Mark Graban
Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker, and podcaster with experience in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups.
Mark's new book is The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation.
He is also the author of Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More, the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, and the anthology Practicing Lean.
Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.
Optimizing System Flow for Better Patient Outcomes: Lessons from New London...
When it comes to delivering life-saving care, optimizing the entire system--not just individual components--can make all the difference. This principle is exemplified by the...
Whose Fault Is It Anyway? The Case for Learning Over Blaming
In workplaces and beyond, mistakes are inevitable. The way we handle them, however, makes all the difference. A New Yorker cartoon I recently came...
Learn From My 100€ ATM Mistake in Germany
I believe in sharing mistakes for the purpose of learning. Like everyone else, I'm far from perfect, and mistakes are part of my journey....
An Aussie Backpacker’s Workplace Frustration: The Universal Need for Better Leadership
Last Sunday, in Frankfurt, Germany, I took part in a guided walking tour of the city.
Our group included a young professional from Australia in...
Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Keep Moving Forward
Let's commemorate today's national holiday for Dr. King with a look back at my post from 2012:
A Lean Lesson from Dr. Martin Luther King,...
Lost in Translation: Does Lean Jargon Hinder Communication and Clarity?
Does jargon--or Japanese terms like 'Hoshin Kanri'--get in the way of clear communication in your organization?
It reminds me of the classic Saturday Night Live...
Leadership Gone Wrong: The Cost of Prioritizing a CEO’s Ego Over...
A sad but true leadership tale:
"Unlike most CEOs who rely on their executive team to keep them informed, relies on his team to...
From Noise to Clarity and Focus: How KaiNexus Learned to Focus...
When I first began working with KaiNexus a long time ago, I was excited to find opportunities to share methods that had been transformative...
Why Thinking and Action Matter More Than Templates in Lean
A key takeaway from Katie Anderson's Japan Study Trip resonated deeply with me: thinking and action are far more important than templates. This insight,...
Safety First: GE Aerospace’s Lynn Facility Demonstrates True Lean Leadership
At its core, Lean is about people--respecting them, empowering them, and ensuring their well-being while driving continuous improvement. Recently, GE Aerospace's Lynn, MA, facility...
Top 5 Takeaways from my KaiNexus Webinar “Psychological Safety: A Precondition...
In my 2023 KaiNexus webinar, I explored the critical intersection of Psychological Safety and Continuous Improvement. Here are the top five takeaways that summarize...
Wisdom from a Fortune Cookie: Succeeding via Obstacles and Failures
Sometimes, wisdom comes wrapped in unexpected packaging--like a fortune cookie. Recently, my friend Alan Wikler, Psy.D., came across one with a simple yet profound...
