Shows
The Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E17 - The Magic Behind the Line: Lean Thinking at Disney (Part 2)In this Part 2 conversation, we go deeper into how Disney applies Lean thinking across the park — often in ways guests never consciously notice.
We unpack:
How Disney designs queues to create flow and reduce the feeling of waiting
Mistake proofing and layered safety systems beyond the obvious ride checks
How vertical space, theming, and atmosphere shape the “experience before the experience”
Cast member empowerment, service recovery, and magical moments
How the Disney app quietly load-levels guests, reduces friction, and reshapes park flow
What healthcare, manufacturing, and se...
2026-01-2350 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E16 - Tom West & Mark Ryan - Visual Management That Actually Works - Our Disney ExperienceS2 E16 - Tom West & Mark Ryan - Visual Management That Actually Works - Our Disney Experience
🎙️ Episode Description:
Visual Management - From Strategy Development to Ride Lines at Disney
In this episode of The Improvement Nerds Podcast, Tom and Mark go full nerd on one of their favorite Lean topics: visual management — and then take that lens all the way to Disneyland.
We start by unpacking why effective visual management is more than hanging a board on the wall. At its best, visual management creates a true line of sight between s...
2025-12-0843 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E15 - Jim Benson - Beyond the Board - Making Work More Human📖 Description
In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan welcomes back Jim Benson, creator of Personal Kanban and co-author of The Collaboration Equation.
If you caught their first conversation, you know it was a deep dive into how visualizing work and limiting WIP can transform not just productivity—but how we think and feel about our work. In this follow-up, Jim and Mark go beyond the board, exploring what it truly means to make work more human.
Together they discuss how to connect strategy to action, align teams across levels, and n...
2025-11-0737 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E14 - Jim Benson - Make Work Visible, Make Work BetterTitle: S2 E14 - Jim Benson - Make Work Visible, Make Work Better
Subtitle: Kanban and Lean Coffee to replace chaos with clarity
Description:
Jim Benson—co-creator of Personal Kanban, Shingo Prize winner, and co-founder of Lean Coffee—joins Mark to unpack how visual management and WIP limits reduce overload and create humane, effective teamwork. We trace the origins of Kanban for knowledge work, why “Done” should become “Learn,” and how a Seattle café experiment turned into a global pattern for better conversations and decisions.
Chapters
00:00 Intro — why “make work visible” matters
01:05 M...
2025-10-0435 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E13 - Mark Graban - Nerding Out on a Wide Range of Improvement TopicsMark Graban - A Wide-Ranging Nerd Out with Mark Graban
Welcome back to the Improvement Nerds Podcast!
In this episode, we nerd out with Mark Graban—award-winning author, consultant, speaker, and senior advisor to KaiNexus. Mark has dedicated his career to showing the world that Lean isn’t confined to factory walls. He’s the author of Lean Hospitals, Healthcare Kaizen, Measures of Success, and most recently The Mistakes That Make Us.
Mark also hosts two long-running podcasts: Lean Blog Interviews (now in its 20th year!) and My Favorite Mistake, a storytelling favorite explor...
2025-09-0547 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E12 - Rebecca Ellis - Putting the Fun in FungibilityTitle: S2 E12 - Rebecca Ellis - Putting the FUN in Fungibility, Beyond Cross-Training: The Nerdy Truth About Fungibility
🎧 Description:
What if your org chart wasn't a cage, but a launchpad? In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan sits down with Dr. Rebecca Ellis—organizational design expert and Principal at AlignOrg Solutions—to unpack the concept of fungibility in modern workforce strategy.
Dr. Ellis brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare, manufacturing, and finance to this deep dive on how flexible, compatibility-driven teams can boost employee engagement, agility, and innovation. From br...
2025-08-0739 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E11 - Laura Hayes - Making Accountability Make SenseIn this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan sits down with leadership coach and founder of Ground Rules Coaching, Laura Hayes, to unpack what real accountability looks like—and why it’s often misunderstood. From toxic blame culture to practical tools that drive responsibility, Laura helps us reframe accountability as a path to empowerment, not punishment.
With certifications in Gallup StrengthsFinders, DiSC, Enneagram, The Five Behaviors, and Empathy Training, Laura brings a wealth of insight and heart to the conversation. Whether you’re a team leader, executive, or just trying to show up better at wor...
