Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement and Lean Change Leaders

What’s your purpose as a continuous improvement leader? And how can you fulfill your potential as a transformational change leader?Tune in to my conversation with master operational excellence change leader Karen Martin to find out! Becoming a transformational change leader means balancing your technical skills to deliver results while cultivating the influence, coaching, and facilitation skills to lead change and develop people to create a high-performing organizational culture.Whether you are an operational excellence professional or a leader that has a passion for continuous improvement, this episode will inspire you to excel in both the formal role that you were hired to do and the greater potential of the role that you want to lead transformational change. From learning how to more effectively navigate the complexities of business language to influence leaders, cultivating effective coaching and facilitation skills, and becoming aware of the limiting pitfalls that can hinder your impact – this episode is a must listen. About My Guest:Karen Martin is the President and Founder of TKMG Academy and Founder of TKMG, Inc., and is an award-winning author of several books, including "Clarity First" and "The Outstanding Organization". Her clients include Fortune 500 companies and government agencies from local to federal levels. With a master’s degree in education, Karen is a mentor at heart and committed to fostering growth and nurturing potential in others to achieve lasting results and lead organizational change.You’ll Learn:The difference between the purpose of your role as a continuous improvement leader and your potential to become a transformational change leaderHow to effectively transfer knowledge and develop problem-solving capabilities, tailoring approaches between reflective and directive coachingThe importance of speaking the language of the business to influence decisions that align with your organization’s goals and growth needsThe risk of short-term improvement kaizen or rapid process improvement events without follow-up to sustain improvement or building the team's skill sets The importance of having a coach or mentor to support your growthTune in now for actionable strategies and insights to equip you to step into your greater transformational leadership potential and position you to lead lasting impact in your organization.Important Links:TKMG Academy Website: tkmgacademy.comFollow Karen Martin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karenmartinopexEpisode website: ChainOfLearning.com/11Download the KATALYST Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalystListen to Episode 9: The 8 Essential Skills to Become a Transformational Change KATALYST: ChainOfLearning.com/9Katie's book: LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.comWork with Katie: KBJAnderson.comFollow Katie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonAre you enjoying the Chain of Learning podcast? Be sure to subscribe or follow –  and to share this podcast with your friends and colleagues so we can all strengthen our Chain of Learning® – together. Timestamps:03:09 The purpose and potential of a transformational change leader11:53 Practical advice for accelerated discoveries about how to get results and develop people16:41 Learning to be an effective change leader through facilitating, overcoming fear, navigating organizational dynamics27:16 Gaps in continuous improvement cultures and how to overcome them35:56 Internal-capability challenges and opportunities for change leaders, managers, and executives37:03 Karen’s example about valuing the people-development side of business Enter to win a copy of "The Problem Solver's Toolkit" by Tracy O'Rourke and Elisabeth Swan by September 12. Apply today for the Japan Leadership Experience — last chance to join the November 2025 cohort. Applications also open for May 2026.

Shawn Carner unlocks leadership potential and accelerates engagement across organizations. Learn about the power of intention setting, coaching questions, and intentional leadership behaviors. Discover how to foster a culture of development and growth through learning and continuous improvement.

