Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement
Mark Graban
Lean Blog Audio is a short-form podcast featuring audio versions of articles from LeanBlog.org, written, read, and expanded by Mark Graban.
Each episode explores practical Lean thinking, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and leadership—through real-world examples from healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and other complex work environments.
Topics include learning from mistakes, reducing fear and blame, improving systems, and using data thoughtfully through tools like Process Behavior Charts. Episodes often go beyond the original blog post, adding fresh context and reflections.
Each episode explores practical Lean thinking, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and leadership—through real-world examples from healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and other complex work environments.
Topics include learning from mistakes, reducing fear and blame, improving systems, and using data thoughtfully through tools like Process Behavior Charts. Episodes often go beyond the original blog post, adding fresh context and reflections.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 15, 2015 • 7min
The Original Intent of My GM Standup Meeting
Continuing the“Throwback Thursday” theme for the 10th anniversary of my blog, today’s post looks back at and builds upon one of my favorites from 2007. The post is a “GM War Story” from 1995 when I was just starting my career:
“GM Got Gamed (Or, How to Fudge Your Production Numbers)”
You can hearthat in episode 1 of this podcast - http://www.leanblog.org/audio1
Jan 14, 2015 • 8min
Strategy Deployment as a Series of Hypotheses - Pt 1
It seems to me that a strategy deployment process can be described as a series of hypotheses that are tested over time. Strategy deployment is a high-level annual PDSA cycle that contains embedded PDSA cycles of analysis, improvement, measurement, and adjustment.
http://leanblog.org/audio7
Jan 13, 2015 • 9min
Fear of speaking up is a broader problem,
A post from 1/13/15. Why are healthcare professionals afraid to speak up, in military medicine or other settings?
http://leanblog.org/audio6
Jan 12, 2015 • 9min
Lessons from the Football Coaching and Leadership
A post from 1/12/15, looking at how the two teams in the College Football Playoff championship game are doing some things differently than the way things have always been done.
http://leanblog.org/audio5
Jan 11, 2015 • 8min
GM Got Gamed (Or, How to Fudge Your Production Numbers)
A post from 2007... I was thinking back to some first-hand experience I had when I started my career at a GM engine plant, circa 1995. It’s the most blatant example of someone intentionally distorting data that I’ve ever seen… but it’s totally understandable. I blame the senior leaders, not the front-line supervisor in this case...,
Jan 8, 2015 • 7min
Throwback Thursday: Presenting Lean to Senior
Looking back at two slides Mark used about 10 years when introducing Lean to healthcare executives
http://leanblog.org/audio3
Jan 7, 2015 • 6min
"Four Days With Dr. Deming"
Mark describes some key points from the book "Four Days With Dr. Deming." Learn more at http://www.leanblog.org/audio2
Jan 5, 2015 • 7min
The Little Difference That Turned "No Ideas"
This post is about the small difference that led a nurse supervisor and her team to go from "no ideas" to having lots of ideas. Visit http://www.leanblog.org/audio1 to read the original article
http://www.leanblog.org/audio1
