Introducing a podcast for leaders and managers seeking excellence in their business ventures. Stay updated on the latest trends and best practices, with new episodes every 2 weeks featuring prominent guests. Learn from experts and my own experiences in business excellence since 2000, as a consultant and C-Level executive. Get practical tips to improve business performance, employee and customer satisfaction. Tune in to solve everyday management challenges and elevate your business.
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5 Elements to Lead Change (new version) by Juan Steigerwald
Season 3 · Episode 22
Monday, February 17, 2025 • Duration 16:20
Are you struggling to get your team on board with change?
With constant change, we must manage transitions effectively while minimizing employee resistance. Whether implementing new standards, restructuring teams, or launching initiatives, change management techniques make the process smoother.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through five key elements of successful change management. You’ll also get a chance to self-evaluate and understand the risks of neglecting these principles.
This is a modified version of a previous discussion—let’s dive in!
Where to find Juan and Wave Business Excellence Footprint:
Burnout Prevention: Strategies for Managers with Juergen Moormann and Yevgen Bogodistov - Part 2
Season 2 · Episode 22
Friday, December 13, 2024 • Duration 38:00
Welcome back to the second part of our engaging conversation with Professors Yevgen Bogodistov and Juergen Moormann.
In Part 1, we discussed the genesis of their inspiring book on burnout prevention. We explored burnout in the workplace, the book's target audience, and the key findings from their research.
The conversation highlighted the need to integrate human and psychological elements into process management, leverage technology for employee well-being, and rethink recruitment and assessment processes to enhance employee fit. Finally, we delved into the importance of redefining efficiency and effectiveness in modern workplaces.
In Part 2, we take the discussion further, exploring how organizations can actively promote well-being and address the challenges of burnout. We dive into strategies for balancing job resources and demands, the importance of employee recharge, and unique concepts for mental wellness. Our guests also share how incorporating psychological indicators into KPIs can create more human-centered management practices.
We also discuss the importance of recognizing early signs of burnout to prevent mental health issues. You'll also hear about tools for continuous improvement in employee well-being, the role of happiness in the workplace, and how music can spark creativity and improve work outcomes.
This episode is packed with practical insights and innovative ideas for promoting healthier, happier, and more productive workplaces.
So, let’s jump back into the conversation with Professors Yevgen Bogodistov and Juergen Moormann as we continue this inspiring dialogue.
Timestamps:
03:10 Balancing Job Resources and Demands.
04:50 The Importance of Employee Recharge.
07:40 Shirin-Yoku Example.
09:25 Incorporating Psychological Indicators in KPIs.
Lean Practices Across Industries: Top Lean Books by Mark Graban
Season 1 · Episode 13
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 • Duration 47:06
This conversation is the same recording that was posted on the First Waves for Employees platform but also has a significant value to management.
Today's episode is all about Lean, Continuous Improvement and much more. Mark Graban is an internationally recognized consultant, author, professional speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur. He builds upon a deep education in engineering and management with practical experience working in multiple industries to apply methods including Lean management, continuous improvement, statistical methods, and people-centered leadership approaches.
He has learned, practiced, and taught these methodologies in settings including manufacturing, healthcare, and technology startups. Working independently since 2010, and in partnership with other consulting groups, Mark enjoys working with organizations that are looking for better ways to improve, with leaders who are willing to lead that charge. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the software company KaiNexus.
He is the founder and lead blogger and podcaster at LeanBlog.org, started in January 2005.
He is the author of "Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement "(Productivity Press) and co-authored “Healthcare Kaizen: Engaging Front-Line Staff in Sustainable Continuous Improvements. Both books received the
prestigious Shingo Research Award. He was the editor of the anthology "Practicing Lean." Another successful book by Mark is titled "Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More."
He has recently published a brand-new book called, “The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation.”
Timestamps:
[03:00] Exploring Mark's passion and his journey to his current work.
[06:37] Understanding the application of Lean in healthcare and its differences and similarities compared to other industries.
Example of a Lean deployment in a hospital.
Things You Might Not Know About Design Thinking! with Dean Meyers
Season 1 · Episode 12
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 • Duration 47:21
In today's episode we will speak Dean Meyers from New York, a design thinking and innovation trainer, coach, and consultant. He has been teaching people how to apply visual thinking and design thinking in technology since the Macintosh arrived on desktops with the first graphical user’s interface.
He has employed techniques including graphic facilitation and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to help entrepreneurs, startups, managers, and C-suite decision makers do better work, build stronger teams, and become more than design thinkers: they are design DOERS. His motto is, "Be Brave and ITERATE!".
Dean is one of the authors of "The World of Visual Facilitation", and he is a former faculty member of the American Management Association. Today, he is applying all his experience and skills at U.S. Bank as the innovation facilitator.
I am excited to introduce you to this amazing guest, Dean.
Timestamps:
[01:45] From start to success: Dean’s journey.
