Getting Started with Continuous Improvement
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Lessons and Reflections from the First Year
Starting a continuous improvement journey is harder than it looks.
Many organizations study Lean for years without taking action — while others jump in too quickly and struggle with missteps that stall momentum. In this candid webinar, Mark Graban and Dr. Greg Jacobson share real lessons learned from their early years applying Lean and Kaizen in healthcare and industry.
Rather than presenting theory, this session focuses on what actually works when organizations take their first steps toward a culture of continuous improvement — including mistakes to avoid, leadership behaviors that matter, and how to balance learning with action.
You’ll learn why improvement is best viewed as a practice rather than a one-time implementation, and how small early successes can build lasting momentum.
What You Will Learn
• Why continuous improvement should be practiced, not “implemented”
• Common first-year mistakes organizations make when starting Lean
• How leaders can support improvement without overwhelming teams
• Why small, low-risk changes often produce the biggest impact
• The role of coaching, mentoring, and psychological safety
• How to avoid analysis paralysis while still learning from others
• Practical ways to build capability across all levels of the organization
Who Should Watch
This webinar is designed for:
• Executives and senior leaders launching improvement initiatives
• Continuous improvement and operational excellence professionals
• Healthcare leaders implementing Lean or Kaizen
• Managers responsible for team performance and culture
• Anyone tasked with “getting started” but unsure where to begin
Why This Topic Matters
Organizations often delay improvement efforts because they believe they need more training, more resources, or a perfect plan.
In reality, progress begins when leaders take intentional first steps, learn from experience, and create an environment where experimentation is encouraged.
The lessons shared in this webinar can help your organization avoid costly false starts and build a sustainable improvement culture from day one.
About the Presenters
Mark Graban
Senior Advisor at KaiNexus, author of Lean Hospitals and co-author of Healthcare Kaizen. Mark is an internationally recognized expert on Lean leadership, psychological safety, and continuous improvement.
Dr. Greg Jacobson
Co-founder of KaiNexus and Chief Product Officer. Greg is an emergency physician who helped pioneer the application of Lean principles in healthcare and developed systems to engage frontline staff in improvement work.
Watch the webinar to learn how to take the first meaningful steps toward a culture of continuous improvement — without waiting for perfect conditions.
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