Tips for Lean Managers

219 Articles

GA 315 | Dealing With Uncertainty with Steve Kane

By Jessica Bush - April 16th, 2020

This week we’re sharing the audio of a presentation on coaching, leader standard work, and uncertainty by our own Steve Kane. Steve’s advice on uncertainty is particularly relevant to today. A MP3 audio version of this epis

GA 304 | The Different Approaches to Training Leaders with Brent Weichers

By Jessica Bush - January 30th, 2020

This week’s guest is Brent Weichers of The Lighthouse for the Blind. Ron and Brent discussed the various approaches to training leaders, including the different hard and soft skills involved. A MP3 audio version of this episode i

It’s Your Duty to Make Things Right

By Steve Kane - January 24th, 2020

I completed US Army basic training at Fort Dix in May of 1990. Immediately after, I went to advanced individual training (AIT) at the US Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. Drill Sergeant Smith was my platoon drill se

Reframe Your Thinking

By Steve Kane - August 23rd, 2019

Part of my role at Gemba Academy is to coach customers along their continuous improvement journey.  Coaching sessions are typically brief phone conversations that help clients continually realign their efforts with organizational goal

GA 246 | How to Admit When You’re Struggling with Gary Peterson

By Jessica Bush - December 20th, 2018

This week’s guest is Gary Peterson. Gary talked about his company O.C. Tanner’s lean journey, and shared some vulnerable anecdotes about failure, asking for help, and owning up to your mistakes.  An MP3 version of this epi

GA 245 | How to Coach Leaders to Coach Others with Jamie Parker

By Jessica Bush - December 13th, 2018

This week’s guest is Jamie Parker. Ron and Jamie talked about Jamie’s career thus far, the importance of having an impact on others, and how to help leaders develop a team of problem solvers. An MP3 version of this episode

GA 236 | How to Develop Strong Effective Leaders with Cheryl Jekiel

By Jessica Bush - October 11th, 2018

This week’s guest is Cheryl Jekiel, CEO of the Lean Leadership Center. Based on her background in operations and human resources, Cheryl explained what she believes it takes to develop great lean leaders. An MP3 version of this e

Set Full Sail

By Steve Kane - June 22nd, 2018

  Getting started with lean in an existing organization challenging on many levels.  Often some of the most important steps in a lean journey are not recognized. A common place people think they start is with 5S.  It’s an

Instructions Aren’t Enough

By Steve Kane - May 25th, 2018

During a recent airline emergency, cabin pressure was lost and the oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.  Passengers donned the masks, but not quite as instructed. Mobile phone videos of the incident showed many passengers wearing th

How Do I Teach My Team?

By Steve Kane - January 20th, 2017

I like to think that a large part of a leader’s job is to teach, coach, mentor and inspire.  And, working for people who do this well is often a great experience.  The trouble is that there is typically little, if any, training

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