Lean Whiskey #32: Employee Engagement Beyond Buying Them Pizza (or Bourbon)

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In Episode 32 of “Lean Whiskey,” Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh have a first… comparing two similar whiskeys from the same distiller. In this case, family-owned Willett and their Willett Pot Still Reserve bourbon and the Johnny Drum bourbon.

We definitely both have our favorite of the two, but you'll have to listen to find out which. We also spend a little time exploring the history of this old brand, their departure, and their recent return to the spirits world. This all happens between NFL conference championship games where neither of our teams are playing. 

We discuss The Great Resignation and all of the many facets… the underlying long-term trends, the short-term adjustments, the data, the causes, and the solutions. Breaking the problem down is important, as there is neither one cause nor one solution. We need to move beyond “jerk bosses” such as seen at Better.com, underappreciation as seemingly demonstrated at former-lean-role-model Thedacare, and bad cultures found in many places. 2022 may finally be the year to truly make employee engagement a real strategic imperative. 

We finish talking about industrial-based movies and shows, such as the new NBC series “American Auto” or the movie “Gung Ho.” Please tell us your favorites… we'd love to hear from you! 

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Links From the Show:

• Willett Pot Still Reserve 
• Johnny Drum Private Stock
• Insights by Jamie January 2022 newsletter 
• Thedacare's employee issues, how it started and how it finished
• Mark interviews the Lean dentist Dr. Sami Bahri in Lean Blog Podcast Episodes 29, 69, and 82
• Some articles may require signup or subscription…
  • New York Times No More Working for Jerks
  • The Economist How to Manage The Great Resignation
• “American Auto” TV Show
• Movie “Gung Ho“
• Movie “Mr. Mom“
• Movie “Tucker“

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Video:

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