Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement and Lean Change Leaders

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?To help us answer this, I invited Michael Bungay Stanier, leadership expert and bestselling author of six books, including The Coaching Habit and How to Work with (Almost) Anyone, to share his insights on leading personal and organizational change. Success in leading change comes not only from making structural shifts, but also from fostering curiosity and building strong human relationships.It’s time to shift the failure rate to a success rate for your vision. Focus your energy on amplifying your influence and getting the buy-in needed from key people to create meaningful transformation.YOU’LL LEARN: How to reverse the trend of failed change initiativesWhat to do when others don’t align with your vision for changeHow to create agency in the people you want to influenceTips on how to stay curious longer to make a strong impactThe importance of linking process improvement and people for lasting changeABOUT MY GUEST:Michael Bungay Stanier is at the forefront of shaping how organizations and leaders around the world succeed through focusing on curiosity and human relationships. He’s the author of six books, which between them have sold more than a million copies, and is best known for The Coaching Habit, the best-selling coaching book of this century.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/34Connect with Michael Bungay Stanier: linkedin.com/in/michaelbungaystanier Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonSign up for Michael’s newsletter and podcasts: MBS.worksDownload my FREE KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment : kbjanderson.com/katalyst TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 01:04 Reasons why change initiatives fail 04:56 Two foundational challenges for leading change07:38 The link between process improvement and integrating the people component13:23 Two strategies to stay curious longer and create lasting impact16:26 Tips to reverse the trend of failed change initiatives 20:20 Steps to embrace your influence and create the impact you want when leading change 22:31 Defining A and B list relationships24:04 Improving the quality of working relationships24:45 How to build BPR (best possible relationships) and keystone conversations to discuss how to best work together before diving into the work26:13 Addressing challenging conversations to clarify roles and expectations upfront29:55 One way to increase influence and build human connection for impactful conversations31:11 Michael’s new project in launching a new podcast

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 we react when others ask us.It’s just as important to know the reasons behind why we’re asking. What’s the intention behind the question? What are we hoping to learn or uncover? This is where true understanding happens—both for the person asking and the one being asked.So the next time someone asks you a question, take a moment to ask a follow-up question. You both might be surprised with the answer!Now, it’s time to dive into your questions!YOU’LL LEARN:How to shift from a “command and control” leadership style to a culture focused on continuous improvementCommon obstacles organizations face when implementing transformational change and how to overcome themHow you can effectively balance the need for short-term results with the pursuit of long-term strategic goals while developing peopleInsights on transitioning from a lean leader in an organization to starting a consultancy businessHow continuous improvement teams can amplify their impact and link leadership coaching to driving real business outcomes What additional questions are on your mind? Head over to ChainOfLearning.com/ASK and ask me your questions so we can continue to explore them in future episodes of Chain of Learning.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/33Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonDownload the KATALYST™ self-assessment to fast-track your leadership impact: kbjanderson.com/Katalyst Download the free guide "3 Tips to Break The Telling Habit®” and discover how you can start asking better questions: kbjanderson.com/telling-habitBe the first to know about new episodes and other resources: kbjanderson.com/newsletterAsk your questions for future episodes: ChainOfLearning.com/Ask TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 0:39 How asking questions can spark a culture of continuous learning and improvement2:04 The impact of leaders defaulting to immediately answering questions4:28 QUESTION 1 : Moving from command and control to continuous improvement09:06 QUESTION 2 overcoming obstacles to transformational change16:14 QUESTION 3: How to balance short-term results with long-term goals while developing people19:00 QUESTION 4: Insights on transitioning from a corporate leader to starting a consultancy business30:35 QUESTION 5: How a continuous improvement team within an organization increase and demonstrate impact

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 he's fostering an organizational culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.Isaac shares how his leadership journey—from engineer at Toyota to executive in healthcare—shaped his approach to real crises. He discusses how understanding purpose—his own, his team’s, and the organization’s—helps him distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s truly important.By focusing on what matters, you can create the impact you’re striving for. To me, that’s what living with intention is—knowing your purpose and aligning your actions to make it happen.YOU’LL LEARN:How to distinguish between true crises and perceived urgencyThe importance of aligning organizational and personal purpose to drive strategic successA framework for where to spend your time as a leader to build a high-performing organizationHow to demonstrate respect for people by encouraging a personal understanding of purpose and owning the thinking process, not the answersPractical tips for building a people-centered culture that drives sustainable growthIn our conversation about intention and goals, Isaac asks about my next big goal—listen for the big reveal, never shared publicly until now! I’d love to hear your thoughts.ABOUT MY GUEST:Isaac Mitchell is an experienced strategy deployment executive and is currently a Vice President at Ballad Health and a guest lecturer at the University of Tennessee’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/32Connect with Isaac Mitchell: linkedin.com/in/isaacmitchellJoin Isaac’s Book Clubs: Lean Book Club and Lean Coffee Club Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonJoin me on my Japan Study Trip leadership program: KBJAnderson.com/JapanTripLearn about the warp and weft metaphor in my book: Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn and companion workbookTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 3:08 Navigating crises during Hurricane Helene through community and shared purpose9:00 True crises vs. perceived urgency 10:58 Avoid falling into the "expert trap" during crises14:10 Respecting people’s development and using Gemba16:19 How to use daruma dolls in goal setting20:57 Katie’s BIG new goal reveal22:25 Using a hanko when coaching for  problem solving30:36 Isaac’s North Star for the year and Japan Study Trip lessons32:11 How Gemba helps leaders prioritize what's essential36:23 Setting big goals and using them to push for growth 41:34 Value of cultural and business learning45:54 The warp and weft metaphor for goal settingSpaces still available for the May 2025 Japan Study Trip - apply now!