Move from Technical Expert to Influential LeaderDo you want to move beyond being a tools or process improvement project “doer” or technical expert to a transformational change leader?  Have you wanted to step into greater influence and impact in your organization?Or perhaps you're a leader seeking to create broader organizational change but don't quite know how?Leading transformational change to create a high-performing culture requires you to pair your technical expertise with social and relational skills that will enable you to catalyze change and accelerate the rate of learning in your organization.In this episode we’ll explore the importance of your role as a transformational change agent and how you can step into greater impact by growing your leadership skills with my framework – the KATALYST™ model.“Katalyst” is a mix of the words “catalyst” and "kata" – it is someone who accelerates the rate of learning for organizational progress.Hit play to discover how you can step into your impact as a transformational leader and bridge the gap between where you are today and becoming an influential change Katalyst ™ in your organization. You'll Learn:The 8 leadership competencies in the KATALYST™ model  The difference between Catalyst versus “Katalyst”™The definition of “kata” as routines that support problem-solving and coaching for improvementHow to move from technical expert to influential leaderHow to get your senior team to buy into the vision for a people-centered learning organization and invest the time and effort to get thereIf you want to increase your influence and realize your vision of a thriving people-centered learning organization, you won’t want to miss this episode. Tune in now!Looking for more inspiration and actionable tips to step into your leadership impact? Be sure to subscribe and follow Chain of Learning so you never miss an episode.Important Links:Episode webpage with additional resources: ChainOfLearning.com/9Download the Change KATALYST™ Self-Assessment: https://kbjanderson.com/katalyst/ My book: LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.comWork with me: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson/ Timestamps:2:05: The Change KATALYST™ model3:12: Transition from a Practitioner to a Change Leader6:28: The Inspiration of “kata”7:11: The impact of implementing KATALYST™ model9:38:  K – Knowledgeable Business Expert 13:39: A – Analytical Systems Thinker18:19: T – Tactical Strategic Aligner22:11: A – Astute Political Navigator25:03: L – Lifelong Learning Enthusiast 27:42: Y – Yes-Minded Persuader 31:29: S – Skillful Facilitator 34:48: T – Transformational Coaching Leader Enter to win a copy of "The Problem Solver's Toolkit" by Tracy O'Rourke and Elisabeth Swan by September 12. Apply today for the Japan Leadership Experience — last chance to join the November 2025 cohort. Applications also open for May 2026.

Have you ever wondered why some organizations consistently outperform others? And why, even when using the same tools and methodologies, some companies are able to leverage them to achieve success whereas at others they just become the flavor of the month?If you are curious about the answers, you won't want to miss this episode with Steve Spear and Gene Kim where we unpack what makes companies “great” and explore key concepts in their new book, “Wiring the Winning Organization: Liberating our Collective Greatness through Slowification, Simplification, and Amplification”. Together, we peel back the layers of organizational innovation and problem-solving to focus on the critical – and often missing elements – for high performance.Tune in to discover the role that management systems and leadership play in shaping an organization's success, and the mechanisms that enable innovation, problem-solving, and collaboration across large, complex organizations.It makes no difference what you call it  – lean, agile, DevOps –  wiring your organization to win always comes back to the principles of good leadership.If you are a leader, an operational excellence practitioner, or simply someone aspiring to create and thrive in a winning organization, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.In this episode you’ll learn:What defines a winning organization and separates great organizations from “not great” onesHow to navigate from the “danger zone” to the “winning zone” The three layers of organizational problem-solving and continuous improvement The critical role of leadership and management systems in creating conditions for successThe sociotechnical mechanisms of winning organizations: slowification, simplification, and amplificationThree questions leaders should ask daily to enable a profound organizational transformationLeadership behavior shifts to be more effective in wiring your organization – and team –  to winHit play now to discover how you can build a high-performing organization and wire your organization for greatness.About my guests:Steve Spear is a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and is a renowned thought leader in the field of organizational excellence and high-performance organizations. Gene Kim is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author and former CTO of TripWire, specializing in improving software development and IT management for high-performing technology organizations.Links:Episode webpage and book giveaway registration: https://chainoflearning.com/8Book “Wiring the Winning Organization”: https://itrevolution.com/product/wiring-the-winning-organization/Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevespear/ Connect with Gene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realgenekim/ My Book: Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: https://kbjanderson.com/learning-to-lead/ Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson/Work with me: https://kbjanderson.com/Timestamps 01:30 Introduction of Steve Spear and Gene Kim03:41 Definition of a winning organization04:02 Understanding what high performance is06:10 Disparities in organizational performance and the role of management systems07:53 Common mechanisms of performance 09:55 The three layers10:06 Social circuitry11:13 Capability and competency13:50  The socio part of the sociotechnical system14:05 Mr. Yoshino's paint mistake story15:49 Paul O'Neill's three critical questions for leaders18:50 The role of leaders in creating conditions that enable individuals to succeed19:07 How to move from the danger zone to the winning zone19:17 Slowification, simplification, and amplification21:29  Culture of learning and improvement through social circuitry25:30 How slowfication helps winning organizations30:24 The performance paradox and learning zones31:17 The importance of simulating disasters 33:03 Misuse of terminology and principles i.e., “lean”35:12 Interrelationship between management practices37:18 Lessons learned from the writing and collaboration process43:09 Steve and Gene’s behaviors to be more effective in wiring winning organizations47:17 Breaking the telling habit Enter to win a copy of "The Problem Solver's Toolkit" by Tracy O'Rourke and Elisabeth Swan by September 12. Apply today for the Japan Leadership Experience — last chance to join the November 2025 cohort. Applications also open for May 2026.

