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Welcome to this bonus session of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast, originally recorded as a LinkedIn Live event! In this conversation, I partnered with Rebecca Michalik from AME Australia to discuss my upcoming workshops in Australia and New Zealand in March 2025.
We’ll dive into key themes like psychological safety as a foundation for continuous improvement and how to make smarter use of performance metrics through process behavior charts. Even if you’re outside Australia or New Zealand, the principles and practical examples we discuss have universal applications for leaders and organizations worldwide.
If you’re interested in learning more about the workshops, click here.
Questions, Notes, and Highlights:
Topics:
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Introduction to the AME Australia Roadshow
- Overview of the partnership with AME Australia and the roadshow’s purpose.
- Details about workshop locations and dates across Australia and New Zealand.
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Psychological Safety as a Foundation for Continuous Improvement
- Definition and importance of psychological safety in the workplace.
- How psychological safety supports Lean and continuous improvement practices.
- Practical leadership actions to foster a safe environment.
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Metrics Mastery Through Process Behavior Charts
- Understanding the difference between signal and noise in performance data.
- How process behavior charts can replace traditional KPI management.
- Benefits of focusing on signals rather than reacting to every fluctuation in data.
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Interactive Learning and Experiential Activities
- The value of in-person workshops for hands-on learning.
- Activities like the Red Bead Experiment to teach statistical thinking.
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Real-World Applications
- Case studies of organizations (e.g., Kinexis and Memorial Health System) that have successfully implemented psychological safety and metrics mastery.
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Why Leaders Should Attend
- Key takeaways attendees can implement immediately.
- The role of leadership in shaping culture and driving improvement.
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Personal Insights and Lessons Learned
- Mark’s career experiences and key lessons, including insights on visualizing performance data.
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Special Roadshow Incentives
- Details about VIP dinner prizes and book giveaways for early registrants.
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Universal Themes in Lean and Continuous Improvement
- How the principles discussed are relevant across industries and geographies.
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Q&A and Audience Interaction
- Live engagement with attendees, addressing their questions and sharing examples.
Key Questions:
- What is the purpose of the AME Australia roadshow, and what will attendees gain from it?
- Why is psychological safety critical for Lean and continuous improvement?
- How can leaders create an environment where employees feel safe to speak up?
- What are process behavior charts, and why are they a better way to understand performance metrics?
- Can you share examples of organizations that have successfully applied these principles?
- What are some actionable steps attendees can implement immediately after the workshops?
- Why is in-person learning particularly valuable for these topics?
- How do you see these topics applying universally, regardless of industry or location?
- What lessons have you learned in your career that you think every leader should know?
- What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about attending?
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Automated Transcript (Not Guaranteed to be Defect Free)
Mark Graban:
Hello! It says we are live on LinkedIn. Welcome to everyone joining us. I’m Mark Graban, and I’m thrilled to be hosting this session today in partnership with Rebecca Michalik from AME Australia. We’re here to talk about an exciting opportunity–my upcoming workshops in Australia and New Zealand, happening in March 2025.
Today, we’ll provide a preview of these workshops and what attendees can expect. I’m based in the United States, specifically in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. For those watching, we’d love to know where you’re tuning in from. Please share your location in the comments. While we’ve focused our invitations on Australia and New Zealand, we’re happy to welcome others who’ve joined from around the world.
If you’re unfamiliar with me, let me quickly introduce myself. I’m an author, speaker, and consultant. I help organizations improve by engaging their teams in meaningful ways. My most recent book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation, focuses on creating a culture where people feel safe to speak up and learn from mistakes. Before that, I wrote Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More, which introduces better ways to approach metrics and performance. My earlier works include Healthcare Kaizen and Lean Hospitals. I’m passionate about helping organizations improve across industries.
We already have some folks joining us–hello to Paul from Perth and Laura from Melbourne! Thank you for being here. Now, I’d like to bring in Rebecca Michalik, who will introduce herself and tell us more about AME Australia.
Rebecca Michalik:
Thank you, Mark, and good morning to everyone here from Australia and New Zealand! I’m Rebecca Michalik, and I have the privilege of serving as the President of AME Australia. For those unfamiliar, AME stands for the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. We’re a global network dedicated to continuous improvement and enterprise excellence.
Our mission is to connect professionals and organizations to share, learn, and grow together in their pursuit of operational excellence, leadership development, and transformative thinking. What makes AME unique is our focus on practitioner-to-practitioner learning. Through conferences, workshops, site tours, and webinars, we provide actionable insights and real-world case studies to drive measurable outcomes.
One of our favorite initiatives is the annual roadshow. This is where we invite thought leaders from around the world to share their expertise with our members in their own cities. It’s a special opportunity to bring learning to life in local settings. For 2025, we’re thrilled to welcome Mark Graban to Australia and, for the first time, to New Zealand as well. Mark’s workshops will be invaluable for those tackling leadership challenges, operational pressures, and cultural transformation.
Mark, can you give us an overview of what participants can expect from your workshops?
Mark Graban:
Of course, Rebecca. I’m so excited about this roadshow. These workshops are designed to address two key themes that I believe are critical for any organization: psychological safety and smarter use of performance metrics. These topics might seem different on the surface, but they’re deeply connected when it comes to building a culture of continuous improvement.
The first half-day workshop focuses on psychological safety as a foundation for continuous improvement. Psychological safety refers to the feeling of being able to speak up without fear of punishment or retribution. This is essential for creating an environment where people feel comfortable pointing out problems, admitting mistakes, asking questions, and sharing ideas. If people don’t feel safe, they’ll hold back, which stifles improvement and innovation. During this session, we’ll dive into practical strategies leaders can use to foster psychological safety in their teams.
The second half-day workshop is based on my book, Measures of Success. It’s all about helping organizations distinguish between signal and noise in their performance metrics. Too often, leaders overreact to every fluctuation in data–celebrating one day and panicking the next–without understanding the broader trends. We’ll introduce process behavior charts, a simple but powerful tool to visualize performance and focus on meaningful changes. These charts help teams save time, reduce frustration, and focus their problem-solving efforts where they’ll have the most impact.
Both workshops are interactive, with plenty of opportunities for participants to engage in hands-on exercises and discussions.
Rebecca Michalik:
That sounds fantastic, Mark. Can you share any examples of organizations that have successfully applied the principles you’ll be teaching?
Mark Graban:
Absolutely. One example that comes to mind is Kinexis, a company I’ve worked with closely over the years. Kinexis has built a strong culture of psychological safety by encouraging employees to share mistakes and voice concerns without fear. They’ve also used surveys to measure psychological safety and implemented changes to strengthen it. Their openness has allowed them to innovate and grow successfully.
Another example is Memorial Health System in eastern Ohio. I worked with them to introduce process behavior charts, and it’s become a part of their culture. Their CEO and leadership team have embraced this methodology to manage performance metrics more effectively. It’s saved them time, reduced overreactions, and even driven improvements in critical areas like reducing sepsis deaths–a measurable, life-saving impact.
Rebecca Michalik:
Those are inspiring examples, Mark. For someone on the fence about attending these workshops, what would you say to encourage them?
Mark Graban:
I’d emphasize the value of learning in person. These workshops aren’t just about sitting through a lecture–they’re interactive, hands-on, and collaborative. For example, in the afternoon session, we’ll use the Red Bead Experiment, a powerful activity created by W. Edwards Deming, to demonstrate the principles behind process behavior charts. It’s one thing to read about these methods; it’s another to experience them firsthand and see how they apply to your work.
For the morning session, the discussions around psychological safety will give attendees actionable ideas they can take back to their teams immediately. And participating with peers from different industries will provide new perspectives and help build a network of like-minded professionals.
Rebecca Michalik:
Thank you, Mark. Before we wrap up, let’s remind everyone about the roadshow details and exclusive offers.
Mark Graban:
Sure. The roadshow kicks off on March 18 in Geelong, followed by stops in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, and Auckland through early April. For those who register early, we’re offering two great incentives. The first 10 registrants in each city will win a VIP prize package, including an exclusive dinner with me. It’s a great opportunity to have deeper conversations in a relaxed setting. And anyone who registers and pays before December 20 will receive a free copy of The Mistakes That Make Us.
Rebecca Michalik:
That’s exciting! Thank you so much, Mark. We’re really looking forward to having you in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Mark Graban:
Thank you, Rebecca. I’m honored to be part of this roadshow, and I can’t wait to meet everyone. For those watching, check out the links in the show notes for more information and registration details. See you soon!
Rebecca Michalik:
Thanks, Mark. And thank you to everyone who joined us today. Have a great day!
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Check out my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation:
