teams. The show explores how leaders can break free from the 'Doer Trap' and create conditions for success, emphasizing psychological safety, trust, and empowerment. Each biweekly episode offers practical insights, reflective questions, and real-world examples to help leaders develop leaders at scale, strengthen coaching culture, and lead culture transformation.
Episodes
86| Ask, Don't Tell: How Humble Inquiry Builds Deeper Connection [with Peter Schein]
How do you build deeper human connection in your relationships so that you can more effectively lead change and help others?That question sits at the heart of some of the most influential books in my work, including Helping and Humble Inquiry by Edgar Schein: how we help, not as the expert with all the answers, but by asking better questions as a leader and creating the conditions for oth
85| It's Not the Workload, It's the Thoughtload: Move from Overwhelm to Focus [with Liane Davey]
Enter for your chance to win a copy of "Thoughtload" by Liane Davey: http://chainoflearning.com/85Giveaway ends October 9th at 11:45pm Pacific Time.Your team isn't resisting change. They don't have room for it.It's not just workload that's overwhelming us, it's what Liane Davey calls our "thoughtload": the invisible tax on our performance and presence.Liane is an organizational psychologi
84| You Want a People-Centered Learning Culture. What's Getting in the Way?
People-centered. Learning organization. Culture of continuous improvement. We use a lot of different words to describe what we are trying to create.But do we actually mean the same thing? And if we all want it, what's stopping us from getting there? And what is the one thing that could have the biggest impact?So I asked. And you answered.Leaders and change practitioners around the world r
83| Keep Ownership at the Right Level: How to Sustain Organizational Transformation [with Anna Pessah]
Overstepping ownership rarely looks like overstepping. It looks like moving things along.You know how something could be improved, so you give your suggestion. Work gets done, progress is visible, but the person you were there to develop doesn't build the capability they need, and the improvement doesn't sustain.Every change leader, manager, and executive does this at some point. And when
82| Connect the Parts, Focus on People: Inside the Toyota Economic System [with Olivier Larue]
Profit or cash. Efficiency or flexibility. Speed, or doing it right.Leaders feel like they have to make trade-offs like these all the time. But the choice often isn't real.Some contradictions are unavoidable. Others only look that way until you understand the real problem. The most effective organizations realize they don't have to pick a side if they can resolve the underlying tension.Ol
81| Adapt How You Lead: Situational Leadership in Practice [with Suzie Bishop]
Your leadership style isn't the problem. Your default is.The gap between how you're leading and what the person in front of you actually needs is one of the most common and most invisible places leaders get stuck. Most of us default to one mode and don't notice the mismatch until something breaks down.Suzie Bishop has spent over a decade at the Center for Leadership Studies helping leader
80| Bad News First: How a Leader's Response Builds a Culture of Learning [with Isao Yoshino]
How many problems are actually visible in your organization?Research shows senior leaders see just 4%. The other 96% stay hidden — invisible, yet still there. And some aren't even recognized by employees as problems anymore, because they have become the norm.We all say we want psychological safety. But you don't get it by saying you want it. People-centered leadership is about creating co
79| Build Powerful People: Why Transformation Starts with Your Own [with Gary Peterson]
Efficiency and cost savings aren't what makes operational excellence last. People are.The leaders who create enduring, high-performing organizations are after something beyond business results. They want a company where people end the day more capable, more confident, more energized than when it began. That's the difference between a workplace that wears people down and one that builds po
78| Strategy Isn't Enough: 9 Practices to Help Your Team Meet the Moment [with Karina Mangu-Ward]
Have you poured months into a strategy your team couldn't bring to life? Or watched capable people work harder than ever, and still struggle to pull together as a team?High performance isn't about a better strategy, more talent, or longer hours. It's about how your team works together, every single day.Karina Mangu-Ward, author of Teams That Meet the Moment, has spent more than a decade h
