π Why Most Transformations Fail: Mark Graban on Psychological Safety, Lean Thinking & Real Change
Description
β¨Β Ready to stop your transformation from becoming another statistic?
In this lively episode, host Heath Gascoigne sits down with global Lean thinker and Shingo Award-winning authorΒ Mark GrabanΒ for a no-BS conversation about why most business transformations flopβand what you can do differently! π₯
Mark shares over 20 years of insights from the trenches of Lean, healthcare, and operational excellence across the US, UK, and beyond. Together, we unpack:
- The real reasons 70% of transformations failΒ (hint: itβs not just tech!) π‘
- Why swapping systems β transformation π₯οΈβ‘οΈπ₯οΈ
- How βpsychological safetyβ is the #1 lever for real change π§ π‘οΈ
- TheΒ dangerΒ of βchange management theaterβ π
- Why leaders must move from βdoingβ to βfacilitatingβ π
- How to actually create buy-in (not just βmake people feel involvedβ) π€
- The step most sponsors want to skip (and why it dooms projects) β©π₯
- Markβs personal lessons: what he wishes he knew 20 years ago π
Whether youβre leading digital, cultural, or operational changeβor you want to avoid the classic trapsβthis episode is packed with real-world lessons, frameworks, and actionable takeaways.
πΒ BONUS: Is your organization ready for the AI revolution?
Take our brand new, FREEΒ AI Transformation Readiness ScorecardΒ and get your custom report in minutes:
πΒ https://hoba.tech/scorecards/ai-transformation-readiness/Β π¦
Chapters & Timestamps
(Click to jump!)
- 00:00 Β β Welcome & Guest Intro π
- 03:16 Β β Why βTransformationβ Fails: The Truth Behind the Stats π
- 09:00 Β β Tech Upgrades vs. Real Change π₯οΈπ
- 12:28 Β β Psychological Safety: The Missing Link π§ π‘οΈ
- 17:29 Β β Silos, Culture & Breaking Down Barriers π§±
- 22:09 Β β The Consultantβs Real Role: Frameworks, Not Formulas π οΈ
- 26:07 Β β Why Jumping to Solutions Kills Projects πββοΈπ₯
- 32:25 Β β When Sponsors Want to Skip Steps β©π¬
- 39:22 Β β Buy-In vs. Change Theater π
- 45:15 Β β Champions, Ownership & Real Participation π
- 50:49 Β β Vision, Assumptions & Lessons Learned π΅οΈββοΈ
- 58:27 Β β What Mark Would Do Differently: Top 2 Lessons π
- 1:02:19 Β β Modeling, Encouraging & Rewarding the Right Behaviors π±
- 1:04:36 Β β Wrap Up, Resources & Your AI Readiness Scorecard! π
Listen Now:
π§Β SpotifyΒ |Β Apple PodcastsΒ |Β YouTubeΒ (Add links when published)
π₯ Key Takeaways
- Most change fails at theΒ peopleΒ layerβnot the tech, not the process π₯
- Psychological safety is the secret sauce for innovation & transformation π§ β¨
- Donβt βhit people with the bookββco-create solutions & build real engagement ππ€
- Why βchange championsβ and cross-functional teams are your best asset π
- Markβs must-read:Β The Four Stages of Psychological SafetyΒ by Timothy R. Clark π
π Ready for AI?
π¦Β Find out if your org is ready for AI transformation in 5 minutes:
https://hoba.tech/scorecards/ai-transformation-readiness/
Get your custom AI readiness reportβFREE.
Connect with Mark Graban
πΒ MarkGraban.com
πΒ LinkedIn
ποΈΒ Lean Blog Interviews Podcast
π Books:Β Lean Hospitals,Β The Mistakes That Make Us,Β Healthcare Kaizen,Β Practicing Lean
Spread the Word!
#BusinessTransformation #LeanThinking #PsychologicalSafety #OrganizationalChange #ChangeLeadership #DigitalTransformation #ContinuousImprovement #ChangeManagement #HealthcareTransformation #AIReadiness #TransformationPodcast #HobaTech
πΒ Enjoyed the show?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share with your team!
And donβt forget your free AI Readiness Scorecard:
https://hoba.tech/scorecards/ai-transformation-readiness/ π¦