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PODCAST

Lean Blog Audio

Lean Blog Audio features Mark Graban reading and expanding on LeanBlog.org posts. Explore real-world lessons on Lean thinking, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and performance metrics like Process Behavior Charts. Learn how leaders in healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond create cultures of learning, reduce fear, and drive better results. Listen and learn: leanblog.org/audio

business management & marketing

All Episodes

00:07:33

Almost 17 Years Later: Reflections on Lean Hospitals...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/08/22

The blog postIt's hard to believe, but it's been almost 17 years since the first edition of Lean Hospitals was published–an effort that eventually received the Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award and has since reached tens of thousands of healthcare professionals around the world.When I wrote that first edition, Lean in healthcare was still new territory. Many leaders were still asking, “Will Lean work in healthcare?” Today, the better question is “How can we make it work–and

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00:08:31

Kakorrhaphiophobia: How Fear of Failure Sabotages...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/07/29

Read the blog postWhen I first came across the word kakorrhaphiophobia, I thought it might be one of those obscure terms you learn once and never use again.But the meaning stopped me in my tracks:an irrational, intense fear of failure or defeat.It turns out, this fear is more common–and more consequential–than we might admit, especially in workplaces that say they support continuous improvement but don't act in ways that support it.

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00:02:30

A Free Resource for Leaders: The Mistake-Smart...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/05/27

Read the blog postWe all say mistakes are a part of learning. Or at least many of us do, as individuals.But how many organizations actually act that way?Too often, people are punished for systemic errors. So, problems get hidden.When problems are discovered, blame is assigned instead of learning being shared. And we wonder why our teams hesitate to speak up.That's why I created a simple new resource:The Mistake-Smart Leader's Checklist[Download it here]

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00:04:11

Update on my June 17th Workshop: Improving the Way We...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/05/19

The blog postAre your improvement efforts falling flat, or are you constantly chasing red dots? Are you interested in improving the way we improve?I've had to re-tool my Cincinnati workshop (June 17th) since my collaboration partner is now, unfortunately, unable to make it.Join me for a practical and thought-provoking day exploring two essential foundations for sustainable performance: psychological safety and modern leadership metrics.LEARN MORE AND REGISTERIn the morning, we'll explore how

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00:03:19

Psychological Safety: You get your say, not always...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/05/17

The blog postThere's a phrase I've been thinking about a lot lately:"You get your say, not always your way."It's a short sentence, but it says a lot. It's about voice, it's about respect, and it's about the kind of culture we're building--especially when we aim for continuous improvement.In The Mistakes That Make Us, I wrote about the characteristics of learning organizations. One of the most important is encouraging people to speak up--not just about mistakes, but also about ideas, concerns, and

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00:05:59

Join Me in Japan: A Lean Healthcare Accelerator...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/05/14

Read the blog postSince 2012, I've had the opportunity to visit Japan six times, each trip a deep learning experience–rich with lessons about Lean, Kaizen, leadership, culture, and continuous improvement.This June, I'm heading back for my seventh visit–and what makes this one especially exciting is that it will be my fifth trip focused on Lean in healthcare… and the first that I've helped design from the ground up.It's my first trip in this format, but I was invited to partner up

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00:06:02

Safety First: GE Aerospace’s Lynn Facility...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/01/21

Episode pageAt its core, Lean is about people–respecting them, empowering them, and ensuring their well-being while driving continuous improvement. Recently, GE Aerospace's Lynn, MA, facility provided an inspiring example of what it means to put these principles into action, even under challenging circumstances. Read more about this and/or watch a video at this link: Keep the Line Moving: GE Aerospace's Lynn Facility Is Using FLIGHT DECK to Put Safety First

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00:11:39

Starting the New Year with Global Leadership...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2025/01/06

Read the blog postDuring Katie Anderson‘s #JapanStudyTrip this past November, a participant shared an observation with me that resonated deeply: “The biggest challenge is our blame culture. It's easier for people to do nothing because they don't get in trouble. But if they make a mistake, they get punished. And our company is successful enough that there's not a compelling reason for top leaders to change the culture.” This isn't a story from the U.S., but the feeling is universal. A workplace

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00:06:12

Lost My iPhone in Tokyo: A Lesson in Japanese...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/12/10

Read the blog post: https://www.leanblog.org/2024/11/lost-iphone-japan-taxi-tokyo-kindness-culture/I'm thrilled to be back in Japan for the first time in five years. Today is the start of Katie Anderson's Japan Study Trip (learn more about joining her in May 2025). It's great to be here for another week of learning and great experiences. Little did I know, I'd kick off the trip by nearly losing my iPhone on the streets of Tokyo–a mistake that ended up teaching me a valuable lesson about Japan's

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00:04:05

Ten Years Ago -- In the News Visiting a Japanese Lean...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/12/05

