Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement

Do Belt Certifications Help or Hurt Continuous Improvement Efforts?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:59:21 -0300

Yellow belts. Green belts. Black belts. In this podcast episode, hosts Dr. Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer continue their series exploring the difficult questions around lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement, focusing their attention on the belt certification system and asking whether belts build expertise or simply create hierarchies.

Lean or Six Sigma: the Progress Paradox

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:28:50 -0300

Podcast hosts Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer tackle a topic that drives a lot of passionate conversation. Is lean or Six Sigma the better improvement philosophy? One co-host argues it's a flawed debate while both weigh in on many organizations' woeful misunderstanding or misuse of lean and Six Sigma.

The Progress Paradox: When Things Go Wrong, Who Is Really Responsible?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:13:29 -0300

Hosts John Dyer and Dr. Mohamed Saleh discuss the responsibility for organizational problems, emphasizing that systems often drive behaviors and that leaders should focus on correcting structures rather than blaming individuals. They highlight structural components that include performance reviews, incentives, metrics, policies and decision-making processes.

The Progress Paradox: Why Do We Feel Stuck When Everything Is Green?

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:26:18 -0300

Dive into the topic of suboptimization, which occurs when individual departments focus on their own metrics at the expense of the overall enterprise, and learn tactics to drive enterprise-wide performance.

The Progress Paradox: Are Visions Effective?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:40:43 -0300

Delve into why organizational visions often fail and learn tactics to develop visions your workforce can embrace.

The Progress Paradox: Do We Really Believe in Respect for People?

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:46:16 -0300

While 'respect for people' is a tenet many organizations claim, podcast hosts Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer delve into the truth of that statement. Does your leadership always show 'respect for people' or does it erode when the pressure is on? Here are some telltale signs that leaders' are failing to show 'respect for people' and the potential negative consequences of their actions.

From Fear Culture to System Accountability: The Ongoing Debate Over Deming’s 14 Points

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:31:50 -0400

Podcast hosts Dr. Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer share their favorites of Dr. Deming's 14 points and reflect on the management guru's most controversial principle.

Dr. Deming: Don't Leave Organizational Transformation on the Factory Floor. It's Everybody's Job

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:51:44 -0400

Hosts John Dyer and Dr. Mohammed Saleh discuss Dr. Deming's 14th point for management: Put everybody in the company to work to accomplish the transformation. The transformation is everybody's job. The hosts also outline the potential misuse of lean specialists.

Institute a Vigorous Program of Education and Self-improvement: Dr. Deming's 13th Point for Management

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:19:54 -0400

Understand the essential requirements to building an organization of thinkers rather than button-pushers, and delve into how AI should contribute to building a learning organization.

Dr. Deming's 12th Point: Remove Barriers That Rob Workers of Right to Pride of Workmanship

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:49:21 -0400

Explore why pride of workmanship is important as well as common barriers that destroy it within an organization.

Eliminate Management by Objective: Dr. Deming's 11th Point for Management

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Explore what the podcast hosts describe as Dr. W. Edwards Deming's "most controversial" point for management, one that many executives have a problem with.

Eliminate Slogans, Exhortations, and Targets: Dr. Deming's 10th Point for Management

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:03:53 -0400

Learn why Dr. Deming called Point 10 his "biggest pet peeve" among the 14 points for transformation. One hint: It blames the workers.

Break Down Barriers Between Departments: Dr. Deming's 9th Point for Management

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Learn how silos encourage local optimization at the expense of the whole, and gather tools to break down those barriers.

Drive Out Fear: The 8th of Dr. Deming's 14 Points for Management

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:22:38 -0400

Understand fear's invisible impact on KPIs and its destructive effects on innovation.

Institute Leadership: The 7th of Dr. Deming's 14 Points of Management

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:50:12 -0400

The aim of leadership is to help people and machines and gadgets do a better job— not to put out fires or be the hero.

Institute On-the-Job Training: The Sixth of Dr. Deming's 14 Points of Management

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:40:43 -0400

Understand why lack of proper training rather than a lack of employee effort creates bad operational outcomes, and gain insights on training measures that work.

Improve Constantly and Forever: The 5th of Dr. Deming's 14 Points for Transformation

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:49:56 -0400

Gain insights into the importance of continuous improvement as a daily habit, with reduced costs as a result, not a goal. Understand why this approach extends to all disciplines and departments, not just manufacturing production.

