6 | Inside the Lean Mindset: Behind-the-Scenes Leadership Insights
Dec 13, 2023
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Join the exciting behind-the-scenes conversations with transformational change leaders from GE's The Lean Mindset event. Discover insights on embracing failure, teamwork, leadership engagement, and cultivating continuous improvement. Learn about the significance of daily practice, effective problem-solving, and aligning action plans with resources for operational enhancement.
Embracing failure as a learning opportunity fosters growth and effective leadership.
Shift from directive to coaching approach to empower teams for sustainable improvements.
Deep dives
Leadership Connection through Lean Principles
Leaders from various industries converged at GE's The Lean Mindset event, showcasing the diverse applications of Lean and continuous improvement strategies beyond traditional business settings. Speakers like Admiral Lescher and Fire Commissioner Kavanaugh highlighted the importance of Lean principles in military and public service realms, while Chef Wolfgang Puck's presence emphasized Lean's relevance even in the food industry. The event underscored the common thread of continuous improvement mindset and caring leadership that transcends specific labels, encouraging personal growth and driving organizational impact.
Embracing Failure and Humility in Leadership
A recurring theme in the event discussions was the value of embracing failure as a learning opportunity, championed by leaders like Chef Eric Klein. Humility and willingness to admit limitations were seen as essential qualities for effective leadership. Leaders like Dr. Yerian and Betsy Bingham emphasized the importance of asking questions, fostering a culture of continual learning, and enabling teams to solve challenges collectively. By shifting from directive approaches to coaching and support, leaders can empower teams to drive sustainable improvements.
Practical Strategies for Lean Leadership
To transition to a Lean leadership style, Phil Wickler highlighted the role of coaching in navigating the initial challenges. Betsy Bingham advocated for structured problem-solving approaches and cross-functional team engagements through Kaizen events to drive rapid improvements. Meanwhile, Pat Byrne emphasized disciplined focus on key priorities, daily management routines, and imparting lean principles through coaching and actions. These practical strategies aim to instill a culture of continuous improvement and problem-solving at all organizational levels.
Quick question, have you ever wondered what it would be like to listen in to “hallway” conversations to discover what leaders say and reflect on with each other?
If you're curious, you're in the right spot. In this episode, I take you behind-the-scenes with exclusive conversations I had with transformational change leaders and executives in attendance at GE’s The Lean Mindset. This exciting event, hosted by Larry Culp, Chairman and CEO of GE and GE Aerospace, brought together executives from some of the world’s top companies, professional athletes, and thought leaders all focused on pursuing excellence through continuous learning.
Thanks to GE's generosity, I was invited to both share my knowledge and to collect knowledge, by bringing my microphone to glean insights from the leaders in attendance during the spaces between the mainstage events. I can’t wait to share them with you here!
You’ll hear highlights from my conversations with leaders including:
Chef Eric Klein – Culinary Vice President and Partner at Wolfgang Puck Catering
Dr. Lisa Yerian – Chief Improvement Officer at The Cleveland Clinic
Betsy Bingham – Vice President of Lean Operations at GE Aerospace
Phil Wickler – Chief Transformation Officer for GE Aerospace
Pat Byrne – Senior Vice President for Operational Transformation at GE
What you’ll learn:
The importance of embracing and learning from failure
The power of humility, empathy, and making daily connections with your team
Strategies to empower problem-solving and teamwork, including going to gemba, leveraging meaningful metrics, and creating structured approaches to improvement
The mindset and behavior shifts leaders need to make to build effective leadership habits and lead by example
Being an effective leader doesn’t mean you have all the answers; it means you’re willing to ask questions, go see, and always keep learning.
If you are trying to create a high-performing learning organization, you won’t want to miss these invaluable insights. Hit play now to be inspired about how you can embed a lean mindset in your organization and accelerate your impact as a change leader.