People Solve Problems

With a focus on actionable insights, host Jamie Flinchbaugh dialogues with Lorenzo Gutierrez, Director of Enterprise Excellence at Sandia National Laboratories. They offer valuable insights into leadership, intuition, and coaching. With over 20 years of leadership experience in diverse fields including semiconductor manufacturing and national security, Lorenzo is well-qualified to discuss these complex topics. He holds a range of qualifications, including a Master's in Predictive Analytics, an MBA, and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering. He's also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a Project Management Professional (PMP), and a trained Leadership Coach. Lorenzo opens the discussion by emphasizing the importance of a learning approach in problem-solving. He suggests that both failures and successes offer valuable lessons, encouraging a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth. To him, problem-solving is not just about finding a solution but about understanding the nuances of the issue and applying what has been learned to future challenges. The conversation then pivots to intuition, a topic that clearly resonates with Lorenzo. He advocates for a balanced approach that integrates intuitive thinking with data-driven analysis. While he acknowledges that gut feelings shouldn't be followed blindly, Lorenzo believes that intuition serves as a crucial "data point" that can provide a fuller picture when combined with logical reasoning. He encourages leaders to validate these intuitions through direct observation and to encourage their teams to do the same. Coaching is another key theme of the episode, and Lorenzo sheds light on his own unique style. Grounding himself with the core belief that the individual he's coaching is "naturally creative, resourceful, and whole," Lorenzo crafts powerful questions designed to lead them to their own answers. He shares that his approach is adaptive, tailored to meet the specific needs and challenges of the individual or team he's working with. Recognizing the balance of confidence and humility as crucial in effective leadership, Lorenzo notes that the style and type of questions he asks may change based on this balance. Throughout the episode, the enthusiasm of both Jamie and Lorenzo is palpable, creating an engaging dialogue that offers actionable advice. Whether you're a seasoned leader or someone starting your career journey, Lorenzo's insights offer a refreshing perspective on how to navigate the complexities of leadership, intuition, and coaching in a business setting. For more about Lorenzo Gutierrez, visit https://www.sandia.gov or connect with him on linkedin.com/in/logutierrez.

In a recent podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh sat down with guest Ron Pereira to explore various facets of leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. The conversation kicked off with the two discussing the communication challenges faced by remote teams that include both introverted and extroverted members. Ron emphasized the role of digital tools like Miro boards in fostering interactive collaboration, a point that resonated with Jamie’s experiences.   Transitioning from technology to team dynamics, Ron spoke candidly about his own journey as a co-founder. He explained that individual differences can be a company’s greatest asset when leveraged properly. Both Jamie and Ron stressed the need for setting aside ego and focusing on collective success. This led them to dive into the topic of roles in problem-solving, particularly the complexities of delegation. Ron introduced the phrase "have a coach be a coach," highlighting the importance of empowering others to solve problems. He reflected on his early career tendencies to take over tasks himself, recognizing that such an approach was neither scalable nor efficient.   Jamie then steered the conversation toward the art of coaching, asking Ron how he adjusts his approach to meet the individual needs of his team. Ron mentioned his belief in behavioral temperaments and the importance of tuning into those temperaments to better connect with people. He touched upon neuro-linguistic programming, acknowledging its value in understanding how people function. In that vein, Ron emphasized the importance of trust and comfort in any working relationship, and Jamie concurred, noting that it's often the human factors that are more critical than any specific problem-solving method.   The podcast concluded with Ron paying homage to his late father, echoing his dad’s lifelong advice that "it's all about people." Jamie appreciated the sentiment, and both agreed that the core of successful leadership and teamwork lies in authentic human interaction.   This episode offered a nuanced yet accessible look into the inner workings of team management and problem-solving, reminding listeners that while tools and methods are important, it’s the people who make or break an organization. Ron thanked Jamie for the opportunity to discuss these issues, underscoring that sometimes opening a Google Doc and starting is good enough. Overall, it was an enlightening exchange of ideas and experiences between two seasoned professionals.

Elisabeth Swan, a continuous improvement expert, discusses collaboration, ideation, role clarity, and identifying blind spots in problem-solving. She shares insights on fostering idea flow outside of work, the value of diverse input, and the significance of event-driven roles. Her story from working with Starwood Hotels and Marriott shows the lasting impact of shifting problem-solving responsibilities. Highlighting the importance of one-on-one conversations for uncovering unspoken concerns, Elisabeth promotes open dialogue to address team blind spots.

In a recent podcast episode, host Jamie Flinchbaugh sits down with Justin Max, founder of Spark DSG. Spark DSG is a standout digital design and development agency, and under Justin's leadership, the team employs their unique IDEAS process to address and solve complex business challenges with clear results. During the conversation, Justin captures his journey from a practitioner to a leader and trying to get out of the weeds of his firm’s work. The IDEAS process helped him do that, to help him scale the business by addressing key process gaps. The way of doing things was too custom and poorly documented. IDEAS was the outcome which stands for Initiate, Discover, Execute, Assess, and Support. The problems Spark DSG solves for clients are complex digital experience problems. A lot of their problem solving happens in Discover and understanding the client and their needs, but their engagements can include all elements of the IDEAS process or just sub-elements broken off and provided directly. Justin also covered his role, his value, and how important culture was to the transformation. That culture includes an environment where people aren’t afraid to try things. For those interested in learning more about the innovative solutions offered by Justin and his team, further information can be found on their website, sparkdsg.com. If you'd like to connect directly with Justin Max, you can do so via his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmax/ To sum it up, this episode provides valuable takeaways on problem solving through a client-facing digital design process, all enriched by Justin Max's expert insights.

