Leadership Sets the Standard

A few months ago, I worked with a client that had done everything right — on paper. The leadership team rolled out a new continuous improvement system with clear goals, strong messaging, and full commitment. But something wasn’t clicking. When we visited the floor, it was clear: leaders weren’t present. The system wasn’t visible in […]
Why CI Efforts Don’t Last

Most organizations launch continuous improvement (CI) with energy. There are kickoff events, training programs, and leadership speeches about the importance of change. But six months later? Silence. The boards stop getting updated. The problem-solving cadence slips. The energy fades. And frontline employees go back to the way things were before. So what happened? The Hardest […]
Leadership Development for a Lean Transformation: Cultivating the Mindset and Behaviors for Change
Leadership development is the linchpin of sustaining lean transformation. It’s the behaviors, mindsets, and actions of your organization’s leaders that determine whether lean principles take root and become part of your company’s DNA. While lean transformations often focus on tools and techniques like Kaizen events, 5S, and value stream mapping, these operational improvements can’t thrive […]
When Do Businesses Know They Need Your Help?
It Starts With Awareness
Identify and Overcome
Change Lives to Change Your Business
The Speed of Trust
Creating Connections is Key
The Fallacy of the Silver Bullet: Why a Whole System Approach is Essential for CEOs
Once, early in my career, I was standing above a Toyota assembly line in Japan. Looking down at the plant floor, I realized that at any given time, a hundred different kinds of vehicles were rolling off the line. I felt like being there and seeing all of this was essentially akin to giving away […]