Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders

• 37| Lean Has Failed (or Has It?) [with James Womack]

  Apply for the Nov 2025 Japan Study Trip - super early registration rate now through March 31st! “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 past 40 years—where his vision for lean management has fallen short, where it’s succeeded, and what we can learn for the future.In this episode, we take a hard look at lean’s evolution, from James’ original vision following the publication of “The Machine that Changed the World” nearly 4 decades ago to its real-world impact today.Tune in for powerful stories and insights from one of the founders of the lean movement, a chance to rethink what’s next for lean leadership, and how you can adjust your approach towards organizational transformation.YOU’LL LEARN:The 5 critical interlocking elements of successful lean enterprise transformations — and what’s missingHow to build systems and practices to sustain a lean culture that truly supports frontline teamsWhy most companies get their approach to operational excellence backwards and the challenge of getting leaders to see lean principles as the key to getting resultsWhy off-shoring and out-sourcing aren’t long-term solutionsThe biggest challenges leaders face with lean transformationDon't miss Part 2 of this conversation where we explore lean’s future, its relevance for today’s global lean community, and James’ advice for the next generation of leaders.ABOUT MY GUEST:James P. Womack, PhD, is the former research director of MIT’s International Motor Vehicle Program who led the team that coined the term “lean production” to describe the Toyota Production System. Along with Daniel Jones, he co-authored “The Machine That Changed the World”, “Lean Thinking”, and “Lean Solutions”. James is the founder of Lean Enterprise Institute where he continues to serve as a senior advisor.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/37Connect with James Womack: linkedin.com/in/womack-james-52763b212Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 02:41 James’ vision of what lean’s impact would be today07:25 Five interlocking pieces of lean transformation and what’s been missed07:49 Misconception of Kaizen14:27 Challenges in sustaining lean practices19:00 Lean leadership if implemented the right way21:58 Impact of offshoring and outsourcing24:29 Barriers to senior management buy-in26:42 Challenges in the frontline healthcare system30:27 The importance of daily management and Kaizen37:46 Contributions to GE Appliance’s success39:28 The meaning of constancy of purpose41:04 Importance of knowing your north star41:55 The creation of Hoshin planning and why it fails the first year43:54 How we get out of the short-term approach Apply for the Nov 2025 Japan Study Trip - super early registration rate now through March 31st! https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/ 

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• 36| What's Your Purpose? Weaving Warp and Weft with Intention

  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 understand what it means to live a life of intention and purpose.First, the metaphor of warp and weft—a powerful way to understand the interconnection of the known and discovered elements of your life and see the patterns that emerge in your life’s fabric.Second, the deeper meaning of my guiding word—Intention. I explore how I’ve come to see that Intention = Heart + Direction® and the energetic vitality that uncovering your deeper purpose can have in both your personal life and leadership.If you are looking for ways to understand your purpose, reflect, to make more intentional choices, this episode is for you.Let’s explore how you too can lead with intention and can weave purpose into everything you do.YOU’LL LEARN:The importance of reflection to learn and adjust and to understand your purposeHow the weaving metaphor of warp and weft enhances self-discoveryWhy Intention = Heart + Direction® and how to set powerful intentions to align your daily actions with your heartThe Japanese word Kokorozashi (志) and how its deep meaning can be applied to leadership impactIMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources referenced in today’s show: ChainOfLearning.com/36Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonFor additional inspiration and guidance around understanding your own warp and weft, read my book "Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn," along with the companion workbook: LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.comTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 00:40 Reflecting and celebrating turning 5002:50 The history of the warp and weft metaphor05:32 The difference between the warp and weft threads, the known and the discovered06:27 Questions to ask yourself to apply the warp and weft metaphor in your life09:32 The importance of “zooming out” to see to examine your own fabric of life11:01 Questions to ask yourself to reflect on your your past life experiences11:53 The relationship between the warp and weft metaphor with setting intention12:24 Discovering the richer meaning of Intention = Heart + Direction®13:36 The meaning of the two Japanese kanji symbols for intention14:58 How to apply the concept of Kokorozashi to find your leadership purpose16:54 Questions to ask yourself to embody your Kokorozashi to make a bigger impact17:21 The importance of reflection at the micro level18:35 Leveraging Kokorozashi to help take actions that are aligned with your purpose Apply for the Nov 2025 Japan Study Trip - super early registration rate now through March 31st! https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/ 