[06:30] Exploring design thinking and innovation.
[10:40] Design thinking solutions for your business.
[14:00] Timelines in design thinking projects.
[19:00] Design thinking triumphs in various sectors.
[20:50] Placing your design thinking team in the hierarchy.
[25:30] Mistakes in design thinking implementation.
[26:55] Ensuring long-lasting and sustainable design thinking results.
[30:00] Calculating ROI with design thinking.
[34:45] Pilot testing design thinking.
Becoming an Exceptional Leader: The Power of Emotional Intelligence with Diana Lowe
Season 1 · Episode 11
Thursday, August 24, 2023 • Duration 44:39
In today's episode we are going to speak about the essence of emotional intelligence and its profound impact on leadership. While often overlooked as a leadership quality, many forward-thinking organizations now integrate emotional intelligence into their hiring process.
Reflecting on my career journey, EI was probably one of the key drivers that helped me climb the corporate ladder so quickly, despite being the youngest and the least experienced person at the time.
In this episode my special guest speaks about how working with emotional intelligence can make you understand your team members better and inspire greater motivation, job satisfaction and elevated performance.
I'm excited to introduce our esteemed guest, Diana Lowe, an authority in emotional intelligence.
Diana is the CEO of Blue Light Leadership, a company dedicated to cultivating emotional intelligence among remote leaders. She is an executive coach who works with directors to C-Suite executives in Fortune 500 companies to transform their team spirit and communication, resulting in turning low-performing teams into highly productive and engaged teams. Her company focuses on using evidence-based research from positive psychology to combat rising stress and anxiety so you as a leader can thrive in navigating uncertainty.
Timestamps:
[02:40] Exploring the path to Diana’s passion discovery.
[07:55] Discovering the link between emotional intelligence and leadership.
[13:35] Emotions run everything we do.
[15:20] Modern epidemic of loneliness.
[16:00] Using EI to gain deeper insights into the team.
[17:25] Empowering listeners with an actionable task.
[24:40] Navigating situational awareness; clarity and autonomy.
[26:20] Working on our emotional vocabulary.
Applying The Principles of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to Grow Your Business with Steve Anderson
Season 1 · Episode 10
Thursday, August 3, 2023 • Duration 46:18
In today's episode, we dive into the fascinating world of applying Amazon's principles to your company. Besides Jeff Bezos, there is another person who can tell us more. His name is Steve Anderson, and he is an expert in strategic risk and business growth.
Drawing on decades of experience in the insurance industry, he wrote the book called, “The Bezos Letters: 14 Principles to Grow Your Business Like Amazon”, which has become a Wall Street Journal, USA Today,
and international bestseller. With hundreds of thousands of followers, Steve has been handpicked by LinkedIn as one of the world’s most influential thought leaders. He is also Co-founder and CEO of the company called Catalyit.
Get ready to be inspired as we introduce you to our exceptional guest, Steve Anderson, and explore the powerful strategies he has to share.
Timestamps:
[01:40] Introduction and Steve's journey to where he is today.
[05:20] What intrigued Steve about Jeff Bezos?
[07:20] Jeff Bezos' principles for Amazon's growth and their relevance to all businesses.
[16:30] The importance of being obsessed with customer business, not just customer focused.
[17:50] The 3 Customer Experience Pillars and their implementation in your own company.
[20:15] Amazon’s rating and reviews plus questions feature.
[22:35] Prime, customers’ needs and customer focus.
[27:50] The significance of the "It's Always Day 1" mindset for business growth.
[32:30] Two types of decisions companies can make according to J. Bezos.
[36:50] “The Bezos Letters. 14 Principles to Grow your Business Like Amazon” book.
[37:40] Criticism faced by Amazon.
How to Make Your Digital Transformation Journey a Success with Ali Davachi
Season 1 · Episode 9
Sunday, July 16, 2023 • Duration 37:26
Today's episode is all about the world of IT and your company’s digital transformation.
My special guest is Ali Davachi, who is a Forbes Author, a digital transformation expert and Founder/CEO of Realware LLC. His goal is to provide frictionless technology that liberates business and accelerates outcomes.
Ali says that the best businesses have a “secret sauce”, which is their unique value, that makes them distinctive to other similar businesses and powers their success. And yet when they try to leverage technology that promises to optimize and accelerate their business, they find that the technology forces process changes that compromise their unique value. This is where he and his team can make a digital transformation journey a successful one!
I am excited to introduce you to this amazing guest, Ali.
Timestamps:
[01:35] Ali’s story and his background.
[07:10] Key questions for business leaders prior to technology/process upgrade.
[12:10] Dangers of IT systems taking on a life of their own.
[15:10] Ali’s book “Rapid Transformation - An Outcomes-Based Approach to Drive Results”. Insights into the “RAPID” method of development.
[20:50] Importance of business change management in digital transformation.
[22:30] Changing organizational mindset for outcome-driven IT and transformation.
