What do you call a leader with no followers? A guy taking a walk. It is a line from The West Wing that I often think about. Within the context of the scene and the character, it is a response to a potential loss of leadership. 

Even in a normal year, achieving high levels of quality is no small feat; it's a daily challenge that requires buy-in from everyone. This year, as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on supply chains, worker safety and consumer demand, maintaining high levels of quality became a nearly superhuman feat.

Business leaders have long realized that creativity leads to innovation, which is a key ingredient to achieving success. They recognize that innovation is the most important single skill that an organization can possess if it is to remain competitive. 

My introduction to quality commenced at a manufacturing plant where I started at an entry-level product packaging position. 

Good leadership is necessary for any successful company, no matter what circumstances surround your business. But in times of crisis it becomes even more important. How your company weathers this crisis may have lasting effects for years to come. 

Some time ago, I spoke to a group about organizational culture. Considering what is happening today it might be appropriate to present a few thoughts to a broader audience. Each person can determine how it might apply to their circumstances.

A company with a highly developed culture of quality spends, on average, $350M less annually fixing mistakes than a company with a poorly developed one (Harvard Business Review, 2014). 

Since change has been constant since the dawn of man, it might be reasonable to think that industrial management has the process institutionalized...but that simply is not the case, at least in many organizations.

Picture this. A workplace filled with staff members excited about their work, driven to do their best and striving for improvements every day.

When people criticize negative feedback, they often misunderstand what it means to be an effective leader. We are surrounded by books and articles advising leaders to inspire.