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• 35| Stuck in the Middle? Embrace Both/And Thinking to Drive 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 source of conflict. We deal with uncertainty by asserting certainty that there are two distinct options to choose between.But what if there’s a way to embrace both?That’s why I invited Wendy Smith – award-winning psychologist and co-author of “Both/And Thinking” – to share her insights on how to make more creative, flexible, and impactful decisions in a world of competing demands.The most successful leaders and change agents have learned the power of navigating paradoxical tradeoffs and reframing problems to discover expansive solutions that didn’t initially seem possible. Tune in to learn how to shift from that “either/or” mindset and embrace a “both/and” approach to tackle tough decisions, unlock new possibilities, and lead with greater impact.YOU’LL LEARN:Can you really have it all? – The difference between an and/and vs both/and mindsetA three step process to overcome dilemmas to create a more sustainable outcomeHow to reframe a problem when faced with a seemingly paradoxical choiceThree different patterns of risk when you’re not able to shift from the either/or to the both/and thinkingThe benefits of being comfortable with the discomfort of learning something newABOUT MY GUEST:Wendy Smith is the co-author of “Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems,” an award-winning psychologist and professor at the Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. She’s spent her career studying paradoxes in leadership and on a mission to help individuals and organizations turn problems into possibilities. Wendy's passion lies in helping leaders tackle the complex challenges of interpersonal dynamics, team performance, organizational change, and innovation to transform their organizations and the world.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/35Connect with Wendy Smith: linkedin.com/in/wendykimsmithWendy’s book: bothandthinking.netCheck out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonTIMESTAMPS: 02:12 Misconception of both/and meaning02:44 And/and vs. both/and06:49 Balancing the roles of expert and coach 07:03 Balancing long-term innovation with immediate business needs08:06 3-step process of dealing with dilemma09:50 Expanding on and/and vs both/and12:03 How to approach paradoxical choices15:23 3 patterns of risk when you don’t shift to both/and thinking20:15 Getting comfortable with discomfort22:03 Embracing both/and mindset creates growth mindset24:36 Bringing both/and thinking to your personal life25:50 Both/and thinking at the organizational level27:44 Integrating technical process improvement with people development29:35 Enabling both/and thinking at the organizational level Apply for the Nov 2025 Japan Study Trip - super early registration rate now through March 31st! https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/ 

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• 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 move?To help us answer this, I invited Michael Bungay Stanier, leadership expert and bestselling author of six books, including The Coaching Habit and How to Work with (Almost) Anyone, to share his insights on leading personal and organizational change. Success in leading change comes not only from making structural shifts, but also from fostering curiosity and building strong human relationships.It’s time to shift the failure rate to a success rate for your vision. Focus your energy on amplifying your influence and getting the buy-in needed from key people to create meaningful transformation.YOU’LL LEARN: How to reverse the trend of failed change initiativesWhat to do when others don’t align with your vision for changeHow to create agency in the people you want to influenceTips on how to stay curious longer to make a strong impactThe importance of linking process improvement and people for lasting changeABOUT MY GUEST:Michael Bungay Stanier is at the forefront of shaping how organizations and leaders around the world succeed through focusing on curiosity and human relationships. He’s the author of six books, which between them have sold more than a million copies, and is best known for The Coaching Habit, the best-selling coaching book of this century.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/34Connect with Michael Bungay Stanier: linkedin.com/in/michaelbungaystanier Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonSign up for Michael’s newsletter and podcasts: MBS.worksDownload my FREE KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment : kbjanderson.com/katalyst TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 01:04 Reasons why change initiatives fail 04:56 Two foundational challenges for leading change07:38 The link between process improvement and integrating the people component13:23 Two strategies to stay curious longer and create lasting impact16:26 Tips to reverse the trend of failed change initiatives 20:20 Steps to embrace your influence and create the impact you want when leading change 22:31 Defining A and B list relationships24:04 Improving the quality of working relationships24:45 How to build BPR (best possible relationships) and keystone conversations to discuss how to best work together before diving into the work26:13 Addressing challenging conversations to clarify roles and expectations upfront29:55 One way to increase influence and build human connection for impactful conversations31:11 Michael’s new project in launching a new podcast Apply for the Nov 2025 Japan Study Trip - super early registration rate now through March 31st! https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/ 

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• 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 and how we react when others ask us.It’s just as important to know the reasons behind why we’re asking. What’s the intention behind the question? What are we hoping to learn or uncover? This is where true understanding happens—both for the person asking and the one being asked.So the next time someone asks you a question, take a moment to ask a follow-up question. You both might be surprised with the answer!Now, it’s time to dive into your questions!YOU’LL LEARN:How to shift from a “command and control” leadership style to a culture focused on continuous improvementCommon obstacles organizations face when implementing transformational change and how to overcome themHow you can effectively balance the need for short-term results with the pursuit of long-term strategic goals while developing peopleInsights on transitioning from a lean leader in an organization to starting a consultancy businessHow continuous improvement teams can amplify their impact and link leadership coaching to driving real business outcomes What additional questions are on your mind? Head over to ChainOfLearning.com/ASK and ask me your questions so we can continue to explore them in future episodes of Chain of Learning.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/33Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload the KATALYST™ self-assessment to fast-track your leadership impact: kbjanderson.com/Katalyst Download the free guide "3 Tips to Break The Telling Habit®” and discover how you can start asking better questions: kbjanderson.com/telling-habitBe the first to know about new episodes and other resources: kbjanderson.com/newsletterAsk your questions for future episodes: ChainOfLearning.com/Ask TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 0:39 How asking questions can spark a culture of continuous learning and improvement2:04 The impact of leaders defaulting to immediately answering questions4:28 QUESTION 1 : Moving from command and control to continuous improvement09:06 QUESTION 2 overcoming obstacles to transformational change16:14 QUESTION 3: How to balance short-term results with long-term goals while developing people19:00 QUESTION 4: Insights on transitioning from a corporate leader to starting a consultancy business30:35 QUESTION 5: How a continuous improvement team within an organization increase and demonstrate impact Apply for the Nov 2025 Japan Study Trip - super early registration rate now through March 31st! https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/ 

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