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%!
Self protection stalls leadership growth
Why you should listen: the metrics of leadership success
Leadership strategies for focusing on what matters most
We explore creating a corporate culture of continuous learning
Micromanagement is a leadership let down
Leadership insights into building trust
Prioritise feedback in your leadership toolbox
Take action
Explore the idea that self-preservation could be the root cause of micromanagement - how does protecting yourself impact your behaviour?
Tip of the week
Trust is also a big theme in The Olympus Project, so my tip is a quote from Athena I in Wisdom of the Ages. And she says, “Trust is a byproduct of good systems. Set things up right and fewer things go wrong.” So relevant in Lauren’s examples of why we micro-manage.
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About Lauren Jones
Lauren has spent the last 30 years building her career in engineering, manufacturing, consulting, training and facilitation. She started as an electrical engineer in petrochemical manufacturing and quickly moved into operations management.
With decades of experience working with leaders of businesses, Lauren notices they are often-times in overwhelm, having to deal with change, cynical teams, lack of buy-in from staff, all without the measures in place to track productivity and success. Many are frustrated, dealing with internal conflict, and worrying about failure and the direction the company is taking.
Lauren now has her own consulting practice where she loves working with executives, business owners and leaders at all levels, to build resilient business for the future.
She has seen terrific success with clients multiplying in size as she works with them facilitating their strategy, training their leaders, developing and refining their systems, and continuously improving their businesses.
Find out more: https://laurenjones.com.au/
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.
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About your host, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.