I joined John Ray with North Fulton Business Radio to share my journey from engineering and military service to coaching leaders and teams on how to optimize processes, develop leadership, and build stronger organizations. I explain why small businesses should not delay putting processes in place, how Lego Serious Play helps leaders and teams uncover hidden insights, and why AI will only magnify the processes you already have, good or bad. I also discuss the eight wasteful activities that leaders should watch for, how to right-size process for the stage of a business, and why building blocks today save costly rescues tomorrow.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- Small businesses often delay creating processes, but putting structure in place early saves costly fixes later.
- The eight wasteful activities from Lean methodology give leaders a practical lens for spotting inefficiency.
- AI magnifies whatever process you already have—good or bad—so optimization must come first.
- Lego Serious Play, a facilitation method using LEGO bricks, helps leaders and teams surface hidden insights and improve collaboration.
- Strong delivery requires balancing three pillars: process optimization, leadership development, and team building.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
02:05 Guest Introduction: Shawn Yates
03:08 Shawn’s Background and Career Journey
07:38 The Importance of Process in Business
14:00 Lego Serious Play: A Unique Facilitation Technique
16:51 Leadership Development and Team Building with Legos
17:26 Discovering Insights Through Lego Models
18:35 Team Building Exercises and Dynamics
20:29 Addressing Team Conflicts with Legos
20:57 Understanding Lean Methodology and Waste
21:39 Digital and Physical Waste Examples
24:09 AI and Process Optimization
26:03 Symptoms of Poor Processes
28:10 Success Stories and Measuring Improvements
29:33 Contact Information and Final Thoughts