The EBFC Show Lean Leadership & The Appearance Trap | Patrick Adams on Actual Improvement
8 snips
Nov 12, 2025 
In this discussion, Patrick Adams, a Lean consultant and author of The Appearance Trap, unpacks the essence of genuine Lean leadership. He highlights the danger of 'fake Lean' and the importance of fostering a culture of psychological safety instead of merely imitating best practices. Patrick shares fascinating insights from his global consulting experiences, including a transformative project at a hospital in Kazakhstan. He emphasizes the value of coaching over telling, continuous improvement, and using AI as a modern tool for effective Lean transformations.
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Tools Aren't The Whole Answer
- Lean tools alone don't guarantee Toyota-like results; context matters deeply.
- True Lean is the learning culture, not just copying tools or artifacts.
Walking The Hospital With Users
- In Kazakhstan a construction team walked the hospital with doctors and nurses to map patient needs.
- They redesigned temporary entrances and hallways so care could continue without a degraded patient experience.
Stabilize Before You Improve
- Start Lean transformations by stabilizing processes with standard work and a daily management system.
- Use daily huddles and tiered meetings to escalate problems and create feedback loops.
