George Pesansky | Excellence Without Burning People Out

In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with George Pesansky, a global authority on operational excellence. They discuss the importance of workplace culture, the need for systems over people in problem-solving, and the leadership gaps in manufacturing. George shares insights from his extensive experience in various work cultures and his transition to nonprofit work, emphasizing the value of donating talent. The conversation also touches on performance improvement, preventing employee burnout, and the future of work, highlighting the significance of respect and trust in the workplace.

Takeaways

• Culture represents the norms in a workplace.
• Understanding workplace culture is crucial for success.
• Problems are often system problems, not people problems.
• Leadership gaps exist in manufacturing due to poor promotion practices.
• Cultural differences impact how work is done.
• Transitioning to nonprofit work can be fulfilling and impactful.
• Identifying performance issues requires understanding the system.
• Super performance focuses on celebrating wins, not just fixing failures.
• Performance reviews should focus on extending periods of success.
• Creating a respectful work environment is essential for employee retention.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Operational Excellence
• 04:09 Understanding Culture in the Workplace
• 05:47 Leadership Gaps in Manufacturing
• 12:39 Cultural Differences Across Regions
• 14:31 Transitioning to Nonprofit Work
• 17:11 Identifying Performance Issues
• 20:31 Defining Super Performance vs. Hustle Culture
• 26:08 The Prison of Expectations
• 31:13 Operational Excellence and Employee Empowerment
• 36:02 Rebuilding Trust Through Excellence
• 39:47 The Value of Donating Talent
• 45:17 Envisioning the Future of Work