77| Lead with Joy: A Business Strategy for Success [with Rich Sheridan]
Joy isn't a perk. It's a business strategy.Have you ever wondered whether work has to feel this hard? Whether the team you've built can actually function without you? Whether there's a way to lead that doesn't burn you — or your people — out?Rich Sheridan built Menlo Innovations around one bold idea: ending human suffering in the workplace. The result is a company where joy isn't a slogan
76 | What Is the Purpose of Kaizen? John Shook Answers Your Questions (Part 3 of 3)
What does it really take to sustain a culture of continuous improvement – through pressure for results, across generations, and into an era of AI?In this final episode of my three-part series with John Shook, one of the most influential leaders and thinkers in the global lean community, we turned to the questions on your mind. Before we sat down to record, I asked listeners to submit you
75 | The Human Side of Lean: John Shook on Building Systems That Last (Part 2 of 3)
Lean has always been about people. We just kept reaching for the tools, without understanding the human purpose behind them.In part two of my three-part conversation with John Shook, we go behind the scenes of Toyota's culture and leadership — sharing stories of the system-building leaders who actually made it what it is, and exploring what it really means to lead people-centered change.J
74 | What Problem Are We Solving? John Shook Reflects: Has Lean Failed? (Part 1 of 3)
Has lean really failed?That question sparked one of the most listened-to conversations in the history of this podcast — my two-part series with Jim Womack in episodes 37 and 38.When I sat down with John Shook — one of the most influential thought leaders and practitioners in the global lean and continuous improvement community — we explored a different angle.John's perspective isn't a reb
73 | Small Steps, Leading with Heart: How Transformation Sustains [with Richard Koch]
The way you’re leading transformation might be getting in the way of the culture you’re trying to build.As change leaders and practitioners, we care about results. But in that focus, it’s easy to stay on the outer work—processes, metrics, systems—and underestimate the inner work – our mindset, behaviors, and relationships – that actually moves people.Our passion can unintentionally pull u
72 | Finding Clarity Through the Messy Middle: Reflections from My Book Retreat [with Betsy Jordyn] (BONUS)
The messy middle is part of the learning process.It’s the point where what worked before no longer fully fits—but what comes next is not yet clear.Where your thinking is still forming, your ideas are evolving, and the answer has not fully emerged.And while it can feel uncertain, this is often where the deepest continuous learning happens.In this behind-the-scenes bonus episode on Chain of
71 | Own the Thinking Process, Not the Thinking: How Leaders Build Problem-Solving Capability
Caring becomes carrying.It happens so naturally we rarely notice it. Someone brings us a problem. We care. We want to help. And somewhere in that desire to help, without meaning to, we take on the weight of solving it ourselves.That shift is subtle. And costly.Because the moment you take ownership of the thinking, you take away the very capability you're trying to build.In this episode, I
70| Talk to the People: How Leaders Make Better Decisions [with Nigel Thurlow]
What happens when leaders make decisions further and further away from the work itself?In a world of AI, automated dashboards, and remote work, it’s easy to manage representations of work instead of understanding what’s actually happening for the people who do it.Yet, when leaders rely on data rather than facts, they often end up solving the wrong problems, even with the best intentions.I
69| Better Judgment, Not Better AI Tools: What Leaders Need to Learn and Unlearn [with Barry O'Reilly]
You're being told to use AI. But which tool you actually need to do your best work?Leaders and change practitioners everywhere feel the same pressures right now — more meetings, more information, more mandates to adopt AI — with less time to think and less clarity about where to start. And most of the advice begins in the wrong place: with the tool.In this episode of Chain of Learning, I
68| The Power of Learning Together: How Shared Experience Enables People-Centered Leadership
