Excellence Unlocked

Have you walked into a warehouse or factory and it look looks a cluttered and disorganised? Well, it’s often a reflection on the overall operation of the business itself. 

Factory and warehouse tours offer valuable insights into business health. Key indicators include not only cleanliness, but also performance tracking tools like whiteboards, and employee engagement. 

Global companies like Coca-Cola, Lion Breweries,...

What are the root causes to issues that come up in your organisation? Well, investigations into airline crashes is an apt metaphor in getting to the bottom of things. While tragic, airline investigations often highlight the value of teamwork, discipline, and persistence in uncovering root causes.

In his book Advance, Ishan Galapathy explored structured problem-solving and interviewed John Cox, a lead air crash investigator, to lear...

Unlocking excellence in organisations revolves around two key aspects: people and processes. Often, Ishan insists, disengaged employees are only seemingly disengaged. By fostering collaboration and exploring their potential, we can re-engage them. Process improvement, on the other hand, is less about tools and more about techniques like effective facilitation and asking the right questions.

In problem-solving, assembling a cross-fu...

To unlock excellence in business problem-solving, adopting a "detective mindset" is crucial. Ishan says that many rush to solutions, akin to a "cowboy mindset," which may delay results or fail entirely. Thoroughly spend the time understanding the problem will yield better outcomes. This structured approach is evident in air crash investigations, where patience and unbiased data analysis uncover root causes. Tools like the 5W1H fram...

As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can unlock excellence in our lives, teams, and organisations. Excellence serves as a compass, guiding us from ambiguity to clarity; a discipline, aligning our actions with aspirations; and a transformative force, turning potential and problems into profitability. To embody excellence, focus on discipline — streamlining routines and decisions — and pr...

For Ishan, 2024 has been a whirlwind year of travel and reflection, with extensive travel domestically and overseas. These journeys have allowed him valuable time for journaling and contemplation. As the year ends, he’s observed three key trends among the organisations he’s worked with.

1. Goals exceed capabilities: Teams often aim high but lack the systems to achieve their aspirations, leading to burnout. Improving dai...

Identifying and solving the right problems can unlock excellence in business. Using a quadrant matrix, Ishan Galapathy categorises problems based on when they occur (proactive vs. reactive) and who solves them (expert vs. team).

Ishan illustrates the four types of problems: chaotic, sporadic, specific, and systemic. While chaotic and sporadic problems are reactive, specific and systemic problems are proactive. Emphasising the impor...

Ishan Galapathy explores the three core methodologies of continuous improvement: Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). He delves into their origins, key principles, and practical applications, highlighting how each approach contributes to improving productivity and reducing waste. Ishan explains Lean’s focus on eliminating non-value-added tasks, Six Sigma’s structured problem-solving framework, and ...

If you’re looking to improve business performance, it’s important to identify and remove operational frustrations on the shop floor. Ishan Galapathy explains the importance of immersing oneself in operational roles to truly understand pain points. He highlights how addressing inefficiencies, like unkinking a garden hose, can unlock business excellence. By eliminating non-value-adding processes—such as redundant approvals or unneces...

Ishan Galapathy explores the importance of quantifying and sharing the financial impact of continuous improvement efforts to build a culture of excellence. Showcasing the team’s results often causes anxiety among senior leaders. Common fears include employees expecting monetary rewards, difficulty sustaining improvements, and challenges in demonstrating savings on the P&L.

Ishan addresses these concerns by advocating for simple...

While technology can speed up processes, over-involvement by leaders often stifles team autonomy. That’s according to Ishan Galapathy, who says effective leaders assign initiatives to teams, providing guidance but avoiding direct control. Set meaningful, measurable KPIs that teams can easily track, like waste reduction per shift. Establish aspirational, realistic goals to inspire without overwhelming. Support teams by removing barr...

Ishan Galapathy dives into the core principles of continuous improvement as a path to unlocking excellence. Continuous improvement, he insists, is about consistent, small wins that accumulate over time, like building momentum on a metaphorical “flywheel”. Ishan outlines his model, comprising three key elements: building momentum, gaining traction, and expanding followers.

Organisations should focus on solving two types of problems:...

Aaron Jolliffe is a seasoned leader in operational excellence, known for his pragmatic approach to problem-solving and team engagement. Currently, Director of Warehouse Operations and Services at ALDI Stores Australia, Aaron advocates for the power of effective consultation and the importance of empowering frontline leaders to drive cultural change within organisations.

Aaron discusses the role of technology, warning against data o...

Dean Patton is Regional Operations Leader at Goodman Fielder, an Australian manufacturer and distributor of consumer goods. Dean discusses with host Ishan Galapathy the key principles for driving operational excellence and continuous improvement in businesses. Success in continuous improvement, Dean insists, starts with clear, consistent direction from leadership. Without it, efforts become unsustainable as individuals may take cha...

Ishan Galapathy wraps up his exploration on how to unlock potential in individuals, teams, and organisations through insights from his latest book, Unlock: Engage the Seemingly Disengaged. Ishan reflects on Stephen Covey’s insight: “You cannot talk yourself out of a problem you behaved yourself into.” True change, he says, requires trust and tangible results rather than just grand promises.

Think about the momentum of a train climb...

Alodia Bourke is a seasoned continuous improvement expert with nearly 30 years of experience leading transformation and engagement initiatives across global companies. She discusses with host Ishan Galapathy the significance of building trust, transparency, and communication, especially when addressing performance issues, and promotes a culture where discussing challenges (“reds”) is encouraged rather than hidden.

She advocates for...

A positive workplace culture can fast-track success by fostering an environment where people feel valued, supported, and motivated to contribute their best. Ishan Galapathy shares a story of a remarkable leader during a factory shutdown. Despite the challenging situation, Tim fostered an environment of empathy, open communication, and personal connections, making employees feel valued and committed.

Ishan highlights the importance ...

Encouraging individuals to feel proud of their achievements can motivate them to embrace change and become champions for growth within an organisation.

Drawing from examples such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition, and Nelson Mandela’s leadership of South Africa's rugby team, Ishan Galapathy shows how tapping into individuals' desires for esteem and recognition can drive outstanding commitment ...

Stuart Baak is a seasoned expert in operational excellence with over 30 years of experience in improving processes and leading teams across diverse industries. Currently focused on driving innovation and efficiency at Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania, Stuart has a proven track record of enhancing performance through pragmatic lean implementations and effective recognition strategies.

Stuart discusses the effectiveness of push vs...