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<v Speaker 1>Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of

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<v Speaker 1>performance through strong human relations, team building, and golajiving. This

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<v Speaker 1>is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Fellavaledo.

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<v Speaker 2>Hello everyone, and welcome to the seven Minute Leadership Podcast.

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<v Speaker 2>It's episode four eighty seven. Today, I want to talk

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<v Speaker 2>to you about something that has stood the test of

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<v Speaker 2>time in ancient Japanese philosophy that could quietly change the

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<v Speaker 2>way you lead in the way you live. It's called kaizen.

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<v Speaker 2>The word means continuous improvement. But the power of kaizen

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<v Speaker 2>is in its simplicity. Get one percent better every single day.

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<v Speaker 2>So think about that for a second. One percent is

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<v Speaker 2>almost nothing. If I told you to increase your sales

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<v Speaker 2>by fifty percent this week, that would feel impossible. If

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<v Speaker 2>I told you to change your entire leadership style overnight,

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<v Speaker 2>you'd probably laugh and walk away. But one percent better,

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<v Speaker 2>that's doable, and over time that adds up. Here's the math.

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<v Speaker 2>One percent improvement compounded every day for a year equals

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<v Speaker 2>thirty seven times better, not thirty seven percent thirty seven times.

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<v Speaker 2>That's the difference between an average leader and an unforgettable one.

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<v Speaker 2>But here's where Kaysen becomes more than just numbers. It's

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<v Speaker 2>about humility. It's about understanding that no matter how long

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<v Speaker 2>you've been a leader, no matter how many titles or

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<v Speaker 2>trophies you have, there's still a tiny bit of room

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<v Speaker 2>for improvement every single day. And that tiny bit is

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<v Speaker 2>where greatness lives. So let me give you an example.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's say you're a manager who struggle with communication. Maybe

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<v Speaker 2>you talk too much in meetings, or maybe you don't

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<v Speaker 2>talk enough. Kaisen doesn't say become a world class communicator overnight.

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<v Speaker 2>Kaisen says, today, ask one better question than you did yesterday.

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<v Speaker 2>That's it. One better question, and tomorrow ask another, and

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<v Speaker 2>over time, you'll notice people leaning in when you speak,

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<v Speaker 2>they'll trust your voice more. That's Kaisen in action. Or

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<v Speaker 2>let's look at how this plays out in your team.

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<v Speaker 2>What if your culture isn't where you want it to be.

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<v Speaker 2>You don't flip a switch and fix it, but you

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<v Speaker 2>could celebrate one small win today that you might have

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<v Speaker 2>ignored yesterday. You could thank one person a little more specifically,

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<v Speaker 2>you could catch one person doing something right day after day.

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<v Speaker 2>Those small one percent changes build the kind of culture

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<v Speaker 2>that can carry an organization for years. That challenge with Kaisen, though,

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<v Speaker 2>is patience. We live in a world where everything has

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<v Speaker 2>to be fast. Leaders want results now, but Kaisen asks

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<v Speaker 2>you to think long term. If you're in it just

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<v Speaker 2>for the quick win, this philosophy will frustrate you. But

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<v Speaker 2>if you have the courage to stick with it, the

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<v Speaker 2>results will sneak up on you. One day, you'll look

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<v Speaker 2>back and realize you've completely transformed, not by leaps, but

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<v Speaker 2>because of steps. And here's where I want to challenge you.

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<v Speaker 2>For the next thirty days. Take the Kais and challenge

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<v Speaker 2>pick one area of your leadership, just one. Maybe it's listening,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe it's delegating, maybe it's accountability. And every day for

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<v Speaker 2>the next month, get one percent better in that area.

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<v Speaker 2>Track it, write it down. It doesn't matter if you

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<v Speaker 2>use a notebook, your phone, or sticky notes at your desk.

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<v Speaker 2>At the end of thirty days, I promise you you'll see

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<v Speaker 2>the difference. And let me make this clear. It's not

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<v Speaker 2>about perfection. It's about progress. If you mess up one day,

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<v Speaker 2>it doesn't erase the other days. Kaisen isn't about being flawless.

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<v Speaker 2>It's about showing up. Improvement is not a straight line,

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<v Speaker 2>it's a climb. With bumps and plateaus, but if you

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<v Speaker 2>stay consistent, you will climb. So what's your one percent?

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<v Speaker 2>That's the question I want to leave you with today.

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<v Speaker 2>Don't overthink it. Pick one area, commit to the kais

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<v Speaker 2>and challenge and start tomorrow. Because here's the truth. Leaders

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<v Speaker 2>who get one percent better every day will eventually become

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<v Speaker 2>the leaders everyone else wishes they could be. And if

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<v Speaker 2>you haven't done so, please five star review the show,

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<v Speaker 2>share it with a colleague. This has been this seven

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<v Speaker 2>minute leadership podcast and I thank you for listening.

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<v Speaker 1>For more Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot

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<v Speaker 1>com