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Grasping Your Current Condition: I don’t know how!
The Challenge We were in the planning stages of new Improvement Kata story board in a small outpatient doctor’s office. I was coaching the coach, a director was in the coach role and the manager of the clinic, Ellen, was in the learner role. Ellen was...
There is nothing we can do…now what?
Daily Huddle I recently attended a daily communication huddle at an inpatient nursing unit. I was coaching one of the leaders in meeting a challenge related to getting all care team members to have the same understanding of each patient’s plan of care and expected discharge...
Imagining what is possible: The first step of improvement
Possibility The Life Coach School podcast is on my regular listening rotation as I always like to hear what uber-successful coach Brooke Castillo has to say. On episode number 221, she talks about possibility and imagination. Brooke’s point is that when you talk to kids and young...
Toyota Kata: How to Get Started Using These 4 Tips
Over the past few years, when I talk about or present my experience in practicing Toyota Kata, I am often asked, how do I get started? Here’s my advice on the four things you need to know before starting to practice: MINDSET The most important thing you need...
Lean Leadership: Remove Barriers or Develop People? Need a Do-Over.
What value do you add? Whenever I start working with a leader or a leadership team, I always ask the question, what value do you add in this organization? The responses are often surprising. At a recent healthcare client, some said they add value by promoting...
I Guess That’s On Me: The Journey of One Toyota Kata Coach
The Coach Diane is a vice president at a large community hospital. Several hundred people report to her. Her days are scheduled from 7a-5pm. She is a go-getter, a top-performer, well-respected, young, and highly effective. Therefore, when she saw other leaders in the organization getting results...
Serving vs. Pleasing
“People often confuse serving people with pleasing people. The Owner mindset is serving, and the Victim mindset is pleasing.” I heard this quote from Steve Chandler recently, author of The Prosperous Coach and Time Warrior, and I thought, ‘Wow! What a great concept’ and then, which one am I? I knew...
Beyond the Textbook: What a Life Coach Taught Me About Leader Standard Work
Since I began working as a continuous improvement practitioner, I have seen and internalized the benefits of standardization to reduce variation and create predictable outcomes. This standardization should occur beyond the front-line level and include leadership. After over 15 years of facilitation, project support, and coaching,...