Lean is About Behaviors

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 08-07-25

Getting the culture right is vital to lean. This video course is a more conceptual complement to the Lean Principles course. The Lean Principles course lays out 5 specific principles, whereas this course outlines the logic around why it’s so important to make your journey about principles and behaviors, whether they be your own or you adopt what I’ve already laid out. This is one of the earlier courses developed in the Learning Lab.

Watch Lean is about Behaviors on YouTube

The Evolution of Lean

The Evolution of Lean has taught us that leadership must transcend mere support to achieve true ownership. In this video, Jamie Flinchbaugh reveals why many improvement efforts fail by accepting simple “buy-in” rather than demanding genuine engagement, highlighting the critical difference between leadership that writes checks and attends kickoffs versus leadership that applies concepts and coaches others. Learn how deliberate engagement strategies create accountability at all organizational levels, the three critical success factors from hundreds of successful Lean transformations, and why regularly refreshing your roadmap based on actual progress ensures sustained momentum throughout your journey.

Lean is about Behaviors

In this video, Jamie explores why behaviors are the most important aspect in the evolution of Lean, transcending mere tools. Learn how behaviors provide dynamic, flexible approaches adaptable across various roles and situations, making them crucial for an effective Lean culture.

Discover through Jamie’s early career experience managing a pioneering pull system how understanding behavioral connections—not just system design—drives sustainable results. See practical examples like Alcatraz’s kitchen knife shadow board that illustrate the difference between implementing tools (like 5S) and sustaining them through belief and consistent behaviors.

Jamie reveals why problem-solving methodologies often fail when reduced to template-filling exercises rather than fostering genuine curiosity, experimentation, and deep study of problems.

Ultimately, successful Lean transformation requires focusing on behaviors that create lasting change rather than simply implementing tools.

Experiences Beliefs & Behavior

Jamie explains that Lean transformation requires changing behaviors, not just implementing tools. Behaviors stem from beliefs, which form through accumulated experiences, creating a chain reaction for cultural change. Effective leaders follow an “inside-out” approach—mastering their own behavioral changes before guiding others. Sustainable change comes from understanding the “why” behind what works and what doesn’t. This experiences-beliefs-behaviors framework creates lasting Lean culture transformation.

Clearly Articulate Your Lean Behaviors

Jamie explains that most organizational cultures happen by accident—random experiences creating unintentional beliefs and behaviors. Effective Lean cultures must be deliberately designed with clearly defined, observable behaviors rather than vague aspirations like “respect” or “excellence.”

Adopting positive behaviors proves more effective than avoiding negative ones. Cultural transformation requires continuous improvement through Plan-Do-Study-Adjust cycles: planning target behaviors, implementing experiences that build understanding and practice, studying actual outcomes, and adjusting based on observations.

This deliberate approach creates intentional culture change rather than leaving it to chance.

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