What changes when leaders stop learning alone—and start learning together?Leadership development often focuses on individual insight: reading, listening, reflecting. But some of the most meaningful shifts in leadership don’t happen that way.They happen when leadership teams go see, ask questions, and reflect together.That shared experience becomes a catalyst—aligning leaders around a new
67| Why Learning Is the Foundation of Influence (and How it Can Limit Your Impact)
What if your approach to learning is actually limiting your influence as a change leader?Many of us pride ourselves on being lifelong learners. We read, earn certifications, study new tools, and go deep into our methodology. That depth is a strength. But as your responsibility grows—from running projects to shaping transformation—what’s required of you changes.At some point, going deeper
66| Leadership Is Practice: What It Takes to Lead Transformation as Responsibility Grows [with Carlos Scholz]
What does it really take to lead transformation as responsibility grows?At some point, leadership stops being about doing the improvement work or having the right answers. For operational leaders and change practitioners alike, the work moves to holding the system—people, priorities, and consequences—and helping others learn how to do the same.In this episode of Chain of Learning, I’m joi
65| From Learning to Impact: Turn Insight into Leadership Action
What if the reason your learning feels productive—but your impact feels stuck—has nothing to do with effort?Many change leaders and improvement practitioners are excellent learners. You’re likely a Learning Enthusiast—like me. You read the books, attend the workshops, listen to podcasts, and gather ideas with genuine enthusiasm.And yet, despite all that effort, learning doesn’t always tur
64| Stop Doing Transformation—and Start Enabling It: Redefine Your Role as a Change Leader [with Jill Forrester]
What if the reason leading your organization’s transformation feels heavy isn’t the work itself—but the role you’ve been playing as a change leader?If you’re a change leader, continuous improvement professional, or internal consultant, this tension may feel familiar. You’re helping. You’re busy. You’re delivering results. And before you realize it, you’re wearing every hat—facilitator, te
63| Close the Execution Gap: How Leaders Turn Sustainability Intent into Action [with Rose Heathcote]
Many major transformations, including lean and sustainability—don’t stall because leaders don’t care. They stall because of an execution gap: the gap between what organizations say matters and what actually shows up in daily work, decisions, and priorities.When you hear the word sustainability, what comes to mind first?If it’s recycling, you’re not alone. But sustainability is far bigger—
62| Remove the Muda to Reveal the Buddha: Turning Life’s Weight from Waste Into Wisdom
What if the very thing weighing on you right now is the key to your next level of growth?Many of us carry more than we realize: unfinished goals, unmet expectations, family pressures, and the constant mental load of what still needs to be done.In this episode of Chain of Learning, I share a grounding teaching from a Zen priest in Japan after a Zazen guided meditation session that has deep
61| Reflections from the Japan Leadership Experience: Live from Tokyo [with Nick Kemp] (BONUS)
Have you ever stepped outside your routine and suddenly seen your work—or yourself—with fresh clarity?Sometimes the most meaningful leadership breakthroughs happen when we pause and immerse ourselves in a space designed for reflection, curiosity, and connection.In this bonus episode—recorded live in Tokyo the morning after Cohort 8 of my Japan Leadership Experience wrapped up—I’m joined b
60| Bounce Back From a Faceplant: How to Flip the Script on Failure [with Melisa Buie and Keeley Hurley]
We all know that moment where something falls apart.A project slips. A conversation goes sideways. The promotion doesn’t happen.We call it “failure,” but it’s often not the mistake itself that stops us.It’s the fear, the funk, and the uncertainty that follow. And those emotions can hold us back far more than the faceplant ever did.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Melisa Buie and Keeley
59| Get Better at Getting Better: Leveraging AI to Elevate Human Learning [with Nathen Harvey]
AI is everywhere. And its use and capabilities are accelerating every day. But is AI actually helping us get better at getting better? Or is it just amplifying the friction, bottlenecks, and complexity that already exists in our workflows and processes?In this episode, Nathen Harvey, leader of the DORA Research team at Google, explores how AI is reshaping not just how we work, but how we
58| People First: Why Leaders Get It Backwards with Lean and Operational Excellence
