The Value of Depth and Detail
11 September 2016
Nearly three decades ago one of my first bosses pulled me aside – I forget the underlying incident except that I had somehow screwed up – and bluntly…
Respect by Sharing Knowledge
11 August 2016
Gaining knowledge is the first step to wisdom. Sharing knowledge is the first step to humanity. – Unknown Well over a decade ago when I became presid…
Back to the Beginning with Ohno, Suzuki, and Yoda
12 July 2016
As I was researching the remarkable similarities between Lean and Zen for my book, The Simple Leader, one of the most interesting - and meaningful - w…
Performance, Not Policy
20 June 2016
Few people realize how employee policy manuals, usually given to you on your first day and then mostly forgotten, shape an organization’s culture and…
A Break to Reflect and Unlearn
13 April 2016
Over the past few years I’ve been working hard on cultivating positive habits. New habits can be powerful. But habits can also create barriers that li…
The Other Flow of Csíkszentmihályi
11 March 2016
Those of us in the Lean world are accustomed to discussing "flow" - where work is performed in an even manner to reduce mura. Activities are…
Now, At the Gemba
21 December 2015
If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything. – Thich Nhat Hanh Many people have a problem with letting go of the p…
A Reflective Perspective on Schein
20 November 2015
I will take time to be alone today. I will take time to be quiet. In this silence I will listen… and I will hear my answers. – Ruth Fishel One of my…