The Systems Thinker Show "Engineering Smarter Operations, One Episode at a Time"

Karass Innovations Group
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Unlock the power of systems thinking and revolutionize how you approach operations with The Systems Thinker Show. Each episode dives deep into the principles, tools, and strategies that empower professionals to design, optimize, and lead smarter, more efficient processes across industries. Whether you’re an engineer, manager, or curious problem-solver, this show delivers insights you can apply immediately—from lean thinking and process mapping to digital transformation and organizational dynamics. Join us as we decode complexity, break down silos, and engineer smarter operations.

  1. 3D AGO · BONUS

    鏡像效應化解團隊防衛 S6E51

    當權力法則遇上現代管理：如何運用「鏡像效應」徹底扭轉企業文化？引言：打破防禦牆的無形武器在當今的企業高層會議室中，正上演著一場深刻的誠信危機。根據調查，僅有 48% 的員工相信領導者能真正「以身作則」。我們經常看到這樣的弔詭困境：領導者口中高喊「問責制」與「透明度」，但在面對挑戰、KPI 未達標或負面數據時，卻立即陷入情緒化的防禦狀態，忙於推諉與指責。這種言行不一的「信號傳播」會迅速在組織中擴散，導致員工選擇沉默抗議，會議變成虛偽的表演，企業文化則在這種心理摩擦中逐漸僵化。要打破這種深層的防禦僵局，傳統的說教已然失效。我們需要一種更犀利、更具穿透力的工具——這就是羅伯特·格林（Robert Greene）在權力法則中提到的「鏡像效應（The Mirror Effect）」。這不僅是心理戰術，更是一種精準的文化診斷工具。透過反射他人的行為，我們能讓那些深陷自我防禦的人，在無處可躲的情況下「看見」自己的真實樣貌，進而促成由內而外的變革。 Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/ 7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb Sponsored by Crunch Time Gourmet Popcorn & Apples (Bridgeport, WV): gourmet popcorn + caramel apples made with small-batch homemade caramel. Shop:  https://crunchtimewv.com  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    17 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Disarm Defensiveness With The Mirror Effect S6E51

    The High-Performance Paradox: How Mirroring Disarms the Ego and Heals Toxic CultureModern leadership is suffering from a hypocrisy epidemic. We celebrate "accountability culture" in our town halls while simultaneously punishing the messengers of truth in our boardrooms. This creates a destructive defensive loop: leaders demand transparency but react with emotional volatility when faced with challenges, prompting their teams to retreat into performative behavior and silent resistance.In this stalemate, traditional management advice often fails because it addresses the symptoms of the culture rather than the ego of the leader. To break the wall, we must look to an unlikely source: Robert Greene’s "Mirror Effect." While often categorized as a Machiavellian tactic for manipulation, Law 44 of the 48 Laws of Power provides a profound psychological mechanism for cultural renewal. By reflecting a leader’s own behavior back to them, an organization can bypass intellectual defenses and force an encounter with reality.This is not about aggression; it is about providing an unfiltered reflection. When leaders see their own conduct mirrored by their environment, the resulting "tactical confusion" becomes the shortest path to genuine self-awareness and organizational health. Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/ 7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb Sponsored by Crunch Time Gourmet Popcorn & Apples (Bridgeport, WV): gourmet popcorn + caramel apples made with small-batch homemade caramel. Shop:  https://crunchtimewv.com  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    17 min

  3. 4D AGO · BONUS

    用系統設計取代文化口號 S6E51

    【別再喊口號！】深度解析：為什麼「系統結構」才是打造高績效文化的真正關鍵？在許多企業的會議室裡，牆上貼滿了「以人為本」、「追求卓越」或「團隊協作」的精美口號。然而，觀察其實際運作，卻往往充斥著跨部門內耗、無效會議以及因循苟且的行為。身為一名曾在 General Electric (GE)、Nestlé、Kodak 與 Gillette 等 Fortune 50 企業深耕多年的系統策略師，我看到過無數卓越的願景在缺乏結構的土壤中枯萎。領導力系統策略師 Lenier Johnson, Jr. 在其著作《設計文化，紀律賦能》（Culture by Design, Power by Discipline）中提出了一個核心工程準則：卓越的文化絕非偶然，而是「設計（Engineered）」出來的結果。文化不是你在海報上寫了什麼，而是你透過「管理作業系統（Management Operating System, MOS）」、結構化紀律與刻意設計的權力動態，在日常運作中強化並保護的行為總合。本文將揭示五個來自 Johnson 實戰經驗的衝擊性洞見，教你如何透過「結構化流程」來實踐領導力 Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    15 min

  4. 4D AGO

    Culture by Design, Power by Discipline - Volume 2

    Beyond the Slogan: 5 Unexpected Truths for Engineering a High-Performance Culture1. The High Cost of Posters and BuzzwordsModern leadership is often reduced to a collection of comfortable slogans: “people over process,” “empower your teams,” and the ubiquitous “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” While these phrases perform well on breakroom posters, they frequently evaporate upon contact with the shop floor or the executive suite. The relatability problem is clear: organizations talk about excellence while operating in a fog of misalignment.High-performance culture is not an organic accident; it is a designed output. It is the result of a rigorous Management Operating System (MOS) that translates aspiration into daily behavior. True leadership is found in the disciplined structures—the routines, the Tiered Cadences, and the Short-Interval Controls (SIC)—that either reinforce a standard or quietly permit its decay. To move beyond the slogan, one must stop "hoping" for culture and start engineering it. Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    17 min

