My guest this week is an engineer turned systems productivity expert and author. Lauren Jones is a specialist in continuous improvement and her book, 10% Better, focuses on strategies to improve business processes and performance incrementally. Lauren shares how small, consistent improvements can lead to significant gains over time and how growth in both personal and professional realms can go hand-in-hand.

We talk about the significance of inspiring and empowering people, overcoming the challenges of micromanagement and fostering trust within teams. Lauren’s practical and pragmatic insights will inspire reflection and change - 100%!

Shownotes

See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-framework-lauren-jones

Key Moments

Planet Human: GPT is moving on in leaps and bounds - with a new voice feature that is fun to play with!

Planet Zoë: The manuscript for Olympus Rising is complete which is very exciting. My focus now shifts to non-fiction and research for my next leadership book, tentatively titled Power Games.

Lauren Jones' journey into productivity (00:03:26) Lauren Jones' transition from engineering to productivity consulting and her experience in operations management.

The intersection of technical expertise and leadership (00:07:05) The discussion on how technical expertise and systems thinking intersect with leadership and management.

Measuring business improvement (00:12:25) The importance of measuring various aspects of business performance, including quality, customer satisfaction, and financial indicators.

The 10% improvement approach (00:18:16) The steps for achieving a 10% improvement, including inspiring and empowering the team, and tracking progress.

The self-preservation instinct (00:22:00) Discussion about micromanagement, self-focus, and the detrimental impact of self-preservation instinct on leadership and team dynamics.

Changing perspectives (00:23:52) The speaker shares personal examples of changing perspectives on ageism, gender roles, and work-life balance, highlighting the need for challenging and evolving mindsets.

Future of work (00:33:02) Anticipated changes in the workplace, including automation, paperless operations, and a shift towards result-oriented focus rather than hours worked, with a positive outlook on embracing change.

Leadership masterclasses (00:34:47) Introduction of leadership and management masterclasses aimed at emerging leaders, addressing the challenges of transitioning into management roles and the need for formal training.

Insights on business management and improvement (00:37:07) Key takeaways on business management, improvement, and the importance of good systems for delegation, coaching, and trust-building.