Where is your primary focus as a leader, change practitioner, or organization? Getting business results? Improving processes? Or developing people? What if the real key to lasting business success isn’t found in metrics or milestones—but in how you create a culture that nurtures people and their problem-solving capabilities? In this episode I explore what it really takes to deliver sustai
57| How GE CEO Larry Culp Leads with Lean to Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement (BONUS)
What does it really take to become lean—not just do lean?This is the secret to transformational lean leadership that Larry Culp, CEO of GE and GE Aerospace shared with me on stage three years ago. In this special bonus episode, I want to share his insights and wisdom about leadership and lean culture with you.This bonus episode marks two milestones in my own Chain of Learning® journey: 🎙
56| Slow Down to Speed Up: The Power of the Pause to Accelerate Continuous Learning
How often do you find yourself racing from meeting to meeting, rushing through tasks, or filling every silence with your own voice? In our doing-oriented culture, pausing feels uncomfortable—even counterproductive. Yet left unchecked, our instinct for action and answers can limit learning, development, and innovation.In this episode, I explore the power of the pause and why mastering it m
55| Adopt the Mentor Mindset: How to Motivate, Guide, and Develop the Next Generation [with David Yeager]
Enter to Win a Copy of David Yeager's book "10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People" - Register to win before October 24th at 11:45pm Pacific: http://chainoflearning.com/55How do you motivate, coach, or lead someone younger—without sounding critical, nagging, or controlling?We’ve all heard the stereotypes:“Young people don’t care.”“They’re entitled.”“They can’t take feedback.”But
54| Build Influence and Get Buy-in: Elevating the Positioning, ROI, and Value of Lean and Continuous Improvement [with Betsy Jordyn] (BONUS)
What do people in other functions at your organization think lean is all about?For many—in HR, OD, Finance, or operations—the answer is simple: process improvement, efficiency, waste elimination. And while those are pieces of the puzzle, they miss the bigger picture.Too often, continuous improvement and operational excellence teams get pigeonholed as “process people,” making it hard to ga
53| Rediscover Ikigai: What it Really Means for Your Leadership and Life Purpose [with Nicolas Kemp]
Ikigai is one of the hottest buzzwords in leadership and personal development. But what does ikigai really mean?When you think of ikigai, what do you envision? Is it the popular Venn diagram that claims to help you find your purpose by identifying “the sweet spot” where what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for overlap? The problem? That’s not
52| What You Love About Lean and Operational Excellence - And Your #1 Frustration: Executive Buy-In
What’s the #1 frustration most lean and continuous improvement practitioners face?It's something that I bet you've felt too, no matter how passionate you are about the work, no matter what you call it: lean, agile, continuous improvement, operational excellence, or DevOps...Too often, we struggle to clearly explain what we actually do as CI change leaders and why it matters. And when you
51| Elevate Your Impact Beyond Tools: The Problem-Solver’s Toolkit [with Elisabeth Swan and Tracy O'Rouke]
Organizations invest thousands of dollars and countless hours into lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement training programs. Certifications get awarded. Belts get earned.But nothing actually changes.Technical problem-solving training alone isn’t enough to drive meaningful impact. Without guidance and support on how to apply problem-solving tools—and the people-side of leading c
50| Change the Culture: NUMMI and the Power of Leading Through Influence, Not Authority [with Isao Yoshino]
“Change the culture!”That’s exactly what longtime Toyota leader Isao Yoshino was tasked with during one of the most famous business transformations in history—NUMMI—Toyota’s joint venture with General Motors in the 1980s.The challenge? Take GM’s worst-performing plant—plagued by absenteeism, low morale, and poor quality—and turn it around.Within just one year, with the same American workf
49| Shift Your Mindset, Shift Your Impact: 3 Reframes for Positive Leadership and Impact