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 this episode, I share my reflections from the Chain of Learning’s first year and walk  you through the process I use and teach for reflection – so you can apply this same reflection process to whatever you are working on, both professionally and personally. Whether you’re leading teams, fostering innovation, or driving continuous improvement – or simply looking to take the next step forward in your life – purposeful reflection is the foundation for your ultimate success.YOU’LL LEARN:The meaning of the Japanese word Hansei – self-reflection – and the risk if you get caught more in doing and don’t take time to reflect How you can use the Plan-Do-Study-Adjust (PDSA) cycle to improve and why I suggest we call it the Study-Adjust-Plan-Do (SAPD) cycleThe 3 ways to reflect with intention even while short on timeThe backstory to how this podcast started and personal reflections of what I’ve learned and adjusted over producing 31 episodesThe questions to ask yourself for meaningful reflectionI invite you to embed reflection into your practice — not just as a one-time exercise but as a regular habit – that guides you toward excellence. Thanks for the opportunity to grow and strengthen our Chain of Learning together. Here’s to the journey of growth and another year of reflections ahead!IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes and links: ChainOfLearning.com/31Comment and share your process for reflection on LinkedIn hereCheck out my website: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonGet my book “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn” – LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.comTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: 2:37 The meaning of the Japanese word Hansei 4:11 The 5 steps to applying Hansei and using the (SAPD) cycle5:28 Reflection Process 1: immediate self reflection after an event, even if you’re short on time6:27 Reflection Process 2: reflect with others or in a group setting to get feedback and share ideas8:05 Reflection Process 3: reflect over time by looking back9:38 Backstory of how the Chain of Learning podcast started12:37 Process launching the podcast and the challenges and lessons learned18:53 Personal growth and what I have learned over time since starting the podcast31:47 Questions to ask yourself to add reflection in your daily, monthly and yearly process31:35 Share your process for reflection on LinkedIn or via email

Join Stephanie Bursek, Director of HR at TrippNT, as she explores how to elevate organizational culture through joy and respect for people. She discusses strategies to create balance between continuous improvement and team well-being. Discover the impact of psychological safety on innovation and how fostering a supportive environment can significantly enhance employee engagement. Learn why a people-centric approach leads to remarkable outcomes, like reducing delivery times dramatically, all while nurturing a thriving workplace culture.

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 of “Decision Sprint” shares what he’s learned about leading through ambiguity to drive digital and cultural transformations at global companies like Amazon, McDonald’s, and MGM Resorts.Atif breaks down the Decision Sprint framework to help you bring clarity into the unknown by moving problem-solving upstream, enabling you and your teams to make faster, smarter decisions that drive meaningful change and innovation.Uncertainty IS what most organizations are facing today. Relying on outdated leadership models and approaches to problem-solving keeps you trapped facing the same issues year after year without real progress. Tune into this episode and gain insights how you can break free from this cycle and embrace new approaches to navigate ambiguity and empower you to innovate and lead by making decisions faster, smarter, and better.YOU’LL LEARN:The difference between boring problems vs. creative problems and how to bring authentic interest to solving the “boring problems” in your organizationThe risk in relying solely on “known” solutions instead of exploring innovative ways to solve problemsWhy organizations need to start thinking more upstream rather than focusing on what’s in front of themWhat the Decision Sprint Model is and how you can use it to get ahead of problems and move problem-solving upstreamThe difference between bureaucracy and chaos and how to avoid being stuck between the twoEnter for chance to win a signed copy of  "Decision Sprint".  Register by November 8th:  ChainOfLearning.com/29 or https://kbjanderson.com/giveaways/decision-sprint/ABOUT MY GUEST:Atif Rafiq has reshaped industries and generated billions in revenue for some of the world's leading companies including McDonald’s, Volvo, MGM Resorts, Amazon, Yahoo!, and AOL. He's the CEO of Ritual and the Wall Street bestselling author of "Decision Sprint: The new way to Innovate into the Unknown and move from Strategy into Action." IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/29Connect with Atif Rafiq: www.linkedin.com/in/atif1/ Order your copy of “Decision Sprint” by Atif Rafiq: www.decisionsprint.com/book  Check out my website: KBJAnderson.com/Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: [2:24] Atif’s massive career shift and the challenge of changing the culture of a large established organization[5:51] The risk of staying in a safe zone rather than navigating through ambiguity[7:52] Boring problems versus creative problems and an example of the importance of taking interest in a “boring” problem[14:14] The Decision Sprint Model and how it helps move thinking and problem solving upstream[16:21] The role of experimentation in problem solving and the benefits of collaboration to gain insights[20:10] Concept of alignment and how it connects exploration and decision making[25:57] Difference between bureaucracy and chaos [29:11] Upstream and downstream work and creating different systems for managing both 

