This week’s guest is Evan Unger. Ron and Evan discussed what often goes wrong in meetings, especially high-stakes meetings, as well as practical tips for making meetings successful. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  The quote Evan likes (2:03) His background (2:39) What Evan sees is going wrong with meetings (6:52) Knowing your “Why?” (9:50) The role of facilitation skills (10:34) The role of the personality of the leader (12:30) Examples of organizations that do it well (13:51) Practical tips for getting better (15:23) Advice for practitioners (18:50) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Evan on LinkedIn Evan on Schwartz + Associates Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? What is your take on meetings? What makes them successful?

This week’s guest is Ricky Shoop. Ron and Ricky discussed the concept of magnanimity, what it means to be a magnanimous leader, examples of magnanimous historical figures, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  The quote Ricky likes (3:01) His background and goals (4:20) What magnanimity is (6:07) How it relates to harmony, integrity, etc (9:40) An example of someone demonstrating magnanimity (13:54) What it means to be winsome (16:35) How to culture a mindset of magnanimity when things are hard (18:44) Whether a business can be magnanimous (26:11) Humility and magnanimity (32:57) Examples of magnanimous historical figures (36:05) Final words of wisdom (41:45) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Lumin Counseling Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? What does being magnanimous look like to you?

This week’s guest is Malti Bhojwani. Ron and Malti discussed personal and professional transformations, different types of motivation, the importance of having a good work/life balance, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  The quote Malti likes (4:19) Her background (7:48) Her takes on personal transformation (10:30) Intrinsic vs. external motivation (13:12) Another quote Malti likes (16:04) KPIs vs. KPAs (18:02) Examples of personal growth leading to organizational impact (18:52) Handling behavior you can’t accept (22:16) Other insights Malti has gained from her consulting work (23:47) What happens when you “inherit” a team (27:47) The importance of work/life balance (30:14) Malti’s parting thoughts (34:17) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Malti’s Website Malti on LinkedIn Malti on YouTube Malti on Amazon Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? Have you witnessed someone’s personal growth impact an entire organization? How so?

This week’s guest is Chad Senkowski. Ron and Chad discussed martial arts, Chad’s podcast The Journey, coaching, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  The quote that Chad likes (2:26) His background (3:21) How martial arts relates to continuous improvement (4:51) Why he started a podcast (6:11) The angle of the podcast (8:16) The guests that have impacted him the most (11:02) Why his passion is hands on training and coaching (16:00) His advice for those just getting started (16:28) His routine (17:57) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Chad on LinkedIn Ron’s Episode on The Journey Motivate Multimedia on LinkedIn Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? Where else can you draw parallels with continuous improvement?

This week’s guest is Clint West. Ron and Clint discussed MacDonald & Owen’s lean journey, the state of lean in the lumber industry, navigating biases, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  The quote Clint likes (4:57) How he sees bias as an obstacle (6:43) His background (8:34) The progression of his career (11:44) What Clint feels he has done well and not done well (13:25) What Clint is trying to improve (17:49) The benefits of lean at MacDonald & Owen (20:34) The state of lean in their industry (22:18) The hardest part of his job as CEO (25:20) His advice for those at the beginning of their careers (30:26) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 MacDonald & Owen’s Website GA 514 | Turning the Tables on Ron with Clint West Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How do you navigate biases at your organization?

This week’s guest is Ahmed Radwan. Ron and Ahmed discussed engagement, what it means to build a “lighthouse,” sustaining kaizen efforts, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  Ahmed’s favorite quote (2:25) His background (3:28) The challenges he’s faced (8:15) How to sustain kaizen efforts (13:52) Keeping people engaged (15:03) Building a “lighthouse” (19:30) How lean has impacted Ahmed personally (20:13) His struggle with humility (24:32) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Ahmed on LinkedIn Kaizen Made Easy on YouTube Kaizen Made Easy on LinkedIn Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How do you keep people engaged in your kaizen efforts?

This week’s guest is Kurt Sears. Ron and Kurt discussed continuous improvement at Dollar Shave Club, happiness versus joy, the power of living out your beliefs, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  The quote that Kurt likes (2:29) His background (5:47) The continuous improvement environment at Dollar Shave Club (7:37) His two statement philosophy (9:10) How bias plays a role in the culture (9:38) Happiness vs. joy (13:05) His take on stoicism (18:31) The role of leadership in a culture of continuous improvement (21:44) Advice for fostering project success (25:11) Kurt’s final advice (31:06) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Kurt on LinkedIn Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? What are your thoughts on stoicism?

This week’s guest is Matthew Townsend. Ron and Matthew discussed what a broken process looks like, what happens when you automate waste, how to identify and remove it, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  Matthew’s favorite quote (3:09) His background (3:54) Defining a “broken” process (8:28) Examples in manufacturing (13:58) The other issues that surface when you automate waste (17:30) Tips for identifying and removing automated waste (19:57) Specific mapping techniques for a front office environment (22:07) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Matthew on LinkedIn Sparc Engineers Sparc Engineers on LinkedIn Sparc Industries on Instagram Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? Describe a time you automated a bad or broken process.

Guest Zack Estes, a business coaching expert, discusses applying lean in non-manufacturing contexts and the five functions of business. Topics include operationalized frameworks, making work visible, AI implications, learning from books, and personal growth.

This week’s guest is Jason Henderson. Ron and Jason discussed what managing expectations looks like, scientific thinking, dealing with negativity, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:  The quotes that Jason likes (2:25) His background (4:21) How he discovered lean (8:46) What managing expectations means to Jason (10:04) Some examples (12:48) How Jason deals with negativity (18:32) Advice for anyone who is struggling (21:45) What Jason would tell his younger self (23:39) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Jason on LinkedIn Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? What does managing expectations mean to you?