When you encounter challenges or setbacks, and it feels like things just aren’t going your way, it’s easy to get caught into a downward negative spiral. But could simple mindset shifts change not just how you feel, but how you move forward and influence those around you with positive momentum?In this episode, I’m sharing three powerful reframes that have helped me reset, regain perspecti
48| Make Leadership Meaningful: From Tools to Purposeful Impact as a Lean Consultant [with Josef Procházka]
Apply for the Nov 2025 or May 2026 Japan Leadership Experiencehttps://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/ You’re implementing the tools.Making the improvements.Delivering the project results.But the same problems keep resurfacing and you’re left wondering: What’s missing?In this episode, Josef Procházka, a lean consultant from the Czech Republic, shares his personal journey of transformation—from
47| Develop Leaders the Toyota Way: Lessons from Kan-Pro Senior Leadership Development [with Isao Yoshino]
A global economic crisis is dragging down sales.Departments are working in silos and leaders at all levels are arguing about priorities. Managers are too busy to coach their teams.You might think this describes your organization today—and it was the exact situation Toyota faced nearly 50 years ago.This challenge sparked one of the most ambitious and influential—and least known outside Jap
46| Lead Change at Scale: Inside GE Aerospace’s Lean Cultural Transformation [with Phil Wickler]
Is it possible to lead a real, long-term cultural transformation in a publicly traded company—where shareholders often demand short-term financial results?It’s challenging, yet possible. And GE Aerospace, with CEO Larry Culp at the helm, is leading the way. I invited Phil Wickler, Chief Transformation Officer, back to discuss the enterprise-wide shift toward lean at GE Aerospace.We explor
45| Manage on Purpose: Align Teams, Develop Strategy, Grow People Through Hoshin Kanri [with Mark Reich]
How effective is your organization's strategy in achieving results?If your team doesn't understand how their daily work connects to bigger organizational goals, you don't have a strategy—you have a gap. A gap in engagement. A gap in alignment. This gap leads to confusion, misaligned priorities, and wasted effort.I’m joined by Mark Reich, author of “Managing on Purpose”, to explore how hos
44| Master the Coaching Continuum and Become a Transformational Improvement Coach
How many questions is too many?You know that asking effective questions is key to helping others solve problems and unlocking improvement, but can you ask too many questions?Yes! And when you do so, you actually hinder progress, not enable it.In this episode, I share one of the most common mistakes leaders and coaches alike make when learning to Break the Telling Habit® and moving from “t
43| Human-Centered Leadership and Kata, Obeya, and Omotenashi: Japanese Management Masterclass Part 2 [with Tim Wolput]
What’s the real purpose behind the Japanese practices integral to lean management —like kata, obeya, and A3 reports?These methods are often misunderstood as mere templates or formats, without recognizing the deeper meaning and intention that drive their impact.In this episode, we’re picking up on my conversation with Tim Wolput, Japanologist, Toyota Way management expert, and former World
42| Do the Right Thing: Japanese Management Masterclass Part 1 [with Tim Wolput]
How much of the Toyota Way is dependent on Japanese culture?And how much of it all comes down to… being human?There are questions I’ve explored with 130+ global leaders who’ve joined my Japan Leadership Experience programs. To help you answer this question, I’ve invited Tim Wolput – Japanologist and Toyota Way Management expert, to Chain of Learning.Together, we take a deep (and fun!) div
41| Transactions to Transformations: Positioning the Value of Change Leadership for Greater Influence [with Betsy Jordyn]
You’re doing great work….yet you know you and the change you envision could have greater influence.You have a vision for more. More strategic work. More influence. More change that really makes an impact and actually sticks -- for your clients or organization.Only question—how do you get there?The issue isn’t your talent or skills. It’s how you and your work are positioned—how your client
40| Escape the Doer Trap: 3 Simple Shifts to Instantly Get Unstuck
Do you ever feel overwhelmed that you are responsible for doing too much?Maybe you’re frustrated that your team relies on you for answers instead of developing their own solutions.Or you’re disappointed that improvements fall apart as soon as you step away.The problem: You’re likely stuck in the Doer Trap—and it’s holding you (and your team) back from the results you want. The good news?
