Blog post

I'm very excited to announce that my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, has been officially selected as a recipient of the Shingo Publication Award by the Shingo Institute (the home of the Shingo Prize for organizations).

The blog post

I'm excited to be presenting this webinar on February 12th at 1 pm ET as part of the KaiNexus Continuous Improvement webinar series:

The webinar description:

“Are you looking for practical ways to eliminate errors and enhance efficiency in your organization? Join us for “Mistake-Proofing in Action: Real-World Examples Across Industries,” an insightful webinar showcasing how organizations across healthcare, manufacturing, and service sectors have successfully implemented mistake-proofing techniques.

Discover innovative solutions that prevent errors before they occur, improve safety and quality, and save valuable time and resources. Through inspiring case studies and actionable takeaways, you'll learn how to adapt these proven approaches to your unique challenges. Don't miss this chance to gain practical tools and insights to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Register today and see mistake-proofing in action!”

You can also register to win a signed copy of my book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, which has a chapter about preventing mistakes.

Mistake-Proofing in Action: Real-World Examples Across IndustriesEnter to Win!

The blog post

Last Sunday, in Frankfurt, Germany, I took part in a guided walking tour of the city.

Our group included a young professional from Australia in his early 20s. He has taken leave from work to travel, backpacking across Europe.

We had an opportunity to chat over lunch and a local “apfelwein” (hard cider). He lamented his frustrations at work.

He said, “My boss thinks he is giving clear direction to us. Then we do the work our best way… only to be criticized for not understanding the direction.”

Episode page

At its core, Lean is about people–respecting them, empowering them, and ensuring their well-being while driving continuous improvement. Recently, GE Aerospace's Lynn, MA, facility provided an inspiring example of what it means to put these principles into action, even under challenging circumstances.

Read more about this and/or watch a video at this link:

Keep the Line Moving: GE Aerospace's Lynn Facility Is Using FLIGHT DECK to Put Safety First

Episode blog post

A sad but true leadership tale:

“Unlike most CEOs who rely on their executive team to keep them informed, [redacted] relies on his team to keep him feeling good about himself.

And so whenever somebody would tell him something that he didn't know and make it very clear that he wasn't the smartest person in the room on each and every topic, he generally fired them.”

Read the blog post

During Katie Anderson‘s #JapanStudyTrip this past November, a participant shared an observation with me that resonated deeply:

“The biggest challenge is our blame culture. It's easier for people to do nothing because they don't get in trouble.

But if they make a mistake, they get punished.

And our company is successful enough that there's not a compelling reason for top leaders to change the culture.”

This isn't a story from the U.S., but the feeling is universal.

A workplace culture where individuals are punished for mistakes–especially when those mistakes have systemic causes–is a significant barrier to progress.

It's a global challenge, and addressing it requires rethinking how we approach leadership and learning.

Read the blog post: https://www.leanblog.org/2024/11/lost-iphone-japan-taxi-tokyo-kindness-culture/

I'm thrilled to be back in Japan for the first time in five years. Today is the start of Katie Anderson's Japan Study Trip (learn more about joining her in May 2025). It's great to be here for another week of learning and great experiences.

Little did I know, I'd kick off the trip by nearly losing my iPhone on the streets of Tokyo–a mistake that ended up teaching me a valuable lesson about Japan's culture of trust.

The blog post

Just over a week ago, I got back from Katie Anderson's Japan Study Trip. It was amazing! I have so much to write about and share.

But first, Facebook reminded me of something from exactly ten years ago–the second time I visited Japan with the Kaizen Institute.

I asked 2024 ChatGPT to translate this 2014 news story that's pictured below (with me sitting there and taking notes in the front row of the meeting room). See the English text below the image: