Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership GA 618 | MORE Is Better with Kathy Miller
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Feb 5, 2026 Kathy Miller, experienced manufacturing leader and author of MORE Is Better, explains how purpose, optimism, and psychological safety change workplace performance. She discusses making high-quality connections, handling toxic leaders, modeling change, personality differences in leadership, and a MORE Mentor AI tool. Short, practical conversations about helping people and organizations thrive.
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Work Becomes Meaningful With Purpose
- Connecting work to a higher purpose reduces drudgery and unlocks discretionary effort.
- Kathy Miller used customer stories to make repetitive manufacturing tasks feel meaningful.
Optimism As A Practical Skill
- Optimism is an explanatory style that frames problems as temporary and specific.
- Pairing optimism with lean tools increases collaboration and sustained improvement.
Ask How, Not Who
- Create environments where people speak up without fear of repercussions.
- Ask how the process allowed failure, not who made the mistake, and offer help.
