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News, articles, books, podcasts, and videos about how to make the workplace better.
Operational Excellence, Improvement, and Innovation
How Virginia Mason's Lean Management System Became a Blueprint for Lasting Success
When it comes to lean management systems, you're either all in or you're wasting your time. Many leaders treat lean management systems as just an add-on to their traditional management approach, ditching the principles as soon as things get tough. But the organizations that truly thrive with lean management understand one key thing: it can't be a side project. It must become THE management system–standardized, continuously improved, and fully ingrained to drive long-term excellence. Virginia Mason Medical Center in Washington has done just that, making lean management the backbone of their operations for over two decades. As a result, they're one of only 12 hospitals to receive 26 consecutive “A” grades in patient safety from the Leapfrog Group. This reliable system has not only helped Virginia Mason stay strong post-pandemic, but it's also survived a CEO change–proving its lasting value and resilience.
Did The Process Actually Change? Process Behaviour Charts Will Tell You
Workplace experimentation is crucial for driving improvement, but operational processes are often too complex to control for all variables, especially the unknown ones. So, how do we separate the meaningful signals from the noise? While ANOVA is useful for identifying whether a specific treatment is having a significant impact, it doesn't pinpoint other factors that might be contributing to variation. In contrast, Dr. Wheeler explains how process behavior charts provide a better way to track both known and unknown factors that influence performance over time.
Spare Me With The Bowling Chart
The “bowling chart” has been a staple in tracking operational improvements for ages, probably because it's simple and can be scribbled by hand on the shop floor. But let's be real: it's time for this outdated relic to retire. Why? Well, bowler charts are guilty of Type I error — making it look like progress has been made when, spoiler alert, it hasn't. Plus, there are way better ways to visualize data. For instance, Christoph Roser suggests upgrading bowler charts with actual data plots, and Mark Graban will happily point out that the Process Behaviour Chart is a far more reliable tool for determining whether improvement is real or just wishful thinking. Here's hoping the bowler chart gets its well-deserved spot in the improvement archives.
Creating a Culture of Improvement
What Dan Pink Got Wrong About “Purpose”
Dan Pink famously asserted in his seminal book on workplace motivation, that people are motivated by three things: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. But does “purpose” require a role that changes the world? Or are people just as motivated just to contribute to something bigger than them? Pink shares here what he got wrong about purpose.
Can Boeing Be Fixed?
Boeing's had its fair share of disasters, and now new CEO Kelly Ortberg seems to be facing a nearly impossible mission–rebuilding shattered trust and “fixing” the company's broken culture. The Wall Street Journal spoke to dozens of experts about what Ortberg needs to do, and, unsurprisingly, the answers are as predictable as they come: lay out a bold long-term vision, prioritize safety above all, and heavily invest in talent. These are all basic principles for any company hoping to succeed, so it's no shock to hear them. The real challenge for Ortberg isn't just repeating these platitudes–it's tackling the root causes of why Boeing strayed from these fundamentals in the first place. But as the article points out, he's running out of time.
A Fresh Look at Strategy
Tiffani Bova interviewed Seth Godin on her podcast last week where they discussed strategy including:
The problem with “false proxies” – measuring and reporting on things that don't drive results.
Your KPIs and initiatives are not your strategy
Why strategy should be developed by a very small number of people, and the tactics, KPIs, and initiatives should be developed with greater input from your people.
James Clear on Decisions
Coaching – Developing Self & Others
The Right Dose of Self-Discipline
It's generally accepted that relying only on self-discipline will not get you to your goals. It doesn't take long before an overly rigid focus on will-power feels too oppressive and you cave to your inner spontaneity. To achieve your goals, find the right dose of self-discipline.
Wanting to Develop Yourself? Try Understanding Your Ideal Self.
A common approach in positive psychology is to imagine an ideal version of yourself in the future. For example, it can be useful to imagine it is 2035 and someone is doing a documentary of your life. What are you doing? These types of exercise can help clarify aspirations. Why the Ideal Self lies at the heart of leadership.
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