39| Doing More Isn’t the Answer: Why Simple Wins [with Lisa Bodell]
Ever feel like your to-do list never ends? Running from meeting to meeting with no time to think—let alone lead or create? You’re not alone.The problem isn’t you – that you’re not working hard enough. You’re probably stuck in the complexity trap—buried in endless demands, inefficiencies, and busywork that keep you (and your team) from doing what truly matters.To help you simplify and focu
38| What’s the Future of Lean? Jim Womack's Advice for Lean Change Leaders [with James Womack]
What have we really learned after four decades of lean? Is lean thinking and management still relevant today?And importantly — what needs to change to ensure the future success of lean transformation?In the previous episode, I sat down with James Womack, founder of the Lean Enterprise Institute, to look back on 40 years of lean thinking and management since the publication of The Machine
37| Lean Has Failed (or Has It?): Jim Womack's Reflections on 40 Years of Lean Transformation [with James Womack]
“Lean has failed.”That’s the bold statement James Womack—founder of the Lean Enterprise Institute and MIT researcher whose team introduced the term “lean” to the world—made at a conference where we both recently spoke.That really stuck with me.Has lean really failed? If so, what can we do to course correct?To explore this, I invited him to share his reflections and experiences over the pa
36| What's Your Purpose? Discover Your Kokorozashi, Intention, and Warp and Weft
How often do you pause to get a clearer view of your purpose and learn how your life experiences influence your leadership impact?Whether it’s in the moment to reflect on a recent situation or zooming out at a major milestone to see the bigger picture, reflection can be incredibly powerful.I’m hitting pause myself this week as I turn the big 5-0! I share two concepts that have helped me u
35| Stuck in a Paradox? Embrace Both/And Thinking to Create Better Results [with Wendy Smith]
What do you do when you’re stuck between two conflicting options? Deliver short-term results or take a long-term view?Focus on business outcomes or people development?Help by being the expert with the answer or a coach asking questions?For most of us, these competing choices are a paradox and source of conflict. We deal with uncertainty by asserting certainty that there are two distinct o
34| Why Change Initiatives Fail (And What You Can Do) [with Michael Bungay Stanier]
Why do 70-90% of change initiatives fail?That’s a staggering statistic. In many cases, new leadership comes in, economic pressures rise, or the next "flavor of the month" initiative takes over. What’s happening and what can you do to counteract this trend?And if you are a change leader, lean practitioner, or continuous improvement coach, how do you avoid this becoming a career limiting mo
33| Ask Me Anything: How the Right Questions Shape Your Leadership Impact
What questions are on your mind? That’s the question I posed to you last month when I asked you to “Ask me anything!”I received many great questions and, as promised, I’ve picked five to dive into during this episode. Asking the right questions is a fundamental part of leading transformational change. It’s not just about finding answers—it’s about understanding why we ask our questions an
32| When Crisis Strikes, Hold on to Your Purpose: Leading From Urgency to Sustainable Impact [with Isaac Mitchell]
Is your organization stuck in a constant state of crisis, where everything feels like an urgent, must-fix-now situation?As a leader, cutting through that noise is key to prioritizing and aligning your team’s efforts to focus on what really matters.In this episode, Isaac Mitchell, VP of Operational Excellence at Ballad Health System, shares his experience leading through Hurricane Helene a
31 | How Reflection Fuels Growth: Practicing Hansei and Celebrating One Year of Chain of Learning
It’s Chain of Learning’s first anniversary this month! And it’s the time of year for gratitude and thanks – and for reflection. Thank you for listening and for being part of this Chain of Learning that we are growing together. To mark this podcast milestone, I want to practice what I talk about on nearly every episode – reflection – as I believe it IS the foundation of learning and impact
30 | Foster Organizational Excellence Through Joy and Respect for People [with Stephanie Bursek]
Has your organization been making progress on its continuous improvement journey, only to find things starting to stall?Is your team hesitant to share ideas, or are your lean or process improvement initiatives viewed mainly as cost-cutting measures rather than a comprehensive strategy for long-term success?Perhaps you've been focusing on just one side of the path of excellence—improvement
29 | Accelerate Decision-Making: Innovate through the Unknown [with Atif Rafiq]
Do you ever feel like you're stuck between chaos and bureaucracy, unable to break free from the status quo?You are probably facing a common challenge that other leaders and change practitioners experience: how to navigate uncertainty while trying to drive innovation and agility in your organization.In this episode, Atif Rafiq, seasoned C-suite executive and Wall Street Journal bestselling