2025-07-0937 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2_E10 - Chris Hayes - Wired for Excellence, Brain Science to Improve Culture & Change🎧 Podcast Title: Wired for Excellence: The Neuroscience of Change with Chris Hayes
🎙️ Guest: Chris Hayes, Author of Wired for Excellence
🔍 Episode Description:
Don’t miss this fascinating deep dive into the brain science behind organizational change. In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan sits down with Chris Hayes, leadership expert and author of the upcoming book Wired for Excellence, to explore how neuroscience can help us lead better, think clearer, and build cultures that thrive.
Chris explains how our brain’s threat and reward systems, including the amygdala and prefrontal cort...
2025-06-0446 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E9 - Leadership, Bandwidth, and the Brutal Truth About Strategy Execution - featuring: Karen MartinS2 E9 - Leadership, Bandwidth, and the Brutal Truth About Strategy Execution - featuring: Karen Martin
🎙️ Episode Description:
In this episode of Improvement Nerds, we’re joined by renowned improvement expert Karen Martin to dive deep into what really makes strategy deployment work. Forget the pretty posters and endless dashboards—Karen shares hard-earned lessons about how real strategy gets deployed: through leadership habits, managing bandwidth, and building momentum with early wins.
Whether you're new to strategic planning or looking to sharpen your deployment approach, this conversation is packed with actionable insights, real talk, and the kind o...
2025-05-0136 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E8 - Smart Processes, Smarter Tech: Leaning Into AI with Justin Fischgrund📈In this episode of Improvement Nerds, Mark Ryan sits down with Justin Fischgrund—Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, engineer, professor, and patent-holding innovator—to explore where Lean thinking and artificial intelligence collide.
They dig into how AI can complement, not replace, Lean Six Sigma; the importance of data strategy; and how improvement professionals can stay relevant in a tech-driven world. From SIPOC and DMAIC to ChatGPT and predictive analytics, this episode is packed with practical insights, cautionary tales, and some laughs along the way.
Whether you're an AI rookie or a process pro, this convers...
2025-04-1740 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E7 - Nerding Out About Nuggets with David Reid at Chick-fil-AChick-fil-A’s Secret to Efficiency: How They Master Process Improvement | Featuring David Reid
🚀 Ever wondered how Chick-fil-A moves so fast while delivering top-tier customer service? In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, we sit down with David Reid, Director of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Chick-fil-A, to uncover the process improvement, Lean strategies, and customer-first culture that make Chick-fil-A an industry leader.
🎧 Listen in as we cover:
✅ How Chick-fil-A trains 200,000+ employees for service excellence
✅ The secret behind their lightning-fast drive-thru operations
✅ Why process improvement is embedded in their culture
✅ Behind-the-scenes at Chick-fil-A’s...
2025-03-0644 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E6 Lean Leadership & People Centered Processes with Katie AndersonIn this episode of Improvement Nerds, we’re joined by Katie Anderson, lean leadership expert and author of Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. Fresh from her latest study trip to Japan, Katie shares powerful insights on people-centered leadership, continuous improvement, and how strategy deployment connects leaders and frontline teams.
Discover the secrets behind Toyota-inspired practices, the importance of psychological safety, and how to balance technical expertise with transformational leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned Lean Six Sigma practitioner or just starting your improvement journey, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways!
💡 Key Topics C...
2025-02-0436 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E5: The People Factor: Leveraging Job Relations for Sustainable ChangeThe People Factor: Leveraging Job Relations for Sustainable Change
In this episode of the Improvement Nerd Podcast, we dive into Job Relations (JR)—a cornerstone of Training Within Industry (TWI). April Thomas Schmidt, a TWI expert, shares how JR helps leaders build trust, strengthen relationships, and drive sustainable change within organizations.
Learn how Job Relations transforms workplace culture by focusing on people-centered leadership and practical problem-solving techniques. Whether you're tackling resistance to change, improving employee engagement, or looking to create a culture of continuous improvement, this episode is packed with actionable insi...
2024-12-2730 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E4 - Training Within Industry: From World War II to Modern ExcellenceS2 E4 - Training Within Industry: From World War II to Modern Excellence
The Timeless Power of TWI: Building High-Performing Teams Through Training Within Industry
In the world of process improvement, few methodologies have stood the test of time like Training Within Industry (TWI). Born out of necessity during World War II, TWI helped the U.S. ramp up production, train a new workforce, and ultimately achieve success in wartime manufacturing. But what makes TWI even more fascinating is its continued relevance in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world.
In our latest Improvement Nerds po...
2024-12-0230 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E3 - Political Savviness and the Workplace with Betsy JordynKey Topics Discussed:
The Art of Political Savvy
Office politics is often viewed in a negative light, but as Betsy explains, it’s all about balance and perspective. Politics doesn’t have to be toxic—it can actually foster collaboration and drive initiatives forward. She shares how understanding the balance of power and aligning different departments can fuel positive change.
Betsy offers a deep dive into her work at Disney, showing how she balanced the needs of various departments to create the successful “Basics” initiative that’s now taught globally. This case study highlights how political sa...
2024-10-2837 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E2 - From Pooh Bear to Process Mapping with Betsy Jordyn🔍 S2 E2 - From Pooh Bear to Process Mapping: Authenticity in Branding and Improvement | Betsy Jordyn Interview 🎙️
In this insightful episode, branding expert and organizational development (OD) strategist Betsy Jordyn joins us to explore the powerful connection between branding and continuous improvement. Betsy shares her passion for helping individuals and teams express their authentic selves, offering practical tips for branding professionals in process improvement roles. Discover how empathy, political savvy, and relationship-building skills can transform your approach to continuous improvement and drive lasting, impactful change within your organization. 💡
This conversation is packed with actionable advice on how cont...
2024-09-2830 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastS2 E1 - Passing the TorchGet ready for an exciting comeback as Tom West, the mastermind behind the Improvement Nerds podcast, returns from a well-deserved hiatus to introduce a brand-new co-host, Mark Ryan! In this episode, Tom reflects on the heart and soul of the podcast—bringing together passionate guests to geek out over the tools, techniques, and experiences that drive real improvement.
But that's not all! Tom’s buzzing with excitement about the fresh direction the podcast is taking and the addition of a stellar new team member. Tune in as Tom and Mark share their epic journey of friendship, from Lean...
2024-08-2924 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastBonus Episode - More on Leadership Speech Acts with Mary AndrawisIf you listened to Episode 40, in which Mary Andrawis and I explore the topic, and nerd out a bit about Leadership Speech Acts, you probably sensed that we had a lot more that we wanted to talk about. And you'd be right.
In this bonus episode Mary and I revisit Leadership Speech Acts and dive a bit deeper sprinkling in a few complimentary topics such as "Yes, and...", "Loose/Tight", "Power of Choice", and "Assuming Positive Intent".
As Mary puts it, "our words can help shape the future if we use th...
2021-04-191h 06The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 40 - Leadership Speech Acts with Mary Andrawis of Serafina Health StrategyIn Episode 40, Mary Andrawis and I explore the topic, and nerd out a bit about Leadership Speech Acts. As Mary puts it, "our words can help shape the future if we use them intentionally."
In this Episode we explore the four common speech acts of...
declarations
attestations and assessments
requests and offers
acknowledgments
This is an episode you will want to listen to again in again.
Mary A. Andrawis, Pharm.D., M.P.H. is Founder and President of Serafina Health Strategy. She has more than 20 years of experience in quality improvement and...
2021-03-301h 10The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 39 - Hire By Design with Jodi BrandstetterIn Episode 39, I have the great privilege of nerding out with the bestselling author, Jodi Brandstetter as we discuss how the improvement method, Design Thinking can be applied to HR - helping to identify, recruit, onboard, and retain top talent.
Jodi Brandstetter, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is passionate about being an entrepreneur that focuses on providing talent acquisition strategies to businesses, career guidance, and training and development.
With 20 years of Human Resources, Recruiting, and Talent experience, Jodi provides expertise in recruitment and sourcing strategies including online and passive sourcing, social media, grassroots, and high-volume recruiting. Jodi uses de...
2021-03-081h 02The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 38 - Becoming an Improvement Nerds Generalist with AJ HobbsIn Episode 38, AJ Hobbs and I discuss the multiple ways an belt can add value to an organization. During our conversation we discuss the advantages of becoming a generalist when it comes to improvement. We can appreciate that there are two sides to this coin, generalizing vs. specializing. We do tip our hats to the specialists, but we don't necessarily nerd out about that. Instead we dive deep on becoming an Improvement Nerd Generalist, while discussing what it is like to go to grad school during a crisis.
We also take a walk down memory lane, as...
2021-02-111h 12The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 37 - Nerding Out About Process Mapping with Craig Willis of SkoreIn Episode 37, I nerd out with Craig Willis of Skore (www.getskore.com) about the importance of process mapping. Per Craig, organization's need to make mapping processes as simple as having a conversation. In fact, that is Craig's personal mission, to help organizations map at the speed of conversation.
Craig's goal is to make process mapping and analysis easy and accessible so that anyone can do it. Providing insights and process maps to your process improvement team so they can focus on fixing the gnarly problems. Creating a common language and simple taxonomy for the o...
2021-01-251h 11
Excellence In Healthcare Podcast098: Thomas West LSSMBB, CMQ/OE Improvement Nerd & PodcasterSend a textAfter years of trying to lead individuals through change by telling people what to do, how to do it, and why to do it, Tom received feedback that shook his world. He realized he was doing it all wrong. Although the teams he led were getting results, one thing was obvious, they weren't having fun and there was no passion.By committing to starting with why and helping people to experience joy at work, Tom has been blessed to see transformational change happen at the individual level and organizational level. As Tom puts it, "change...
2020-12-221h 28
The Healthcare QualityCastThomas West LSSMBB, CMQ/OE Improvement Nerd & PodcasterAfter years of trying to lead individuals through change by telling people what to do, how to do it, and why to do it, Tom received feedback that shook his world. He realized he was doing it all wrong. Although the teams he led were getting results, one thing was obvious, they weren't having fun and there was no passion.By committing to starting with why and helping people to experience joy at work, Tom has been blessed to see transformational change happen at the individual level and organizational level. As Tom puts it, "change is a...
2020-12-221h 28The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 36 - Nerding Out About Wabi Sabi with Mindi EpsteinIn Episode 36, guest Minid Epstein gives the Improvement Nerds audience permission to be their authentic selves. To embrace their imperfections and to go forward even when you don't have it all figured out.
By practicing Wabi Sabi, you learn to see the beauty in imperfection, no longer allowing perfection to get in your way of becoming who you were meant to be.
Through her work as a successful business owner, nonprofit leader and passionate archeologist, Mindi Epstein has inspired women around the globe to live life on their own terms. She is the...
2020-12-1158 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 35 - Designing Your Career with Marla HoldreadHave you found yourself at a career crossroads and not known what to do?
In Episode 35, Marla Holdread shares that the best thing to do when at a career crossroad, is to think like a designer. Her advice is to stay curious, to be willing to experiment, to reframe the problem, and to collaborate.
Marla Holdread is an executive coach, career strategist, and founder of Shift Leadership. Her passion is to help senior leaders and professionals shift into the next level of career success.
Marla created her unique methodology and coaching program, The C...
2020-12-0756 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 34 - Nerding Out About the Best Places to Work with Angie RedmonIn Episode 34 I have the chance to nerd out with Angie Redmon about some of the strategies that an organization can employ to help improve their work culture, while embarking on a journey to become one of the Best Places to Work.
Angie works with companies who aspire to have an award-winning workplace distinction. You’ve heard of these, I’m sure—Best Workplaces, Top Workplaces, Best Banks, etc. She has 15 best workplaces awards under her belt, and now she guides companies through the process of pursuing their own.
Angie also provides 1:1 HR mentoring and runs a...
2020-11-2959 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 33 - Nerding Out About Servant Leadership with Tom CreaEpisode 33 is timely for two reasons. One is that the episode is about servant leadership, an important topic considering the current amount of uncertainty in our world. And the other reason is that the episode airs shortly after Veterans Day. Our guest Tom Crea, joins us and nerds out with us about his years of service and the lessons he learned about serving others.
A key concept from this episode is that serving others through love and purpose leads to superb outcomes. On Tom's website he shares...
“Companies that did business from a fou...
2020-11-2151 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 32 - Nerding Out About Streaking with Jami and Jeffery DownsEpisode 32 is so streaking awesome. Join me, Jami Downs, and Jeffrey Downs as we nerd out about streaking - not the streaking you're thinking.
This streaking includes creating a "be statement", setting a goal, and then streaking your way toward improvement.
This episode celebrates the idea of becoming who you want to be through consistent conscious actions done daily, weekly, or monthly or through Streaking.
Jami Downs is a mother, leader, teacher, and passionate volunteer. Her love of teenagers and desire to empower girls with confidence has insp...
2020-11-081h 17The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 31 - Nerding Out About Design Thinking and Agile with Sheena BirtHow many creative types do you know that can nerd out about Design Thinking and Agile Project Management?
Yeah, not many.
My guest for Episode 31, Sheena Birt, does that and opens the door for how combining the best of left-braining thinking and right-brain thinking can lead to awesome design in an organized, repeatable way.
Sheena Birt is the owner of Color Story Studio. She partners with businesses to improve their in-person guest experience through visual displays, custom lighting, and installations. Sheena is passionate about helping business owners grow their reach and revenue by c...
2020-10-161h 04The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 31 Teaser - Design Thinking in an Agile WayHow many creative types do you know that can nerd out about Design Thinking and Agile Project Management?
Yeah, not many.
My guest for Episode 31, Sheena Birt, does that and opens the door for how combining the best of left-braining thinking and right-brain thinking can lead to awesome design in an organized, repeatable way.
2020-10-1603 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 30 - Nerding Out About Culture in the Workplace with Mike BensiIn Episode 30, Mike Bensi and I nerd out about the importance of culture in the workplace. As we dive deep on the topic we talk about the importance of routinely assessing culture and studying what the key drivers of culture might be. In Mike's experience there are many things that impact culture, but the big ones are:
trust in leadership
communication
clarity of goal
opportunity to contribute and make an impact
having the resources you need to do your job
opportunities for growth and development
Mike helps organizations build strategies that transform their culture and e...
2020-09-2852 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastBonus Episode - Nerding Out About Becoming a Black Belt with Laura Pullen McMichaelIn this Bonus Episode with Laura Pullen McMichael we nerd out about journey of becoming a Certified Black Belt through ASQ. As we reflect on our individual journeys to certify we talk about study strategy, preparing for the exam, passing the exam, and applying our new knowledge to help drive improvement.
If you have ever asked yourself, any of these questions...
"What is a Black Belt?"
"Should I get my Black Belt?"
"What type of value does a Black Belt bring?"
Then this episode is fo...
2020-09-2243 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 29 - Nerding Out About Extreme Ownership with Amy WoodallIn Episode 29, I nerd out with Amy Woodall about the idea of Extreme Ownership. In Amy's words, "Extreme Ownership is about owning your 50. It is about accepting that in any situation you are 50% of the problem and 50% of the solution."
In this episode we dive deep on Extreme Ownership, but we also nerd out about The Dreaded Drama Triangle, leadership, parenting, and self-awareness.
Amy has spent the last 15 years in the world of customer service and sales. She works with companies globally to improve their performance in sales, service and leadership. In...
2020-09-1550 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 28 - Nerding Out About Healing Healthcare with Sarah HarkerIn this episode, Sarah brings her global health experience, travel nursing experience, and passion for caring for the caregiver to the table as we envision how much better healthcare could be if we provided healthcare professionals the space they need to practice self-care.
I struggle to summarize this episode because we touch on so much. We talk a bit about the struggles and excitement of starting a business. The heartache of watching people wrestle with burnout. The importance of morning routines. And the hope of the good things that can happen when people show up m...
2020-08-311h 09The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 27 - Nerding Out About Authentic Connections with LindsayTjepkemaIn Episode 27 I nerd out with Lindsay Tjepkema about the importance of making authentic connections as a leader, as a business, and as a brand. In this episode Lindsay shares strategies on how leaders and organization's can establish trust while building a strong relationships that will drive engagement and loyalty.
Lindsay Tjepkema is the CEO and co-founder of Casted, the first and only marketing platform built around branded podcasts. With more than 15 years of experience in B2B marketing, including running her own consulting agency, she’s a dynamic leader who’s had tremendous success building and...
2020-08-231h 05The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 26 - Nerding Out About Wellness with Erica BallardEpisode 26 dives deep on the concept that you have to be well before you can have the energy to enact lasting change in your career, your family, your health, in others, etc. In Erica's words, for a person to have whole wellness they need to focus on 6 key things: what they eat, how much they sleep, how they move, what is their purpose, what is their community, and spirituality.
Erica is the founder of Erica Ballard Health – a wellness company that optimizes individuals’ energy through food. Erica started her company after realizing health looks way diffe...
2020-08-091h 20The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 25 - Nerding Out About Culture with Jeff VeyeraIn Episode 25 Jeff Veyera and I nerd out about the importance of addressing culture as part of any change or improvement initiative. In this episode we dive deep on culture, engagement, process improvement, and Quality 4.0.
Jeff Veyera is a 25 year quality professional, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Senior Member of the American Society for Quality with multi-industry experience. Air Force Academy graduate and former Air Force logistics officer. Author of "Culture Is Everything".
To learn more about Jeff and to follow his journey please connect with him through social media.
2020-08-021h 24The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 24 - Nerding Out About Innovation with Lori LovensIn Episode 24 I nerd out with Lori Lovens about people's natural instincts to innovate or to stay the same.
Lori is a dynamic innovator who delivered hundreds of millions of dollars of product innovation growth for Gatorade and other global brands. Her deep understanding of innovation, from ideation through commercialization, was developed over the past 25 years via immersion in hundreds of cross-functional projects as team member, project leader, marketing director, innovation coach, consultant, and VP Culture of Innovation.
