In this episode of Improvement Nerds, we’re joined by Katie Anderson, lean leadership expert and author of Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. Fresh from her latest study trip to Japan, Katie shares powerful insights on people-centered leadership, continuous improvement, and how strategy deployment connects leaders and frontline teams.

Discover the secrets behind Toyota-inspired practices, the importance of psychological safety, and how to balance technical expertise with transformational leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned Lean Six Sigma practitioner or just starting your improvement journey, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways!

💡 Key Topics Covered:

Lessons from Katie’s Japan study trips

Connecting strategy deployment (Hoshin Kanri) from leaders to the frontline

The critical role of Nemawashi (tilling the soil) in decision-making

Creating psychological safety in high-performing organizations

Developing leadership skills with the Katalyst model

📍 Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction: Lean leadership and Katie Anderson’s Japan study trips

4:00 - People-centered processes: Lessons from Japan and Toyota

8:30 - Hoshin Kanri: How strategy deployment connects leaders to the frontline

14:20 - Nemawashi: Building alignment and support for lasting change

20:10 - Psychological safety: Building trust while achieving results

25:45 - Moving from technical expert to transformational leader

32:10 - Developing influence skills: The Katalyst model

38:00 - Advice for new Lean leaders and practitioners

42:00 - Where to find Katie’s resources: Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn and Chain of Learning podcast

🌟 Connect with Katie Anderson:

Website: kbjanderson.com

Book: Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn

Podcast: Chain of Learning

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