[26:50] Managing risk in digital transformation.
[30:10] Varying definitions of risk across different regions.
[32:40] Three key questions before embarking on a digital transformation.
[33:30] Ali’s services and contact information.
Breathing Techniques for Effective Leadership with Fleur Conway
Season 1 · Episode 8
Sunday, July 2, 2023 • Duration 31:49
Today's episode delves into the fascinating realm of optimizing your managerial skills through the power of breath. Join me in welcoming our incredible guest, Fleur Conway who is originally from England and now residing in Spain. Over the years, she has gained much knowledge and experience in many areas of health and well-being.
Fleur's impressive credentials include:
· Buteyko method breathing instructor
· Oxygen advantage advanced instructor
· Low pressure fitness trainer
· Emotional life coach
· Bach flower therapist
With her diverse skill set, Fleur´s aim is to help us find our balance in all aspects of our life by focusing on breath, body, mind and soul using easy and accessible tools.
I am thrilled to introduce you to my amazing guest, Fleur :-)
Timestamps:
[01:42] The importance of proper breathing.
[05:10] The location of the diaphragm.
[08:35] Techniques for exercising the diaphragm.
[12:30] Uncovering the reasons for losing our natural breathing instinct.
[15:22] Enhancing managerial resilience: preparing for stressful situations.
[23:30] Functions of the vagus nerve.
[20:55] Post-stress relief: recommendations for calming the nervous system.
[26:55] How proper breathing enhances managerial skills.
[29:05] Overview of services Fleur offers to clients.
Master Your talk as a Manager with Brenden Kumarasamy
Season 1 · Episode 7
Monday, June 19, 2023 • Duration 29:52
In this episode, we explore the art of mastering your talk. Our words have the power to make a lasting impact, whether positive, neutral, or negative. Drawing from my 20+ years in senior management, I've witnessed firsthand the influence of effective communication on overall business performance.
As managers, we operate in a people-centric realm and must equip ourselves with the tools and tricks for effective interpersonal communication.
I have the honor to present you an amazing guest from Canada. His name is Brenden Kumarasami, who is the founder of MasterTalk, where he helps us master the art of public speaking and communication. Through his channel, "Master Your Talk," he addresses the challenges people face when speaking on stage, empowering them to deliver confident and compelling presentations.
In this discussion, we focus on the significance of presentation and communication skills specifically for managers. Whether you oversee a team or regularly interact with higher-level executives, this episode provides invaluable insights.
It's my pleasure to introduce you to the remarkable Brenden Kumarasamy.
Timestamps:
[02:23] Discovering Brenedn’s passion and the birth of MasterTalk?
[04:23] The power of effective communication; why managers must muster presentation skills.
[05:40] Most common communication challenges faced by managers.
[10:54] Key tricks for maintaining a powerful voice.
[14:30] Brenden’s definition of a manager who is a good communicator and presenter.
[16:47] Brenden’s services offered to his clients.
[18:25] How to deliver constructive feedback to underperforming employees.
[23:57] On-stage strategies; recommendations for managers during presentations.
[27:06] Discover more about Brenden Kumarasamy's coaching services and online presence.
Who should I train and how many should I train under the Business Excellence program? with Juan Steigerwald
Season 1 · Episode 6
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 • Duration 28:24
One of the frequently asked questions I receive from managers is: Who should I train when I want to start a Business Excellence initiative? This query can
arise from a person who already has a program running or is considering starting one. Prepare to be surprised by some of the answers!
In this episode, I will provide you with numerous strategies for selecting the ideal candidates for your program.
And that's not all! I've also included three freebies to enhance your journey:
1) Action Plan
2) The Modular Development Plan for Employees and Managers (link available to download as a freebie)
I will also provide you with 10 fundamental questions you need to ask yourself when selecting the right people.
Furthermore, I discussed the 7 do´s and the 5 don´ts when it comes to selecting your trainees.
A common question that arises is: How many should I train and is there a limit to the number of people that should be trained? Finding the answer was not an easy task, but after numerous deployments, I have discovered the precise "tipping point." There are specific certification levels and training types where a limit exists on the number of people that should be trained. If we exceed this limit, it will not be ideal for the organization.
Enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights!
Timestamps:
[1:25] Who should I train and basic information of the training types.
[9:24] Example of one of my employees.
11:40 Promoting Well-Being to Top Management.
15:50 Quantifying the Cost of Employee Well-Being.
17:40 Recognizing and Addressing Burnout.
21:35 Preventing Mental Health Issues in the Workplace.
25:50 Tools for Continuous Improvement in Employee Well-Being.
27:10 The Role of Happiness in the Workplace.
31:20 The Influence of Music on Creativity and Work.
35:00 Where to Find Our Guests and Their Book.
Books mentioned in the conversation:
Process Management and Burnout Prevention: A Human-Centered Approach to Reducing Work-Related Stress-Yevgen Bogodistov & Jürgen Moormann
