I’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in Tokyo
The blog postIn this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads his reflection, “I’m Still Dreaming About My Meal at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s Sushi in Tokyo.”Join Mark as he shares a rare dining experien...
8 Nov 202512min
Fear and Futility: Two Barriers to Improvement (and How Leaders Can Remove Them)
The blog postIn this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban explores two silent killers of improvement—fear and futility—and how leaders can dismantle both to unleash the full potential of their teams.D...
6 Nov 20257min
Leadership, Laughter, and Lean: How a CEO’s Shaved Head Symbolized $7 Million in Improvement
The blog postIn this episode of the Lean Blog Audio podcast, Mark Graban shares a story that perfectly captures the human side of Lean leadership—how a CEO’s shaved head became a powerful symbol of tr...
4 Nov 20255min
Ghosts, Zombies, and Frankenstein Processes: A Lean Halloween Reflection
The blog postHalloween might be about ghosts, zombies, and monsters -- but those same creatures sometimes show up in our organizations all year long. They lurk in old processes, mindless routines, and...
31 Okt 20256min
Leader Standard Work Is About Behavior, Not Just Your Calendar
The blog postToo many organizations treat Leader Standard Work (LSW) as a scheduling tool — a calendar filled with Gemba walks, meetings, and routines. But Lean leadership isn’t about how you plan you...
30 Okt 202513min
Coaching vs. Berating: Lessons from Football for Better Leadership
In this episode, I revisit a classic post—Coaching vs. Berating: Lessons from Football for Better Leadership. The blog postWith Brian Kelly recently fired as LSU’s head coach, it’s worth contrasting...
28 Okt 20255min
Plan, Do, Check, Act… or Plan, Do, Cover Your A**? Leadership Makes the Difference
The blog postIn this solo episode, I explore the contrast between two powerful management cycles — PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) and its dysfunctional cousin, PDCYA (Plan, Do, Cover Your A**).Dr. W. Edw...
18 Okt 20258min
A Look Back at Continuous Improvement at the Bedside: Allina Health Case Study
The blog postIn this audio edition of the Lean Blog, Mark Graban revisits a 2014 case study co-authored with Gregory Clancy about Allina Health’s early Kaizen journey. What began as four pilot units b...
16 Okt 202517min