Don't Award Business Based on Price: The Fourth of Dr. Deming's 14 Points for Management

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Delve into why Dr. Deming promotes the idea of selecting suppliers based on total cost and moving toward a single supplier for any one item.

Quality Words from Dr. Deming: Cease Dependency on Inspection

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:06:10 -0400

Explore the meaning behind Dr. W. Edwards Deming's third point for management: Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Eliminate the need for inspection on a mass basis by building quality into the product in the first place.

Adopt the New Philosophy: The Second of Dr. Deming's 14 Points for Management

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Delve into the meaning behind Dr. Deming's second of 14 points for management transformation. Learn why it is meant as a wake-up call for management unwilling to change their culture, systems and how they treat their people.

Create Constancy of Purpose: The First of Dr. Deming's 14 Points for Management

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Explore the meaning behind "constancy of purpose," the first of Dr. Deming's 14 points for management transformation and learn why it is important to team-based continuous improvement.

Why Dr. Deming and Why Today?

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:30:15 -0400

Delve into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, statistician, management consultant and often referred to as the father of the quality movement.

Key Factors that Accelerate or Impede Organizational Advancement: Summary

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Podcast hosts John Dyer and Dr. Mohamed Saleh reflect on their favorite discussion topics from past episodes and highlight the No. 1 driver of organizational change.

How Union or Non-Union Environments Help or Hurt Organizational Change

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:36:22 -0400

Delve into three types of workplace structures—non-union, cooperative union and non-cooperative (or blocking) union—and learn the benefits or early engagement and collaboration.

Does the Age of Your Organization Shape Organizational Success?

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Organizations don’t just age chronologically—they build layers of belief systems, rituals, unspoken norms, and hardened habits. And as the years pass, change becomes more of a cultural excavation than a simple upgrade. Tune in and discover how to transform age into wisdom—not weight.

Does Size of the Organization Matter? (Part 2)

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

From family-run operations to enterprises the size of the Titanic, delve into how size can either accelerate progress or stall it completely. Part 2 of a two-part series.

Does the Size of the Organization Matter? (Part 1)

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Learn how organizational size fundamentally shapes the transformation journey—from complexity and communication to culture and pace. First of a two-part series.

Leadership Characteristics Summary 1-10

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Assess your own leadership DNA against these 10 leadership characteristics.

Leadership Characteristic 10 (Part 2): Coaching and Developing Others

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive into the practical side of coaching: five powerful vehicles leaders can use to shift from a directive, command-based mindset to one rooted in growth, development, and shared success.

Leadership Characteristic 10 (Part 1): Coaching and Developing Others

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the real purpose of leadership: coaching and developing others. Unpack how traditional hierarchies reward comparison and control, while true leadership multiplies capability and distributes power.

Leadership Characteristic 9: Problem Solver with Resilience and Adaptability

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Whether you’re leading a transformation or supporting a team through daily challenges, these three interwoven traits define whether you thrive—or just survive.

Leadership Characteristic 8: Empathy For Others

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the critical differences between sympathy and empathy and why the latter is essential for meaningful leadership.

Leadership Characteristic 7: Effective Decision Making

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Delve into the delicate balance between waiting for enough information to make a sound decision versus falling into paralysis by analysis. Understand the art of determining: What is the minimum amount of information I need to make a decision?

Leadership Characteristic 6 (Part 2): Strategic Thinker with a System Perspective

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive into the biggest roadblocks that hinder true systems thinking, including prioritizing short-term wins over long-term vision, creating a fire-fighting culture and avoid risk to the extreme.

Leadership Characteristic 6 (Part 1): Strategic Thinker with a System Perspective

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the horizontal understanding of interconnected systems, emphasizing the need to see the whole without getting lost in the details or abstractions. Also dive into the vertical balance of macro and micro perspectives, challenging the flawed assumption that leaders with strong granular skills can automatically adapt to macro-level thinking.

Leadership Characteristic 5: Seeing the Vision and Having Clarity

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the transformative power of a well-articulated vision and how successful leaders focus on “must-do, can’t-fail” breakthroughs that align with their organization’s purpose. Also learn how clarity in vision can motivate those around you, eliminate distractions and even prompt innovative pivots in business models

Leadership Characteristic 4: Continuous Learning and Self Development

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the mindset shifts required for effective leadership, including fostering open-mindedness, a growth mindset, self-awareness, adaptability, humility, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Learn how these qualities become a litmus test for determining who’s truly “all in” on transformation.

Respect for People, Leadership Characteristic 3 for Driving Sustainable Change

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Respect for people isn’t a slogan—it’s a leadership condition. Tune in to discover why it’s time to flip the script and treat respect for people as the root of transformation.

Gemba-Focused Leader—The Second Leadership Characteristic for Lasting Change

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Learn how engaging with your team at the gemba, or where the work happens—and with the right mindset—builds trust, amplifies decision-making and creates psychological safety.

Selfless Leader—The First Leadership Characteristic for Meaningful Change

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore how true leaders adopt a team-over-self mindset, embody humility and prioritize removing obstacles for their teams.

Crafting a Comprehensive Training Roadmap

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore how to create a training roadmap that drives genuine lean leadership and avoids the pitfalls of empty certification. Learn the dangers of taking a cookie-cutter approach.

Designing an Impactful Training Experience

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore how to craft training experiences that don’t just deliver knowledge but ensure it is gained, transferred, and retained. Review dynamic approaches like simulations, on-the-job training, breakouts, and role-playing.

Building Lasting Capabilities through Effective Training: The Do’s and Don’ts

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the difference between training that sparks meaningful improvement and training that falls flat. Learn about the most effective approaches—like hands-on simulations and engaging adult learners through active participation—versus the common pitfalls of overloading with theory or skipping leadership involvement.

Battling Innovation Fatigue: When the Push for Progress Takes Its Toll

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive into what happens when the push for progress becomes a burden rather than a boost. How do you keep your people engaged and inspired when they’ve been burned before, or when they’re simply recovering from the last big change?

Loss of Control: How to Steer When Change Takes the Helm

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive into one of the most challenging dynamics of organizational change and leadership change resistance: navigating the loss of control during times of change. As leaders shift from the familiar role of the “firefighter hero” to empowering their teams as the true heroes, they face a profound identity shift. How do we retire that hero’s cap and elevate others through recognition and a reward system that celebrates the best coaches, not just the problem solvers?

Resistance to Change: Unpacking the Psychology Behind Change Aversion

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the psychological and emotional drivers behind this resistance, and learn how leaders can recognize these barriers and implement strategies to transform resistance into acceptance, turning potential roadblocks into opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Flattening the Pyramid: Transforming Hierarchies into Horizontal Structures

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Traditional vertical hierarchies often stifle communication, slow decision-making and create barriers to innovation. Shifting to a horizontal, decentralized structure can break down these barriers and foster a culture of open, two-way communication. Explore strategies for leaders looking to implement horizontal communication channels in their organizations.

Breaking Down Silos: Uniting Teams for Unstoppable Success

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive deep into the destructive impact of organizational silos. Explore how these invisible walls form and learn strategies to break them down, paving the way for seamless teamwork and continuous improvement.

Trust on Display: How OPEN Communication shapes Organizational Culture

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Discover how open communication is not just a tool but a mirror reflecting the ongoing culture within your organization. We’ll discuss real-world examples, like hour-by-hour metric boards. Are they tools for improvement or instruments of blame?

The Power of Two-Way Communication in Organizational Design

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Uncover the blueprint for fostering two-way communication that ignites collaboration and innovation. From tiered huddles to activating listening structures and rituals that prioritize dialogue over directives, explore how flattening organizational structures can break down barriers and foster a culture of openness and trust.

Unlocking Workforce Potential: The Key to Genuine Employee Engagement

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the true power of employee engagement. Discover how sincere, empathetic, and respectful engagement can transform the narrative from “I” to “We,” fostering ownership, buy-in, and enthusiastic productivity.

Decoding Tribal Language: Leadership Strategies for a Collaborative Culture

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Discover the skill of active listening and how to identify and engage with the tribes within your organization. Learn how to create triads to break down competitive silos, establish shared values, and unite everyone in pursuit of a noble cause.

The Facade of Excellence: Unveiling Leadership’s Emotional Journey

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive into three pivotal moments from "The Facade of Excellence: Defining a New Normal of Leadership," written by podcast co-host John Dyer. The book isn’t just a narrative; it reflects real-life struggles and triumphs. Told through the eyes of fictional executives Jim Brown and Frank Smith, you’ll explore the clash of new and old management styles.

