Best Continuousimprovement Podcasts (2025)

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146 - What are the practical steps to build a culture? 18:56

21d ago18:56

18:56

In this podcast, Richard and Ricky explore some practical things you can do to build the culture in your organisation. Org Culture is a big topic, and often you can get lost in the plethora of models and ideas. Culture feels big and something the most senior people have to take action on. Yet there are some simple, practical steps that any of us ca…

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Mapping the Process: Path to Improvement (Part 9) 28:38

29d ago28:38

28:38

How can we improve attendance when every school has a different process? In this episode, John Dues continues his exploration of Deming’s philosophy in action, focusing on chronic absenteeism. As part of their third PDSA cycle, John’s team shifts from individual interventions to process standardization—mapping how each of their four campuses handle…

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Getting Started with Quality as an Organizational Strategy: A Conversation with Cliff Norman and David Williams 1:03:35

1M ago1:03:35

1:03:35

Why would any leader choose to take on a transformation that requires rethinking how they lead, how their organization functions, and how they learn? In this episode, we dive deeper with Cliff Norman and David Williams, co-authors of Quality as an Organizational Strategy, exploring Chapter 11: “Getting Started.” They share powerful stories, practic…

1
145 - What Can I Do To Build Rapport Quickly? 17:41

1M ago17:41

17:41

What can I do to build rapport quickly? Rapport is a key skill when building relationships, when influencing others, and when collaborating, in fact, any time you want or need to engage with someone. Ricky asks our resident psychologist, Paul, about practical ways to instantly build rapport. Together, they explore crucial elements to make rapport-b…

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Powerful Learning with PDSA: Path for Improvement Part 8 27:29

2M ago27:29

27:29

It's time for PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) Cycle 2 in John Dues' journey to reduce chronic absenteeism in his schools. His team is using PDSA to quickly test ideas and learn on a small scale. Find out what happened and how PDSA can be a powerful tool for learning. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.2 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we d…

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144 - How can I create trust between teams that don't get on? 29:33

2M ago29:33

29:33

We like to think that all the teams in our organisation are aligned, collaborating effectively, and working in harmony. In an ideal world, all of our teams' passion and energy would be combined against the external world, beating competitors and solving problems that get in the way. In reality, under pressure, we often turn on the groups closest to…

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Don’t Be Limited by Quality Management: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 13) 31:44

2M ago31:44

31:44

How does "quality" apply in all areas of an organization? In this final episode of the Misunderstanding Quality series, Bill Bellows and host Andrew Stotz discuss lessons from the first twelve episodes, and the big ah-ha moments that happen when we stop limiting our thinking. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.6 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be yo…

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Do Specification Limits Limit Improvement? Misunderstanding Quality (Part 12) 41:36

2M ago41:36

41:36

Are your specification limits holding you back from improving your products and services? Should you throw out specifications? What does Stephen Hawking have to do with it? In this episode, Bill Bellows and host Andrew Stotz discuss specifications and variation. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.5 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we…

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Plan-Do-Study-Act: Path for Improvement (Part 7) 29:00

3M ago29:00

29:00

Can you use Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) during the information-gathering phase of an improvement project? Yes! Join John Dues and host Andrew Stotz as they discuss how John's team used PDSA to learn more about chronic absenteeism, their surprising findings, and what they'll do next. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.8 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll …

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143 - How can we make decisions when we disagree? 23:40

3M ago23:40

23:40

When different opinions appear in the decision, the easy answer is to push the decision up. Let the boss decide. There are two issues with this strategy. Firstly, while the boss will probably engage with the process, they will also hate it. They have enough to do without having to make decisions for warring teams. Plus, it never reflects well on th…

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To Improve Quality Don’t Measure Quality: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 11) 33:05

3M ago33:05

33:05

In this episode of Misunderstanding Quality, host Andrew Stotz and Bill Bellows discuss what not to measure when it comes to quality. Bill offers some great examples to show how organizations get it wrong, and how to get it right. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.4 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachings …

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Diving Deeper into Defining the Problem: Path for Improvement Part 6 24:01

3M ago24:01

24:01

Join John Dues and Andrew Stotz as they go one step deeper into finding the precise problem you want to improve. Sometimes taking big actions means starting small. TRANSCRIPT Diving Deeper into Defining the Problem: Path for Improvement (Part 6) 0:00:02.2 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachin…

