Chain of Learning: Leadership Strategies for Transforming Culture, Developing People, and Getting Results

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 option...

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? T...

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 w...

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 and how...

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. In th...

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 proces...

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 author...

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 lead org...

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 leader. It’s...

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 audien...

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 shift...

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, autho...

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 there.   Bi...

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 cornerstone of...

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® concept....

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 execut...

Do you e 𝘃𝗲𝗿 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 with cu...

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 for pro...

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’s why,...

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 understand...

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 of wh...

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, Wyndham...

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.”  But,...

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, there...

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, and facil...