Leading with Integrity: Addressing Workplace Toxicity and Safeguarding Core Values

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Delve into the challenge of maintaining core values in the workplace while addressing toxicity head-on. Identifying values and behaviors that promote collaboration, teamwork, and improvement is essential, but living by these values daily is the real test. This episode explores these complex dynamics, including how to handle the “firefighter” employee who thrives on chaos and may sabotage improvements to maintain their hero status.

Leadership Building Trust: Insights to Driving Out Fear

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore actionable strategies for leaders to build trust, foster psychological safety, and create a culture where employees feel secure to share ideas, take risks, and contribute to continuous improvement. Additionally, uncover the damaging actions that can quickly destroy an environment of trust and collaboration.

Leadership Participation: Unmasking the Rituals of Hands-On Leadership

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive deep into the rituals that redefine leadership: appreciation walks, waste walks, standard work observations, kaizen participation, delivering impactful training, and conducting 5S audits. Discover why lean is not a spectator sport and how true leaders lead by example.

Leadership Style: Recognizing and Adapting Styles to Need

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Dive deep into the four distinct leadership styles, ranging from dictator to collaboration, and explore how recognizing and adapting these styles can drive organizations toward genuine empowerment and teamwork.

Leadership Commitment: The Crucial Role it Plays in Organizational Change

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore the behaviors of leaders at varying levels of commitment and discover the stark differences between involvement and true dedication. Learn why leaders who merely participate, rather than fully commit, can inadvertently sabotage their teams’ efforts.

Unlocking Team Success: Team Motivation

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Delve into the importance of finding purpose within teams and how investing in personal development is the cornerstone of sustainable motivation. Additionally, explore the power of daily management visual boards as tools for empowerment rather than simple reporting mechanisms.

Unlocking Team Success: Setting Team Goals

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Goals don't always drive progress and can actually hinder team success. From the toxic effects of short-term goal fixation to the crucial role of psychological safety, learn how goals impact employee morale and wellbeing.

Unlocking Team Success: Effective Team Decision Making

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Delve into the crucial topic of effective team decision-making techniques, warning against one particular method that can irreparably harm team dynamics and spill over into the daily work environment.

Unlocking Team Success: Effective Team Dynamics

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Explore how diversity in thought enhances problem-solving and innovation within teams, while also examining why the fundamental question of "Why am I here?" often lies at the root of disruptions in team dynamics.

Unlocking Team Success: Effective Team Development

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Delve into the four phases every team experiences, including the "storm" phase, and learn how they influence team dynamics.

Unlocking Team Success: The Blueprint of Effective Teamwork Design

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Understand the anatomy of successful teams, from technical and functional teams to leadership and project-driven teams. Learn the importance of team design, including team tasks, team size and the skills required of team members.

Choosing the Best Solution Wisely

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Have you and your team ever faced the dread and horror of halting a process following a change you advocated for? Change inherently carries risks, but the aim is to minimize these risks by strategically narrowing down the most effective countermeasures. This episode unveils the intricacies of selecting the optimal solution and charting the right path forward. From evaluating options to achieving desired outcomes, discover the techniques and processes essential for success.

Peeling Back the Layers into Diagnosing the Root Cause: Navigating the Maze of Symptoms

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

If solving problems were easy, the mystery would have been unraveled by now. Explore essential techniques and tools for preventing recurrent issues from casting a shadow over the organization or jumping to premature conclusions.

The Criticality of Visualizing Workflows: Navigating Value Stream Mapping vs Process Mapping

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Whether you refer to it as value stream mapping or various levels of process mapping, the episode unravels the complexities of this valuable tool. The discussion exposes hidden steps, underscoring the significance of mapping the actual process over relying on assumptions.

Does the Scientific Template of Problem Solving Even Matter?

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Unravel the distinctions between PDCA and PDSA, and explore the necessity of an A3 for each problem, large or small.

Navigating the Key Elements of Organizational Progress: Triumphs and Setbacks

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0300

Delve into the "essential ingredients" for a successful and sustainable organizational transformation, as well as explore the two "root causes" behind the potential fizzling out of such efforts.