At Innovation Savvy, Lori is leading the emerging field of The Human Dynamics of...
2020-07-261h 12The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 23 - Nerding Out About Communities of Excellence with Stephanie NorlingIn Episode 23, Stephanie Norling and I connect to discuss the ins and outs of the Communities of Excellence program sponsored by Baldrige. The Communities of Excellence program is a framework that is used by self-defined communities to help them define their approach to leadership, establish a strategy for their community, and implement their plan while tracking results.
Stephanie Norling has been Director of Communities of Excellence 2026 since 2014. In her roles as Director, Stephanie participated in the development of the Communities of Excellence Criteria, adapted from the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and launched a National L...
2020-07-121h 00The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 22 - Nerding Out and Taking Steps Toward Improved Emotional Intelligence with Gerald BushIn Episode 22, Gerald Bush, and I get down and dirty about Emotional Intelligence. Specifically, what is it, why its important, and how individuals can strengthen their EQ.Per Gerald, Emotional Intelligence in leaders, and environments that are psychologically safe to take risks go hand in hand. We hope you enjoy the episode.
As Chief EQ Officer and founder of GBKB Consulting, Gerald provides HR support, leadership development and coaching to diverse organizations. Gerald is an influential and highly successful Emotional Intelligent (EQ) and Human Resource Consultant with over 15 years of experience.
Gerald delivers consultative HR...
2020-07-061h 17The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 21 - Nerding Out About Standardizing Then Scaling with Jeanette RenshawIn episode 21, Jeanette Renshaw, from Smart Scale Consulting, and I nerd out hard core about the importance of standardizing first, then scaling second. Some of the other things we nerd out about include systems thinking, the Goal, pizza trackers, and inspection.
Jeanette is true improvement nerd, she is a problem solver with a passion to help companies achieve repeatable, predictable, and profitable results in order to scale revenue and optimize their business - specifically focusing on the sales function.
Rooted in the belief that there is no neutral in business, Jeanette helps companies translate their...
2020-06-281h 12The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 20 - Nerding Out Igniting the Fire Starter Within with Jason BarnabyIn Episode 20, Jason Barnaby and I nerd out hardcore about helping people to address self-doubt and to take the first steps toward doing what they are passionate about. As Jason puts it, he wants to "Torch Fear and Ignite Hope." Which is the mission of the company he founded, Fire Starters, Inc.
These days, achieving his mission of #IgniteHope and #TorchFear means working with executive teams to accelerate THRU the firestorm of the New Now and navigate TO the New Normal. To create a better and more meaningful life on the other side of change.
...
2020-06-221h 19The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 19 - Nerding Out About Fatherhood with Ryan SullivanIn this episode Ryan Sullivan and I nerd out about creating and building community that empowers each of us to explore and to be our whole, authentic selves. Especially as parents.
Ryan shares his passion about being a father (loving his wife and daughter and soon to arrive newborn with a whole heart), growing his Christian faith, creating a fulfilling career, and staying athletically competitive.
Ryan is the founder of Fatherhood On Fire, an organization that Celebrates, Elevates, and Encourages men embracing their role as fathers.
Ryan studied Social Studies Education at Indiana...
2020-06-131h 02The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 18 - Nerding About Giving with KJ McGlinnIn episode 18, I nerd out with KJ McGlinn about the importance of having a servant's heart and giving. Per KJ, "those that give, get". Regardless of the size of the gift.
As a representative of the Make A Wish organization, KJ helps to bring dreams to life for patients and families facing medical complications. KJ does this by building a community of people who are passionate about granting wishes and providing patients and families with hope.
In this episode KJ shares some of her best practices for building a community, for celebrating success, and leading...
2020-06-0858 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 17 - Nerding Out About Flow and Spiral Impact with Karen ValencicIn Episode 17, I nerd out with Karen Valencic about managing conflict and creating flow through her leadership approach called Spiral Impact.
Karen Valencic is founder Spiral impact, a Performance Improvement Company specializing in leadership and team development. As a degreed-tenured engineer, effectiveness and practicality informs her work; 30 years of aikido training brings the artistic flare and power to her content. Karen works with leaders and teams through speaking, coaching and consulting.
In times of accelerated change and disruption, peoples’ lagging ability to adapt opens Pandora’s Box for destructive conflict, burnout, and division. In her rece...
2020-06-011h 08The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 16 - Nerding Out About Mental Wealth with Jeremiah ReedIn Episode 16, Jeremiah and I nerd out about his upcoming book Mental Wealth. Mental Wealth is Jeremiah's approach for helping others achieve financial well-being and freedom.