  5. FEB 4 · BONUS

    以攻心與系統重塑團隊文化 S6E50

    從「指令」到「承諾」：為何信任才是製造業轉型中被遺忘的隱性資產？在當今追求極致效率的產業環境中，許多領導者正面臨一個令人沮喪的悖論：儘管導入了最精密的 KPI 考核、數位化的監控系統與嚴格的管理標準，生產現場的離職率依然居高不下，安全事故頻傳，且員工對變革表現出強烈的冷漠。這種傳統的「指令與控制」（Command-and-Control）模式正遭遇前所未有的瓶頸。作為一名組織心理學家，我常觀察到這類組織的共同特徵——根據一個中型製造業的轉型案例顯示，其一線員工對領導層的信任度曾低於 50%，管理層被形容為「交易型」（Transactional），意即：我付錢，你工作，除此之外別無關聯。要翻轉這種局面，關鍵不在於優化設備運算，而是在於重拾羅伯·葛林（Robert Greene）在《權力 48 法則》中揭示的核心智慧：爭取他人的心與腦（Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others）。 Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    19 min

  6. FEB 4

    Turn Compliance Into Commitment With Systems S6E50

    The Trust Multiplier: Why Leading 'Hearts and Minds' is the Ultimate Operational HackThe Compliance TrapMost corporate environments are haunted by the "Compliance Trap." It is a sterile state where management treats leadership as a transaction, focusing strictly on spreadsheets and rigid KPIs while employee trust remains stagnant. In this environment, people do exactly what is required to keep their jobs—and not a single ounce more.To shatter this ceiling, strategic leaders must pivot to Robert Greene’s Law 43: Work on the hearts and minds of others. True operational excellence is not a technical problem; it is an emotional one. Emotional buy-in is the primary multiplier for success, serving as the bridge between cold systems and high-performance reality. Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    18 min

  7. JAN 28 · BONUS

    行動項目追蹤是動力還是枷鎖 S6E49

    擊潰「英雄領導」：為何移除領頭羊才是企業穩定的開始？前言：不可或缺的領導者，是企業最危險的錯覺在商場上，我們常陷入「不可或缺的領導者」這種有害的迷思中。許多執行長引以為傲的是，某個廠長或高階主管憑藉個人魅力與鋼鐵意志，獨力支撐起整個部門的績效。然而，從系統策略的角度來看，這並非卓越的領導，而是一個致命的「單點故障點」（Single Point of Failure）。當一個組織的運作邏輯、決策路徑與資訊權力全部鎖死在一個人的公事包裡，這不是強大，而是結構性的極度脆弱。這引發了一個殘酷的診斷：如果今天將這位領導者移除，你的公司是會進化到下一階段，還是會立即陷入癱瘓？對於多數依賴「英雄」的組織而言，答案往往是後者。當權力完全依附於人格而非系統時，穩定性只不過是一場隨時會幻滅的假象。核心觀點一：權力定律的逆向工程 —— 「擊潰牧羊人，羊群便散」Robert Greene 在其權力經典《權力 48 法則》第 42 條中，以冷峻的筆觸揭示了群體動態的本質：「如果你想使一個團體失去穩定，那就針對其領導者。當你移除了核心人物，追隨者就會失去方向並變得迷失。透過消除權力來源，你將能更輕易地控制或操縱剩餘的群體。」雖然這條法則傳統上被用於政治鬥爭中的「去穩定化」，但對於現代企業經理人而言，它具備更深層的診斷意義。如果移除一個領導者能讓團隊瞬間潰散，這證明該組織的權力結構是原始且未經開發的。依賴「人格權威」的組織，其生命力極其短暫；真正的戰略家會利用這條法則來測試組織的韌性——也就是將權力從個人手中解放，轉移到可持續運行的系統中。 Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Book: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    15 min

  8. JAN 28

    Stop Hiring Heroes, Build Systems S6E49

    Why the Best Leaders Build Organizations That Don't Need Them: Lessons from Law 42The Hidden Fragility of the "Hero" LeaderThe most dangerous leaders are those whose charisma masks a total lack of infrastructure. Executives frequently fall into the trap of the "Hero Leader," mistake-proofing their own egos while leaving the organization fundamentally fragile. They mistake a cult of personality for a high-performance culture. But charisma is not a strategy; it is a structural liability.Consider the mid-size manufacturing plant that recently served as a cautionary tale. For years, the facility thrived under a charismatic Plant Manager who acted as the sole arbiter of truth. When he unexpectedly exited, the "flock" didn't just stumble—it collapsed. Decisions stalled, priorities became purely reactive, and the absence of a "shepherd" revealed that the organization had never actually learned how to function. It was a group of followers, not a business. Ask yourself: if your organization faced a sudden "strike to the shepherd," would your teams maintain their pace, or would they scatter into chaos? Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog Book: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

    14 min
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About

Unlock the power of systems thinking and revolutionize how you approach operations with The Systems Thinker Show. Each episode dives deep into the principles, tools, and strategies that empower professionals to design, optimize, and lead smarter, more efficient processes across industries. Whether you’re an engineer, manager, or curious problem-solver, this show delivers insights you can apply immediately—from lean thinking and process mapping to digital transformation and organizational dynamics. Join us as we decode complexity, break down silos, and engineer smarter operations.

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