What if HOW you go about setting your goals can change the impact you have – even more than the goals themselves? It’s that time of year for setting goals, to reflect on what you achieved – or didn’t achieve – in the past year and make resolutions and big goals for the coming year. Yet most of us have it backwards when we go about setting goals. We start with our minds before we connect with our hearts.In this episode of Chain of Learning, you’ll discover what’s missing for most people in our goal-setting culture. If you really want to create a meaningful impact and be more likely to achieve your goals, you need to start first with your intentions.Tune into this episode to learn how to make a shift in your thinking – and your goal-setting process – that will leave you more connected with purpose, fulfilled, and equipped to achieve your goals. You’ll understand how to connect who you want to be so that you are set up for what you want to achieve.In this episode you’ll learn:The difference between goals and intentions The importance of aligning actions in the direction of purpose About the Japanese concept of "kokorozashi" -- a leader's purpose, inner will, and enthusiasmHow a focus only on achieving goals is problematicWhy reflection is the beginning of learning and improvementA reflection exercise that will set you up for greater impactWhy you must align with your intentions before setting goalsHit play now – and be sure to grab a pen and paper to capture your reflections – to make plans on how you will take aligned action that will propel you towards the impact that you want in the coming year!Important Links:Full show notes: http://chainoflearning.com/7 Episode 4 Leading for Impact: The Power of Being Over Doing: http://chainoflearning.com/4 Episode 5 Achieve More by Performing Less with Eduardo Briceño: http://chainoflearning.com/5 Reflections on Intentions And Goals blog post: https://kbjanderson.com/reflections-on-intentions-and-goals/Timestamps00:31: Intention for this episode 02:55: Typical New Year goal setting03:27: Concept of intentions versus goals04:27: Importance of intention in leadership06:48: The difference and connection between goals and intentions08:24: Discovery of Intention = Heart + Direction ®09:52: Japanese concept of 'kokorozashi'12:00: The impact of focusing on goals only14:21: The power of intention in navigating setbacks15:09: The importance of connecting with your purpose17:05: Reflection process for   determining intentions and  goals19:27: Reflection exercise with questions 21:11: Steps for aligning actions with purpose23:35: Identifying and aligning actions for the next year26:06: Dealing with challenges, staying focused and moving forward27:09: Balancing professional and personal goals28:04: Legacy and the concept of intention31:04: Importance of focusing on intentions before goals31:38: Reflection on leadership with intention for the coming year and conclusion Enter to win a copy of "The Problem Solver's Toolkit" by Tracy O'Rourke and Elisabeth Swan by September 12. Apply today for the Japan Leadership Experience — last chance to join the November 2025 cohort. Applications also open for May 2026.

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.

Eduardo Briceño, growth mindset and learning organization expert, discusses the 'Performance Paradox' and how a constant focus on performing actually leads to lower performance. He shares tips on balancing the 'Performance Zone' and the 'Learning Zone', the impact of seeking feedback, and 5 tips to embed growth and learning micro-habits. Additionally, he explores building a high-performing learning culture in organizations.

Explore the concept of 'how to be' rather than 'how to do' in leadership, the power of purpose and being, and the challenges and importance of prioritizing 'being' over 'doing' as a leader. Reflect on purpose and connection, shift from doing to being, and be inspired to join a study trip to Japan and share your learnings on LinkedIn.

Psychologist Carol Dweck discusses the importance of a growth mindset in developing a culture of continuous improvement. They explore the difference between growth and fixed mindsets, the connection between a growth mindset and a Lean mindset, and strategies for creating an environment that embraces growth and learning.

Jamie Parker, a trusted partner for operational leaders and manufacturing executives, discusses the importance of love, empathy, and human connection in creating a thriving organization. They explore fostering a culture of continuous learning, cultivating empathy through listening, creating a team environment of respect and empathy, and the pleasure of reflection and connection for continuous learning.