Blog

Happy Heuristics Podcast

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 09-25-25

Happy Heuristics was a single-season podcast, in partnership with MG Strategy’s Jeff Grimshaw, that explores the use of heuristics in leadership. Heuristics, or rules of thumb, help speed up and make more consistent decisions in a complex world. Each episode explores a theme, and Jeff and Jamie Flinchbaugh each offer

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The Waste of Mental Inventory

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 09-23-25

Ever wonder why your brain feels so cluttered and tired? It’s probably stuffed with too many unfinished tasks, unmade decisions, and mental “to-dos” bouncing around in your head. This mental overload isn’t just annoying—it’s actually making you less effective and more stressed. When your mind is packed with too much

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Factory Talk Series

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 09-18-25

This 9-video series was done in partnership with IndustryWeek and highlights leaders in factories. Through interviews, we cover their practices and ideas for effective leadership within operations. Some participants are CEOs of smaller one-site companies, and others are plant managers within larger companies. There are nuggets and lessons for everyone

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Dr. Shannon Flumerfelt on Coaching Through Difficult Situations with Lean Tools

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on

Dr. Shannon Flumerfelt, Founder of Charactership Lean Consulting and Endowed Professor of Lean at Oakland University, joined host Jamie Flinchbaugh to discuss her systematic approach to coaching leaders through difficult situations and complex problem-solving challenges.   Dr. Flumerfelt shared her framework for handling difficult coaching situations, which begins with understanding

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Flawed Harmony and the Consensus Trap

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 09-16-25

Leaders love to tout consensus decision-making. It sounds collaborative, inclusive, and wise. Many will even claim they “lead through consensus,” whether it’s true or not. But consensus fails more often than it succeeds, either because it’s executed poorly or applied in the wrong situations. Here are the most common failure

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Budgeting Doesn’t Have to Crush Your Soul

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 09-09-25

Most people dread budgeting because they’re approaching it with the wrong goals entirely. Instead of trying to create the “perfect” forecast or simply survive the process with minimal pushback, what if budgeting could actually become a strategic advantage? There’s a counterintuitive mindset shift that transforms this painful annual ritual into

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People Solve Problems Podcast

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 09-04-25

People Solve Problem Podcast are approximately 20-minutes conversations with thought leaders, business leaders, change agents, practitioners, and more from a wide swatch of perspectives talking about different aspects of problem solving. You’ll learn different frameworks, tips and tricks, perspectives, leadership approaches, principles and more. This podcast is available publicly but

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Dynamic Work Design with Nelson Repenning & Don Kieffer

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on

  Nelson Repenning and Don Kieffer joined host Jamie Flinchbaugh to discuss their collaborative book “There’s Got to Be a Better Way” and their approach to dynamic work design. Nelson Repenning is the School of Management Distinguished Professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, while Don Kieffer is a

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Transforming Intel’s Culture Through Problem Solving with Melinda Manente

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 08-21-25

  Melinda Manente, Process Improvement Coach & Facilitator at GBMP Consulting Group, joins Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share her extensive experience in creating transformational change within organizations. With over 30 years of experience at global Fortune 100 companies including Cisco, Parker Hannifin, Intel, and General

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Lean Coffee Episode 4

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 08-11-25

Episode 4: “Crossover event with the JIT Cafe: Daily Coffee and Productivity Routines”  In Episode 4, Mark Graban and Jamie Flinchbaugh are joined by the hosts of the Just-in-Time Cafe podcast, Elisabeth Swan and Tracy O’Rourke. This is the second joint episode, the first being episode 45 of Lean Whiskey.

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