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142 - How can I ensure my managers have the 'big' conversations with their team members. 18:20

3M ago18:20

18:20

Here is another podcast that examines the questions that regularly arise in our work. This time, Richard and Ricky consider why managers might avoid some of the more big (difficult) conversations that are needed between manager and team members. Often, senior managers assume that these conversations are happening, only to find out as issues escalat…

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Quality as an Organizational Strategy with Cliff Norman and Dave Williams 1:16:18

3M ago1:16:18

1:16:18

What if you could transform quality from a compliance exercise into a strategic advantage? In our latest podcast, Andrew Stotz sits down with Cliff Norman and David M. Williams, two of the authors of Quality as an Organizational Strategy. They share untold stories of Dr. Deming, hard-earned insights from decades of real-world application, and a fra…

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Are You in Favor of Improvement of Quality? Misunderstanding Quality (Part 10) 31:36

4M ago31:36

31:36

Everyone is in favor of improving quality, but what does that mean? In this episode Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz discuss stories of meeting requirements, missing the mark, and what Dr. Deming said about how to do better. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.2 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachings of Dr. W.…

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141 - How can we build trust with remote and hybrid teams? 23:14

4M ago23:14

23:14

In this podcast, Paul and Richard tackle one of the questions we have been asked a lot since the pandemic ended - How do you build trust between team members and teams that don’t spend that much time in the office. Building trust between individuals and groups is far more complex than many of us realise because we do it so easily when we are togeth…

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Moving Productivity Forward: Boosting Lean with Deming (Part 7) 35:46

4M ago35:46

35:46

In the final episode of the series, Jacob Stoller and Andrew Stotz discuss the difference between typical companies using traditional management and more successful Deming-style companies. If productivity and performance are so much better, why do companies stick with traditional management? TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.3 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stot…

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Worse Than a Thief: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 9) 43:59

5M ago43:59

43:59

Join Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz as they discuss what actions (or inactions) make us worse than thieves and how that relates to expiration dates, and acceptability vs desirability. Plus, stories about job swapping, Achieving Competitive Excellence, and birthdays. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.3 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as…

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Define the Problem: Path for Improvement (Part 5) 29:26

5M ago29:26

29:26

Before you start solving a problem, you need to know what, precisely, you're trying to solve. In this episode, John Dues and Andrew Stotz talk about how to figure out the problem on which you will focus your team's efforts. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.2 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachings of Dr. …

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Beyond Looking Good: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 8) 29:59

5M ago29:59

29:59

In this episode, Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz dive further into acceptability versus desirability in the quality world. Is it enough that something is "good" - meets requirements - or do you need to focus on degrees of "good"? How can you tell the difference? TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.5 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we d…

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See the System: Path for Improvement (Part 4) 33:32

5M ago33:32

33:32

Before you jump into tools and solutions, you need to take a step back. In this episode, John Dues and Andrew Stotz discuss the four questions you need to ask in order to make the system you want to work on visible, and decide on a direction. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.5 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the…

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140 - How can I do this all over again? 23:02

6M ago23:02

23:02

The coaching question in this podcast might not be as common as others we have covered, but it is one we can personally relate to. Regardless of your role or expertise, there are times when we give it our all, putting everything we have to get something over the line, then we reset to the start and have to go again. Sales targets reset each year, p…

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Frame the Challenge: Path for Improvement (Part 3) 33:50

6M ago33:50

33:50

John Dues and Andrew Stotz are diving deeper into the improvement model that John is building with his team. In this episode, learn the three ways to think about an improvement frame for your big challenge. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.6 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming.…

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139 - How can I be less of a people pleaser? 30:33

6M ago30:33

30:33

This episode continues our series of common topics from coaching conversations. In this episode, Paul and Graham consider the idea of 'people pleasing' - being helpful to the point of thier own detriment. From understanding the difference between helpfulness and people pleasing, through to how to say no to the boss, Graham and Paul talk about what …

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Paradigms of Variation: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 7) 37:27

6M ago37:27

37:27

In this episode, Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz explore the intersection of variation and quality through awareness of the "Paradigms of Variation.” In a progression from acceptability to desirability, Bill created this 4-part model to offer economic insights for differentiating “Zero Defect” quality from “Loss Function" quality," with the aim of av…

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Myth of Tech Omnipotence: Boosting Lean with Deming (Part 6) 30:35