In a thought-provoking episode of the People Solve Problems Podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh has an engaging conversation with Jim Huntzinger, Founder and President of Lean Frontiers. Jim's background is in manufacturing, engineering, and the lean enterprise. Jim's understanding and experience provide listeners with a wealth of knowledge applicable to a wide range of professional fields. The conversation begins with Jim sharing a detailed overview of the history and evolution of problem-solving techniques. Tracing the journey from the era of World War II's Training Within Industry (TWI) program, to the genesis of the Toyota Production System, and finally into the modern world of Lean and Kaizen practices, Jim offers an enlightening perspective on the historical context of these methods. His narration showcases how these techniques have been continuously adapted over the decades to align with the evolving needs of organizations and industries. Progressing further into the dialogue, Jim explains the interconnected nature of various Lean techniques. In his view, elements such as TWI, Kata, and coaching are not independent entities; instead, they form an intertwined framework within the broader Lean ecosystem. Understanding this interconnectedness is crucial for anyone striving to effectively apply and maximize the benefits of Lean methodologies. As the episode draws to a close, Jim and Jamie delve into the future prospects of Lean Frontiers. Through this exploration, Jim’s commitment to nurturing and promoting Lean methodologies on a global scale comes through clearly. His vision places Lean Frontiers at the forefront of Lean thinking and practice, making it a beacon for practitioners around the world. This podcast episode with Jim Huntzinger is filled with insights into Lean methodologies, steeped in historical context, current practices, and future possibilities. Anyone interested in problem-solving techniques and Lean methodologies will find immense value in this discussion. Make sure to connect with Jim on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-huntzinger-7001581/ and learn more about his work through the Lean Frontiers website www.leanfrontiers.com. Don't miss this episode with Jim, where his insights offer a fresh and inspiring perspective on the applications and potential of Lean methodologies. More about Lean Frontiers: Lean Frontiers develops communities within the lean community to bring together practitioners, thought leaders, and others to share, learn, and network to grow and develop the community. Jim's background is in manufacturing, engineering, and the lean enterprise.

In an engaging episode of the podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh welcomes distinguished guest, Mark Graban. The conversation provides invaluable insights into management, problem-solving, and risk mitigation methodologies, drawing from Mark's wealth of experience and expertise. Mark begins the discussion by emphasizing the importance of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), a tool used to identify potential failures in a system, product, or process. He stresses the value of FMEA in evaluating the likelihood of a mistake, its severity, and its detectability, which can help organizations prioritize and manage risks. The method, despite its subjective nature, can help companies avoid mistakes that could be detrimental to their business or clients. Further into the discussion, Mark brings up the concept of "lean startup" and the idea of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). He argues that while an MVP approach may be suitable for low-risk ventures like music discovery platforms, it might not be the best choice for high-stakes industries like banking or healthcare where the cost of failure can be extraordinarily high. The conversation then steers toward the idea of psychological safety, where Mark cites Amy Edmondson, a renowned scholar in the field. According to Mark, Edmondson categorizes mistakes into three distinct types: those that shouldn't occur in routine processes, those that are unanticipated due to differing circumstances, and those that happen at the frontiers of innovation where there is a high level of uncertainty. The ability to distinguish between these types can be crucial for businesses to learn from their mistakes and foster a culture of innovation. As the dialogue winds down, Jamie and Mark discuss the implications of their discussion for startups. They agree that it's crucial for companies, especially new ones, to understand the severity of the risks they're taking, ensuring that investors are on the same page with them about the potential for failure. This episode with Mark Graban offers a deep dive into the mechanisms of risk management, offering useful perspectives for any organization striving to improve its problem-solving and innovation processes. Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn and check out his website for more insights. Don't miss this informative episode with Mark, where his insightful ideas are bound to spark thought and foster new ways of thinking about how to approach risks in your organization.

Andy Carlino, a problem-solving expert at Carlino Partners, and host Jamie Flinchbaugh discuss the importance of clear problem statements in organizations. They delve into the necessity of tiered problem-solving structures matching varying complexities. Carlino emphasizes the need for differentiated approaches to tackle different types of problems, engaging all members at their capability level.

People Solve Problems is an engaging new podcast hosted by Jamie Flinchbaugh, the author of the book with the same title. In this insightful series, Jamie interviews a diverse array of guests – from thought leaders and authors to practitioners and everyday individuals, delving into their unique perspectives on problem solving. This compact, interview-style podcast offers valuable insights into what constitutes effective problem-solving, the challenges faced in the process, and the strategies employed. It aims to equip listeners with a wealth of ideas, best practices, and approaches to enhance their problem-solving skills. Stay tuned for the upcoming episodes by clicking the follow button and signing up today.