The blog postJust over a week ago, I got back from Katie Anderson's Japan Study Trip. It was amazing! I have so much to write about and share. But first, Facebook reminded me of something from exactly ten years ago–the second time I visited Japan with the Kaizen Institute. I asked 2024 ChatGPT to translate this 2014 news story that's pictured below (with me sitting there and taking notes in the front row of the meeting room). See the English text below the image: --- Support this podcast:

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00:07:19

Surveying the Lean Global Connection Audience on...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/12/03

The blog post: https://www.leanblog.org/2024/11/surveying-the-lean-global-connection-audience-on-barriers-to-speaking-up/ At yesterday's Lean Global Connection event, I posed a straightforward yet revealing question to the audience: “What keeps you from speaking up at work?” The responses illustrated two of the common barriers. I posed the survey options based on the research of Prof. Ethan Burris, from the University of Texas at Austin, who has found that fear and futility are the top two reasons

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00:08:01

Just Call it “5S Six Sigma” Instead of “Lean Sigma”...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/10/29

Blog postMy whole career, I have worked with the Lean methodology (aka the Toyota Production System). I've just really never done much with Six Sigma. I've read about Six Sigma. I took a Green Belt course when I worked at Dell in the late 90s. I've studied and used statistical methods (especially what I learned in my Industrial Engineering studies and at MIT), but I've never done anything I would call Six Sigma in my career. I have respect for Six Sigma as a discipline, just as if I were a chef, I

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00:07:19

Lean Failure Explained: When Command-and-Control...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/10/24

How Often Does This Happen? Read the blog post It's a story I've heard too many times. An organization spends years, even decades, entrenched in a top-down, command-and-control culture. In this environment, employees are micromanaged, decision-making is reserved for those at the top, and when things go wrong, the finger-pointing begins. “Blame and shame” becomes the norm. Then, someone decides, “We're going to get Lean.” On the surface, this should be great news. Lean offers proven strategies to

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00:17:42

Whoa! A.I. Podcast Hosts Discuss “The Mistakes That...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/10/21

I've played around with ChatGPT before (including in a few blog posts), but the advancements in A.I. technologies are pretty breathtaking. Check out the blog post I recently tried out the new “Notebook LM” tool from Google. I uploaded a PDF of my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, and it was able to generate a realistic-sounding podcast episode about the book. It's like an NPR podcast in tone and style. There's a male A.I. host and a female A.I

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00:09:26

Why Labeling Mistakes as 'Stupid' Is the Real...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/10/09

Read the blog postWhen discussing mistakes, it's common to hear terms like “stupid mistake” or “dumb mistake” thrown around, especially when reflecting on our own errors. However, labeling mistakes in this way is unproductive. In The Mistakes That Make Us, one of the key ideas is that we shouldn't label mistakes as “stupid” or “dumb.” Mistakes are a natural part of the human experience, and even the smartest, most capable people make them. --- Support this podcast:

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00:02:54

Leadership Failure: How Refusing to Be Wrong Hurts...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/10/07

Read the blog post “I am never, ever wrong.” That's a statement that should disqualify an applicant from ANY leadership position.True leadership isn't about projecting infallibility–it's about fostering a culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning and growth.Leaders who claim they're never wrong create an environment where fear of failure stifles innovation, and team members are less likely to speak up or challenge ideas. This is the opposite of what effective leadership

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00:08:08

Executive Summary on Cultivating Psychological Safety...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/07/16

The full blog postThis post draws upon and summarizes content in my book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation. Senior leaders must prioritize psychological safety and continuous improvement to foster an environment conducive to learning and innovation. Psychological safety is crucial for enabling employees to speak up about mistakes and ideas without fear of punishment. This executive summary outlines key strategies for cultivating psychological safety and

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00:15:22

I’ll Be Speaking, Learning, and Facilitating at the...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/07/11

Blog post with linksI'm very happy to be participating in Jared Thatcher‘s “Global Lean Summit” event this September in Indiana. I'll be there to network and learn, which includes time visiting a Toyota Material Handling factory (an entire day!) I'll be speaking and facilitating: A workshop on Psychological Safety as a Foundation for continuous improvement A learning session featuring Dr. Deming's “Red Bead Game“ A fun keynote talk on warning signs and mistake-proofing Learn

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00:04:06

The Suggestion Box is Dead, with a New Obituary

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/07/11

The blog post with webinar link As a Throwback Thursday, I'm sharing this webinar that I did back in 2012, as hosted by Karen Martin... On this theme of “The Suggestion Box is Dead,” I thought to prompt ChatGPT to create an image of a burial scene and mournful employees... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lean-blog-audio/support

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00:03:53

I’ll Be Speaking, Learning, and Facilitating at the...

Lean Blog Audio ·

2024/07/05

Blog post linkLearn more about the Summit I'm very happy to be participating in Jared Thatcher‘s “Global Lean Summit” event this September in Indiana. I'll be there to network and learn, which includes time visiting a Toyota Material Handling factory. I'll be speaking and facilitating: A workshop on Psychological Safety as a Foundation for continuous improvement A learning session featuring Dr. Deming's “Red Bead Game“ A fun keynote talk on warning signs and

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33 results

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