The blog post

How should organizations think about using AI in Kaizen and continuous improvement? In this AudioBlog, Mark Graban argues that there are no clear answers yet—and that uncertainty is exactly why AI should be approached through small, disciplined PDSA cycles rather than big bets or hype-driven rollouts.

Instead of treating AI as an expert or decision-maker, Mark frames it as a thought partner—a tool that can support brainstorming, reflection, coaching feedback, and clearer documentation. Used this way, AI becomes another input into the learning process, not a replacement for judgment, gemba observation, or human relationships.

The episode emphasizes what AI can’t do—build trust, observe real work, or validate improvement—and why those limitations reinforce the need for small tests of change. When AI is used with curiosity, restraint, and real-world validation, it can support learning without undermining the purpose of Kaizen itself.

The takeaway: treat AI like any other countermeasure. Start small. Learn quickly. Keep humans firmly in charge of thinking and improvement.

the blog post

Why do Lean practices like pull systems and heijunka fail to take hold in so many organizations? In this AudioBlog, Mark Graban argues that the problem isn’t the tools—it’s how Lean is applied. Too often, organizations cherry-pick visible practices like 5S, huddles, or kaizen events while avoiding the harder work of adopting Lean as a complete management system.

This episode explores why foundational elements such as leveling, pull, and continuous improvement only work when supported by long-term thinking, aligned leadership behaviors, and psychological safety. Mark explains how these methods surface uncomfortable truths about variation, instability, and decision-making—and why organizations that lack a learning culture tend to avoid them. Drawing on Toyota Way principles, he makes the case that Lean fails when it’s treated as a toolkit for short-term results instead of a system designed for sustained learning and improvement.

If Lean hasn’t delivered the results you expected, this episode invites a more fundamental question: are you practicing Lean as a system—or just using the parts that feel convenient?

The blog post

In this Lean Blog Audio episode, Mark Graban reflects on an unexpected leadership lesson learned on the pickleball court. As a beginner unlearning decades-old tennis habits, Mark experiences firsthand how execution errors, muscle memory, and self-criticism can quietly undermine learning. A kind instructor and supportive playing partners provide timely feedback—without blame—turning mistakes into moments of growth.

The story becomes a practical metaphor for leadership, psychological safety, and continuous improvement. Mark connects a missed serve, an illegal volley, and other rookie mistakes to familiar workplace dynamics: fear of speaking up, hesitation to give feedback, and cultures that confuse mistakes with incompetence. Drawing on themes from his book The Mistakes That Make Us, he explores the difference between judgment errors and execution errors, why unlearning is often harder than learning, and how leaders set the tone for Kaizen through their reactions.

Whether in sports, healthcare, manufacturing, or office work, improvement depends on environments where people feel safe to surface mistakes, reflect, and adjust—one learning cycle at a time.