28 | Leading Organizational Transformation the Right Way [with Cindy Hinds]
Do you ever feel stuck as a leader? It may seem like no matter how many problems you solve or tools you implement, you're still not seeing progress toward a sustainable organizational culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.Maybe you have been leading change the wrong way.In this episode, Cindy Hinds shares what she’s learned from 25 years of experience about how to l
27 | 3 Practices to Become a Skillful Facilitator
Ever felt like your meetings or workshops aren’t moving the needle? How would you like to facilitate your next work session with confidence and ensure that your leaders are leaving motivated, aligned, and action-oriented?Whether you're a continuous improvement practitioner, consultant, manager, or executive—facilitation is a crucial skill to master to become a transformational change lead
26 | Harness the Power of Storytelling in Leadership [with Carol Cox]
Want to inspire action in your presentations and transform your message from boring to unforgettable?The secret: it’s not data and facts that create impact — it's your stories.As humans, we’re wired to remember and respond to stories because they connect with our emotions and drive our decisions.Storytelling is more than just a trending term; it’s the fundamental way to connect with your
25 | Get Results Through the Power of Serious Leadership [with Kecia Kelly and Amy Chaumeton]
Do you and your leadership team feel burdened by solving all the problems that get in the way of achieving the results your organization needs?You’re not alone. This is the crux of the leadership challenge: transitioning from being the primary problem-solver to a transformational leader who creates the conditions for their people to achieve results. This requires a shift in mindset and a
24 | Deming’s Journey to Profound Knowledge [with John Willis]
If you're passionate about continuous improvement, quality, or operational excellence, chances are Dr. W. Edwards Deming has shaped your journey—even if you haven't realized it yet.But do you know how this influence came about and the profound impact Deming’s management theories have had on shaping quality and improvement approaches such as Lean, Agile, and DevOps?I've invited John Willis
23 | Create the Winning Link in Your Strategy [with Billy Ray Taylor]
What does “winning” mean to you as a leader? And what is your leadership role in creating a winning strategy and organizational culture?According to Billy Ray Taylor, CEO and President at LinkedXL and former Goodyear Tire executive, winning is not only about setting a clear strategy and aligning on the goals and metrics, but engaging your team members and defining the actions to get ther
22 | Hansei and The Power of Reflection: Leading to Learn Part 2 [with Isao Yoshino]
Have you ever paused to reflect on the critical moments of your life and realized their impact on your own trajectory and others' lives?In this special episode of Chain of Learning, I welcome back Isao Yoshino as we celebrate our decade-long partnership and the anniversary of our book "Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn." Together, we discuss the power of hansei—reflection—as the cornerst
21 | Build A Chain of Learning: Leading to Learn Part 1 [with Isao Yoshino]
Today's guest, Isao Yoshino, a 40-year Toyota leader, has influenced thousands of leaders worldwide and inspired my book, "Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn."Join us as we celebrate two anniversaries: our first meeting in July 2014 and the four-year anniversary of our book. In Part 1 of our conversation, Mr. Yoshino shares his insights on leadership, learning, and the Chain of Learning®
20 | How to Coach Executives and Influence Transformational Change [with Brad Toussaint]
Have you ever received blank stares from leaders when you’ve advocated that they adopt an improvement method or tool you know will help them? Perhaps the problem is not your idea but rather that you aren’t communicating in a way that connects these concepts with the business outcomes they need or in language that they understand.One hurdle that can hinder your effectiveness in influencing
19 | Master the Art of Persuasion to Get Buy-in [with Derek Roberts]
Do you e𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘆-𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 — 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁? Or have you ever struggled with getting your senior team on board with your vision for change, getting support for a new initiative, or getting leaders to sign on to your services as a coach or consultant?Good news — mastering the skills of persuasion and influence by leading
18 | Discover the Real Meaning of Kaizen
What do you think of when you hear the word “kaizen”? An event? A process that you are working on improving? Something else? The Japanese word “kaizen” is usually translated to mean “continuous improvement.” But there is a deeper meaning. It’s actually the lynchpin to creating a real culture of continuous improvement. In this episode, I unpack the essence of kaizen, not only as a method f
17 | Leading Change from the Middle: Build a Coalition of Engagement [with Pennie Saum]