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 organizational change the right way. She highlights what she has learned from her journey from being a technical expert to becoming a transformational change leader within a global organization who is equipping leaders at all levels to solve problems and innovating to drive business performance.Transformational leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers. Connect with your purpose, step away from being the "doer," and empower others so that you – and they – can see better results.YOU’LL LEARN:How to implement transformational leadership practices that create lasting organizational change, not just short-term resultsThe importance of using simple terms instead of technical jargon to help get buy-in and help others understand the problems they need to solveStrategies to manage burnout by surrounding yourself with a supportive community and focusing on what truly mattersHow to bring your whole self to the workplace to fulfill your complete purpose and build trust within the organizationThe benefits of the maturity model to help leaders close the gap between their current condition and the results they want to achieveABOUT MY GUEST:Cindy Hinds is the Global Director of Enterprise Excellence at A.O. Smith, manufacturing company with sites based across North America, Asia and Europe, where she is responsible for architecting A.O. Smith’s journey to create a culture of highly engaged people who are aligned in solving problems and innovating to continuously improve.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/28Connect with Cindy Hinds: www.linkedin.com/in/cindyhindsMy website: KBJAnderson.com/Download the Change KATALYST™  Self–Assessment to discover the 8 competencies you must master to become a transformational change leader: KBJAnderson.com/KATALYSTFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE: [5:13] Leading the right way and asking questions for a continuous improvement culture[8:12] Finding gaps through Gemba to transform your approach as a leader[11:18] Franklin Covey’s Speed of Trust Curriculum to connect behaviors to business outcomes[15:06] Using “Nemawashi” to prepare for future actions or business decisions[18:30] Focusing on a people-centric culture to avoid conflicting values[21:16] Real-life examples of implementing sustainable practices for continuous improvement[24:31] The maturity model to understand your current condition and ideal state

Are your meetings feeling stagnant? Discover how to facilitate with confidence and drive real results. Learn three essential practices to enhance your facilitation skills and avoid common pitfalls. Explore how to create engaging agendas that align with group goals and empower teams to make impactful decisions. Whether guiding leaders or your own team, these insights will help you establish credibility and motivate participants for success.

In this engaging discussion with Carol Cox, founder and CEO of Speaking Your Brand®, listeners learn how storytelling can transform leadership. Carol explains why our brains respond better to narratives than cold facts, emphasizing emotional connections that drive action. She shares powerful frameworks like 'challenge, choice, and outcome' to create compelling stories. By developing a personal story bank, leaders can captivate their audiences and foster trust. This conversation is a must-listen for those looking to inspire and motivate effectively.

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 in behavior, and leaders must be serious about both.So, what does it take—especially as a senior leader—to truly create a culture of continuous improvement?To explore the journey to becoming a more serious leader, one striving to create a high performing organization in today's complex work environments, I invited two senior healthcare executives to the podcast. Drs. Kecia Kelly, SVP & Chief Nursing Officer, and Amy Chaumeton, Associate Chief Medical Officer at Legacy Health share the changes they’re making in their leadership approach, including how they're creating alignment around mission and purpose, nurturing their teams’ problem-solving capabilities, and fostering joy and human connection in the workplace. (Plus, you’ll hear how my Japan Study Trip leadership program has accelerated their leadership growth through a shared learning experience and purposeful reflection, and the positive effects these shifts are having on their teams and organizational outcomes.)Whether you're an executive, operational leader, or coach guiding leaders to success, you won’t want to miss this episode. Tune in to discover how to transform your leadership and empower your teams to create a culture of excellence.YOU'LL LEARN:What it means to be a “serious” leaderWhy developing yourself goes beyond education and certifications to putting into practice the actions to understand and support the work of your teamHow to overcome burnout in the workplace by creating a more joyful people-centered work environmentThe leadership impact of unburdening yourself from solving all your organizations’ problems by developing your teams’ capabilities for getting results and sustainable improvements.The value of collective reflection among senior leaders to achieve alignment and clarity in organizational goalsIMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/25My book “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn” - LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.comWork with me: KBJAnderson.comConnect with Amy Chaumeton: linkedin.com/in/amy-chaumetonConnect with Kecia Kelly: linkedin.com/in/kecia-kelly-facheFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonLearn more about my Japan Study Trip leadership program: KBJAnderson.com/JapanTripTIMESTAMPS:05:01 Challenges Amy & Kecia’s faced at Legacy Health and healthcare08:51 Kecia & Amy’s approach to leading differently at Legacy Health 12:54 Amy’s “aha” moment on the Japan study trip and how it’s impacted her leadership16:04 How Kecia now supports problem-solving within her team16:40 How to create sustained improvement22:49 How to be a “serious leader”26:09 The significance of alignment and having a clear mission across the organization28:14 The importance of leading with intention and respect for people35:09 Behavior shifts in becoming a serious leader44:58 The value of going on the Japan Study Trip as an executive leadership cohort