7M ago30:35

30:35

Many companies strive to automate by using more technology and fewer humans. But does their productivity really improve? Does it keep them agile? In this episode, Jacob Stoller and Andrew Stotz share stories of companies that improve productivity because they focus on processes instead of tech alone. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.3 Andrew Stotz: My name is An…

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138 - How do I stop feeling so tired? 28:57

7M ago28:57

28:57

As we continue our mini-series of common topics from coaching conversations, in this podcast, Ricky and Paul explore why sometimes people feel drained at work, leaving them with an overall feeling of being tired. Clearly, at times, we can all burn the candle at both ends, but in coaching situations, this is often a sign of something deeper going on…

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Myth of Sticks and Carrots: Boosting Lean with Deming (Part 5) 39:04

7M ago39:04

39:04

Traditional management uses "carrots," like bonuses, and "sticks", like Performance Improvement Plans, to motivate employees. But are humans really built that way? In this episode, Jacob Stoller and Andrew Stotz dive into the myth surrounding that approach and talk about what actually motivates people at work. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.7 Andrew Stotz: My …

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Top-Down Knowledge Myth: Boosting Lean with Deming (Part 4) 20:41

7M ago20:41

20:41

In this episode, Jacob Stoller and Andrew Stotz discuss the myth that managers need to know everything in order to manage. What happens when you ask non-managers for feedback? TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.2 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we continue our journey into the teachings of Dr. W Edwards Deming. Today I'm continuing …

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137 - How will I know when it is time to change roles? 22:33

7M ago22:33

22:33

As part of our series of questions often raised in coaching conversations, in this episode of The Question Is, Paul and Graham explore the often asked, without ever being actually said, question: How do I know if I should change roles? Being ready to move on from your current role can be challenging. From not feeling like you have finished what you…

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Category and Continuum Thinking: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 6) 34:35

7M ago34:35

34:35

Is quality simply a matter of two categories: good and bad? But then how do you get to "better"? In this episode, Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz discuss categories and continuum thinking. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.4 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachings of Dr. W Edwards Deming. Today I'm continuing…

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136 - Why is this leadership role harder than my last one? 19:57

8M ago19:57

19:57

Every leadership role you undertake is slightly different. Different people, different problems, different cultures, maybe just a different time and place. Our ability to lead can be as much about the context or situation we find ourselves in as it is the skills we bring to the party! As part of our series of questions commonly raised in our coachi…

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Myth of the Bottom Line: Boosting Lean with Deming (Part 3) 25:05

8M ago25:05

25:05

Is your financial bottom line the true story of your organization? In this episode, Jacob Stoller and Andrew Stotz take on the myth of the bottom line - maybe it doesn't tell you what you think it does. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.5 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we continue our journey into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards D…

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The Myth of Segmented Success: Boosting Lean with Deming (Part 2) 27:27

8M ago27:27

27:27

Is the whole simply a sum of its parts? In this episode, Jacob Stoller and Andrew Stotz discuss what happens when you divide a company into pieces and manage them separately - and what to do instead. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.5 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we dive deeper into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Today…

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The Red Bead Experiment: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 5) 40:19

8M ago40:19

40:19

What can Dr. Deming's famous Red Bead Experiment teach us about quality? What happens when you only focus on the bad, and ignore the good? In this episode Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz discuss acceptability vs desirability in the context of the Red Beads and a few of the 14 Points for Management. 0:00:02.1 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and …

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Setting the Challenge: Path for Improvement (Part 2) 37:41

9M ago37:41

37:41

In this episode, John Dues and Andrew Stotz discuss the first part of John's path for improvement model - setting the challenge. Using an example from United Schools Network, John explains their aspirations for cutting chronic absenteeism rates. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.4 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz. And I'll be your host as we continue our jou…

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Pay Attention to the Choices: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 4) 34:34

9M ago34:34

34:34

Continuing their discussion from part 3 of this series, Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz talk more about acceptability versus desirability. In this episode, the discussion focuses on how you might choose between the two. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:00.0 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we continue our journey into the teachings of Dr…

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135 - Why do I find giving feedback so difficult? 16:34

9M ago16:34

16:34

Feedback has been described as the breakfast of champions, but giving feedback can be one of the toughest things we have to do, with many people avoiding giving feedback if they possibly can. In this, another podcast in our series of questions from coaching conversations, Ricky and Graham focus on why some people find it so difficult to give good f…