Does successful change always have to start from the top? How can you stop pushing change on your leaders and instead create pull from them for the organizational culture you envision?If you're leading continuous improvement internally, these questions are crucial because they address the challenge of how to cultivate a workforce of capable, engaged problem-solvers across all levels.That’
16 | Leverage Analytical Systems Thinking and Psychological Safety to Drive Organizational Improvement [with Mark Graban]
Are you focusing on the right problems in your organization? More importantly, are you creating the conditions and processes to solve them effectively?In this episode, Mark Graban and I explore the importance of developing the skills of an Analytical Systems Thinker—one of the eight core competencies in my Change KATALYST™ model—to catalyze truly meaningful change.You’ll gain a better und
15 | 5 Steps to Revitalize Lifelong Learning: Continuous Learning Practices for Success
Want to know the secret to success?It’s about embracing lifelong learning, being willing to try new things and seek out information, setting intentions to get better, and embracing the failures that come with learning your way forward.I believe when we stay in learning – a learning attitude, mindset, and practice – anything is possible. Being a “learning enthusiast” is a foundational part
14 | Become an Astute Political Navigator: Influence Change in Organizations [with Betsy Jordyn]
What's your reaction when you hear the phrase “corporate politics”? Does it make you cringe and want to run away, or do you get curious about how to leverage them to influence outcomes?In this episode, Betsy Jordyn joins me to discuss the essential skill of how to successfully navigate organizational politics. As a long-time organizational development consultant for companies like Disney,
13 | 3 Ways to Break the Telling Habit®: How to Ask Effective Questions to Create Greater Impact
Have you ever had a team member look at you with frustration when you share your great ideas and suggestions with them? Or, have you ever felt like—with all the things you need to solve and do—you don’t have time to ask questions? Like you’re stuck putting out fires rather than nurturing, growing, and developing the people you lead?If this resonates, it’s likely you have a “telling habit.
12 | Beyond Appearances: Build a Culture of Real Continuous Improvement [with Patrick Adams]
What is the difference between authentic cultures of continuous improvement versus superficial displays? In this episode, Patrick Adams shares his insights on the heart of organizational culture and transformational leadership and highlights the essential elements of a real culture of continuous improvement -- so that you can ensure that you and your organization get it right.The truth is
11 | Fulfill Your Transformational Leadership Potential [with Karen Martin]
What’s your purpose as a continuous improvement or lean practitioner? And how can you fulfill your potential as a transformational change leader?Tune in to my conversation with master operational excellence change leader Karen Martin to find out! Becoming a transformational change leader means balancing your technical skills to deliver results while cultivating the influence, coaching, an
10 | Unleash Your Leadership Superpower: From Technical Expert to Transformational Leader [with Shawn Carner]
What if you had a new superpower that would unlock your leadership potential?One so simple yet will amplify your impact, open doors to the C-suite, and accelerate engagement across your organization so that you deliver more business results while realizing your vision for a people-focused learning culture?This episode unveils your superhero cape so you can unleash your leadership superpow
9 | 8 Essential Skills to Become a Transformational Change KATALYST™
Move from Technical Expert to Influential LeaderDo you want to move beyond being a tools or process improvement project “doer” or technical expert to a transformational change leader? Have you wanted to step into greater influence and impact in your organization?Or perhaps you're a leader seeking to create broader organizational change but don't quite know how?Leading transformational ch
8 | Wiring the Winning Organization [with Gene Kim and Steven Spear]
Have you ever wondered why some organizations consistently outperform others? And why, even when using the same tools and methodologies, some companies are able to leverage them to achieve success whereas at others they just become the flavor of the month?If you are curious about the answers, you won't want to miss this episode with Steve Spear and Gene Kim where we unpack what makes comp
7 | Intentions vs. Goals: Start with Purpose for Greater Impact and Achievement
What if HOW you go about setting your goals can change the impact you have – even more than the goals themselves? It’s that time of year for setting goals, to reflect on what you achieved – or didn’t achieve – in the past year and make resolutions and big goals for the coming year. Yet most of us have it backwards when we go about setting goals. We start with our minds before we connect w
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