Jeremiah, who grew up a region kid, has overcome the circumstances of a poor school system, having a kid at an early age, and $210,711 worth of debt. Now, Jeremiah has dedicated himself to changing the mindset of others and to help them defeat their financial issues and much more.
Jeremiah's Mental Wealth Academy teaches a 5-Step Process to help individuals change their relationship with money.
Purpose
Plan
People
...
2020-05-2537 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastBonus Episode - Nerding Out about the Book Hidden Brilliance with Author Katie RasoulWhy not have two episodes with Katie Rasoul?
In a follow up to Katie's full episode, I wanted to create a bonus episode were all we do is get nerdy about her amazing book Hidden Brilliance: A High-Achieving Introvert's Guide to Self-Discovery, Leadership, and Playing Big.
In this bonus episode Katie and I try our best to provide a brief recap of her book. We talk about what it feels like to carry the weight of being a high-achiever. We also talk about imposter syndrome and having an internal Board of Directors. Lastly, we...
2020-05-2139 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 15 - Nerding Out About Belonging at Work with Katie RasoulEpisode 15 is a must listen to episode about the importance of creating psychological safety at work. My guest, Katie Rasoul shares a masterful story about how organization’s need to strive to give people more than a job. That they need to give them a purpose.
Katie is a leadership coach, keynote speaker and team culture expert helping leaders change the world through her company, Team Awesome. She has led leadership, organizational development and HR best practices for more than a decade, including serving as Vice President of Human Resources for a nearly $4 billion publicly traded company....
2020-05-1859 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 14 - Nerding Out About The Leadership Challenge with Andrea ButcherJoin Andrea Butcher and I for Episode 14 as we nerd out about The Leadership Challenge. Highlighting the specific behaviors that help to create an effective leader.
Andrea is a visionary—she knows how to lead organizations from big picture to execution. She is a dynamic speaker, coach, and facilitator. As the President of HRD, she leads the organization’s growth strategy and focuses on executive leadership development.
Andrea’s work spans organizations of all sizes and industries all over the world; she has experience in global HR positions, consulting, and executive roles for private and public...
2020-05-1144 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 13 - Nerding Out About Mindfulness with Shelley Brown from ROI MindfulnessIn Episode 13, Shelley Brown and I nerd out about mindfulness, among other topics -
empathy, leadership, self-awareness, compassion, and meditation.
Shelley Brown is a Baltimore based mindfulness speaker, webinar, in-person workshop facilitator and the founder of ROI Mindfulness. She facilitates workshops around the United States with leaders from Executive Committee to front-line managers from a variety of industries.
As a corporate veteran, Shelley’s mission is to make the invitation to the practice as accessible and inclusive as possible. Her practical approach appeals to seasoned practitioners, those who may be exploring the practice as well as...
2020-05-0454 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 12 - Nerding Out About Process Based Management with Travis LozierEpisode 12 with Travis Lozier was a lot of fun to create. In this episode Travis and I discuss Process Based Management and celebrate the forward-thinking organizations that view their processes as assets.
Travis is the Chief Quality Officer at Jordan Johnson Inc. Travis's personal mission is to unlock human potential.
Travis claims to be a 100% Certified Improvement Nerd and he has the credentials to prove it. Travis has nearly 20 years of healthcare leadership experience. He is a Certified ASQ Master Black Belt, Project Management Professional, Scrum Master, Certified Business Process Professional.
We didn't...
2020-04-2749 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 11 - Nerding Out with Emily Bopp and Dane DeLozier about Enable Management SystemsDuring this episode, Emily and Dane nerd out with me about their process improvement approach, called Enable Management Systems.
The Enable Management System is all about helping everyone in the organization to unite around common goals, while engaging in routine dialog about what is working and what is not working. This is a true passion for Emily and Dane. As you listen in, I think you will see why.
Dane DeLozier is passionate about implementing Enable™ - a proven model for execution. Through the course of 25 years' in progressive leadership positions in technology and manufacturing co...
2020-04-2057 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastBonus Episode - Nerding Out about Lean Coffee with Mark RyanNerding out with Mark Ryan about Lean Coffee was a lot of fun. For several years now, Mark Ryan and Sarah White have been hosting Lean Coffee session in Indianapolis, Indiana. The focus of the sessions are to help bring improvement professionals together to connect, share, and learn.
I encourage you t connect with Mark Ryan on LinkedIn. And, to stay up to date on all the Lean Coffee Indy activities by sure to follow the hashtag #leancoffeeindy and join the LinkedIn group, Lean Coffee Indy. Also, Sarah White, is a huge part of Lean Coffee Indy...
2020-04-1726 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 10 - Nerding Out with Jacqueline Martinez About the Future of HRIn this episode in #nerdout with a fellow #improvementnerd, Jacqueline Martinez. Be warned, this gets really nerdy, really fast as Jacqueline starts the episode out by talking about the value that HR can create in an organization. As she shares this summary, she talks about the way HR functions as an end-to-end value stream, what she calls "hire to retire".
Jacqueline gets way outside of the traditional silos of HR - which is often a collection of different departments with very different goals.... the recruiting department manages the job website, job posts, and paperwork to hire people...
2020-04-1350 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 9 - Nerding Out with Eric Eicher about a Designer's MindsetIn this episode, I nerd out with Eric Eicher, co-owner of RightHAND, a consulting company that helps organizations through creative storytelling, brand strategy, and problem definition.
2020-04-0659 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 8 - Nerding Out with Nick Smarrelli About Creating a Values-Driven CultureJoin me as I #nerdout with Nick Smarrelli, CEO of GadellNet. As Nick Smarrelli puts it, "creating a culture that is values-driven is the responsibility for every leader".
Organization's values can't be complex, or un-actionable. And that they can't just be a collection of words posted on the wall. Values should serve as the organization's compass. Values should be role modeled by everyone interaction. Values should be integrated. Most importantly, values should be the things that unite people together when times are tough, or when an organization is facing uncertainty.
For Nick and the GadellNet...
2020-03-3044 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 7 - Nerding Out with Julie Kratz About Diversity and InclusionJoin Julie Kratz and I as we Nerd Out about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion, and a hope for a better and brighter future.
2020-03-2257 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 6 - Nerding Out with Amanda Cross About Living Content, Collaborative Authorship, and Becoming a Learning OrganizationIn Episode 6 Amanda Cross and I sit down a discuss how her work has a technical writer has changed over the last 15 years. In this conversation Amanda promotes the importance of becoming a learning organization through sharing knowledge and best practices to elevate everyone's performance.
2020-03-131h 01The Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 5 - Nerding Out About Everything Communication with Alex PerryIn this episode Alex Perry asks one of the hardest questions I have ever been asked. "What improvement or important change has ever happened absent of good communication?". I was stumped. Still am actually.
During this episode, you will see that Alex is a ball of energy. Her path to becoming a professional coach, like most, was not a straight line. In fact, before starting her consulting business, Alex was working bedside with patients as a speech language pathologist. Along the way, Alex felt a nudge, and then a louder less subtle nudge to pivot her career...
2020-03-0947 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 4 - Nerding Out About the HSPI2020 Conference with Laura Pullen McMichaelThis past week LP and I had the pleasure of attending the Health Systems Process Improvement conference in Savannah, Georgia. In this episode we nerd out about the conference and share some of our key takeaways.
2020-03-0256 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 3 - Nerding Out About the Enneagram with Rachel PritzRachel shares her journey as she nerds out about the Enneagram and how she became an Enneagram coach and personal advisor.
Whether you have been typed or have never heard of the tool before - this episode is for you. Rachel gets down and dirty while highlighting some resources to help you get back to your authentic self.
Rachel spent 17 years in healthcare as a bedside nurse and executive. She discovered her passion for growing and developing others through her own personal growth journey. She holds a Master’s Degree in Nursing, is a Certified Li...
2020-03-0139 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 2 - InfluencersJoin us for Episode 2 as Travis Lozier and I discuss the people who have influenced us and helped us to grow as people. Without these mentors we would have had to figure out a lot of things on our own - and that would have been disastrous, because let's be honest, we were and still are a project.
As Travis and I share in this episode, the two of us have known each other for almost 20 years. We initially met in college and had a lot of growing up to do. Thankfully we both were college athletes...
2020-02-2432 minThe Improvement Nerds PodcastEpisode 1 - The Big PictureJoin us for Episode 1 as Travis Lozier and I get the ball rolling on this podcast idea we are calling the Improvement Nerds Podcast. The production isn't perfect, but it is definitely nerdy.
We were so excited to be embarking on this journey, that we weren't going to let perfect be the enemy of good. So we hit the record button and just started talking about the vision behind the Improvement Nerds podcast.
In this episode we highlight the "Why" behind the podcast and why I changed my LinkedIn profile to Improvement Nerd.
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2020-02-1914 min