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5 Myths of Traditional Productivity: Boosting Lean with Deming (Part 1) 22:07

9M ago22:07

22:07

In this new series, Jacob Stoller and Andrew Stotz discuss five major management and productivity myths and how Lean and Deming thinking solve them. This first episode offers an overview and Jacob shares his journey from traditional management to a better way. Jacob Stoller is the author of The Lean CEO: Leading the Way to World-Class Excellence an…

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Building an Improvement Model: Path for Improvement (Part 1) 35:27

9M ago35:27

35:27

In this new series, John Dues and Andrew Stotz discuss John's model for improvement. This episode includes an overview of the model and how John uses it for goal-setting and planning in his school. 0:00:02.4 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we continue our journey into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Today, I'm…

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134 - How do I say no (to senior people)? 24:33

10M ago24:33

24:33

Paul and Graham tackle saying no in this latest episode of the podcast where we look at the questions that are frequently raised in coaching sessions. Saying no, especially to the boss, is one of the things most of us find hard to do. From the desire to say yes to the mindset that makes it okay to say no when that is the right thing to do, this epi…

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Acceptability VS Desirability: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 3) 32:59

10M ago32:59

32:59

Is reaching A+ quality always the right answer? What happens when you consider factors that are part of the system, and not just the product in isolation? In this episode, Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz discuss acceptability versus desirability in the quality realm. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.5 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as …

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133 - How do I deal with a bad boss? 25:03

10M ago25:03

25:03

There is an old saying in business psychology: People rarely leave a company; they normally leave a manager! Not all bosses are good bosses, yet at the same time, not all bosses people think are bad are really bad bosses. Sometimes what appears as a difficult boss, is actually a different style that evokes a reaction from some of the people working…

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8 Dimensions of Quality: Misunderstanding Quality (Part 2) 32:10

10M ago32:10

32:10

In this episode, Bill Bellows and Andrew Stotz discuss David Garvin's 8 Dimensions of Quality and how they apply in the Deming world. Bill references this article by Garvin: https://hbr.org/1987/11/competing-on-the-eight-dimensions-of-quality TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.4 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we continue our journe…

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132 - How do I find purpose (in life)? 17:51

10M ago17:51

17:51

Continuing with our series of podcasts exploring questions that come up during coaching sessions, this podcast builds on episode 131, this time looking at how you find your purpose in life (not just work). In this episode, Ricky and Graham, chat about life's purpose, talking through the different areas of life, and the different things that motivat…

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Quality, Back to the Start! Misunderstanding Quality (Part 1) 35:12

11M ago35:12

35:12

Where did your "quality journey" start? In this first episode of a new series on quality, Bill Bellows shares his "origin story," the evolution of his thinking, and why the Deming philosophy is unique. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.3 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we continue our journey in the teachings of Dr. W Edwards Demin…

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131 - How do I find purpose (at work)? 20:41

11M ago20:41

20:41

Most of us spend over a third of our time at work - until we get to retire! Next to sleep is the part of our life that we spend the most time doing, yet often, we have no idea why we are there or what we are trying to achieve. Yeah, we are there for the money, and that means hitting some goals, but is that enough? What makes work meaningful? What i…

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Goal Setting is Often an Act of Desperation: Part 6 38:12

11M ago38:12

38:12

In the final episode of the goal setting in classrooms series, John Dues and Andrew Stotz discuss the last three of the 10 Key Lessons for implementing Deming in schools. They finish up with the example of Jessica's 4th-grade science class. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.4 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we continue our journey …

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Goal Setting is Often an Act of Desperation: Part 5 28:58

11M ago28:58

28:58

In this episode, John Dues and Andrew Stotz apply lessons five through seven of the 10 Key Lessons for implementing Deming in classrooms. They continue using Jessica's fourth-grade science class as an example to illustrate the concepts in action. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.2 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz and I'll be your host as we continue our jou…

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130 - How can I be successful and have balance in my life? 18:45

11M ago18:45

18:45

Continuing our journey into the questions that often come up in coaching sessions, in this podcast Richard and Paul explore how success in demanding jobs and work-life balance often can seem incompatible. Creating balance is a popular topic, with no end of articles and influencers talking about the tricks to create balance, or the sacrifices requir…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Continuousimprovement Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen