28 | Leading Organizational Transformation the Right Way [with Cindy Hinds]

Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders

Do you ever feel stuck as a leader? It may seem like no matter how many problems you solve or tools you implement, you're still not seeing progress toward a sustainable organizational culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Maybe you have been leading change the wrong way.

In this episode, Cindy Hinds shares what she’s learned from 25 years of experience about how to lead organizational change the right way. She highlights what she has learned from her journey from being a technical expert to becoming a transformational change leader within a global organization who is equipping leaders at all levels to solve problems and innovating to drive business performance.

Transformational leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers. Connect with your purpose, step away from being the "doer," and empower others so that you – and they – can see better results.

YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to implement transformational leadership practices that create lasting organizational change, not just short-term results
• The importance of using simple terms instead of technical jargon to help get buy-in and help others understand the problems they need to solve
• Strategies to manage burnout by surrounding yourself with a supportive community and focusing on what truly matters
• How to bring your whole self to the workplace to fulfill your complete purpose and build trust within the organization
• The benefits of the maturity model to help leaders close the gap between their current condition and the results they want to achieve

ABOUT MY GUEST:

Cindy Hinds is the Global Director of Enterprise Excellence at A.O. Smith, manufacturing company with sites based across North America, Asia and Europe, where she is responsible for architecting A.O. Smith’s journey to create a culture of highly engaged people who are aligned in solving problems and innovating to continuously improve.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/28
• Connect with Cindy Hinds: www.linkedin.com/in/cindyhinds
• My website: KBJAnderson.com/
• Download the Change KATALYST™ Self–Assessment to discover the 8 competencies you must master to become a transformational change leader: KBJAnderson.com/KATALYST
• Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson

TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:

[5:13] Leading the right way and asking questions for a continuous improvement culture

[8:12] Finding gaps through Gemba to transform your approach as a leader

[11:18] Franklin Covey’s Speed of Trust Curriculum to connect behaviors to business outcomes
[15:06] Using “Nemawashi” to prepare for future actions or business decisions

[18:30] Focusing on a people-centric culture to avoid conflicting values

[21:16] Real-life examples of implementing sustainable practices for continuous improvement

[24:31] The maturity model to understand your current condition and ideal state

Apply for the May 2025 Japan Study Trip here:
https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/

Upcoming 'Ask Me Anything' Episode
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