Tyson Heaton on The Human Side of Lean Transformation

In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Tyson Heaton, Senior Director of Co-Learning and Business Strategy at Lean Enterprise Institute, to explore why the most powerful part of Lean isn't the tools, it's the people.

Drawing from his experiences at OC Tanner and LEI, Tyson shares how his perspective shifted from technical solutions to human capability, and why that shift is essential for lasting transformation. From the value of flow to the role of daily management systems, he unpacks how true improvement happens when you build trust, expose problems, and empower teams to solve them.

🔻 Why capability beats quick fixes

🔻 How “no problems” is the biggest problem of all

🔻 The link between lean systems, flow, and human well-being

🔻 How AI might become a third coach in Lean development

🔻 Why frustration should trigger curiosity, not blame

Whether you're deep into Lean or just getting started, this episode will challenge how you think about improvement and why it has to start with people.

📚 Learn more about the Lean Enterprise Institute: https://www.lean.org/

🔗 Connect with Tyson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyson-heaton-94171138/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.