Continuous Improvement and Lean Can Help You Create More Good Work Days
Release Date: 05/05/2026
Continuous Improvement and Lean Can Help You Create More Good Work Days
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh is joined by Scott Post to discuss how continuous improvement and lean thinking can help create more good work days. Reflecting on how they first met years ago in a project management class, including a memorable lesson involving a “crazy red chicken,” Scott shares how he found his path into lean, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. The conversation explores lean leadership as servant leadership, Scott’s long‑term involvement with lean consortiums such as the Iowa Lean Consortium and his fifteen years...
info_outline
Tools & Tips to Help Neurodivergent Individuals Thrive at Work
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh is joined by Jenna Adams Valadez for a practical and thoughtful conversation on how neurodivergent individuals can truly thrive at work. Jenna shares why this topic matters personally and helps redefine neurodivergence to include ADHD, autism, dyslexia, anxiety based differences, and more as different ways of processing rather than deficiencies. Together, they explore why clarity and prioritization are essential leadership skills, how standard work and change management reduce hidden friction, and what leaders often get wrong when trying to...
info_outline
5-Step Career Change Formula
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh is joined by Lata Hamilton, an organizational change management consultant and career confidence mentor, for a practical conversation about navigating career change with clarity and confidence. Lata shares her proven five‑step career change formula, grounded in her own experience of successfully changing careers multiple times. Together, they explore how to calculate the true cost of staying stuck, remember your worth, and tap into transferable skills you already have. Lata also offers guidance for gaining clarity when you don’t yet know...
info_outline
Letting Go of Control
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh is joined by artist and community advocate Kristy Evans for a deeply moving conversation about letting go of control and embracing what comes next. Kristy shares her remarkable journey from teaching to art after unexpected health challenges reshaped her life, and how creativity became both a healing practice and a path toward self‑discovery. Together, they explore the emotional landscape of career transitions, the grief, the growth, and the courage it takes to be new at something again. Kristy reflects on the values that continue to anchor...
info_outline
Building Connection Through Flowers
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh is joined by Catherine Schut for a heartfelt conversation about building genuine human connection through the simple beauty of flowers. Catherine shares how her local flower farm has become a gathering place for community, bringing together fellow small‑business owners, loyal customers, and neighbors through shared experiences and small acts of kindness. Together, they explore the many ways flowers help us connect: supporting clients and colleagues, celebrating meaningful milestones, offering comfort to friends and family, or creating quiet...
info_outline
Planning with Purpose: Goals, Rocks, and Rhythm
The Even Better Podcast
In this solo episode of Even Better, Sinikka Waugh explores what it means to plan with purpose, drawing on insights from recent quarterly planning and coaching conversations. She breaks planning into three essentials: setting simple yet SMART goals that bring clarity, identifying the big rocks that matter most so they do not get buried in the daily grind, and finding a rhythm that keeps you focused and aligned. Sinikka reflects on how easily cadence slips and how weeks or even months can pass without us noticing, and she highlights the value of reconnecting to a natural, intentional rhythm....
info_outline
Mentorship for Women: Finding and Being the Mentor You Need
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh is joined by Urmi Hossain for a powerful conversation on mentorship for women, how to find the support you need and how to become that support for someone else. Urmi shares why mentorship begins with self‑awareness, clarity, and understanding your goals, and why the best mentor for you doesn’t always look like you or come from your industry. Together, they explore mentorship as a two‑way relationship, the importance of showing initiative, and the surprising value women often underestimate in themselves. Urmi also introduces the idea of...
info_outline
Taking the Next Step: An Entrepreneur’s Journey into the Fitness Industry
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh talks with Tim Ferry about what it really looks like to take the next step, both as an entrepreneur and as someone committed to helping people rediscover the joy of movement. Tim shares how he designed his gamified group fitness program, blending scenarios, friendly competition, and accessible progressions to make exercise fun and achievable for anyone. He opens up about the early roadblocks he faced, the surprising moments that confirmed he was on the right path, and the importance of balancing ambition with rest and recovery. Along the way,...
info_outline
3 Techniques for Resilience
The Even Better Podcast
This episode is brought to you by the ! In this solo episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh shares three practical techniques for building resilience in the face of change. Life and work can throw unexpected challenges our way, and while it’s natural to feel the weight of those moments, resilience is what helps us keep moving forward. Sinikka reflects on why we can’t simply break down when things go wrong, how to honor our emotions without getting stuck, and the importance of identifying your one key source of social support. With honesty and encouragement, she offers actionable...
info_outline
5 Ways to Free Your Team from Organizational Drag
The Even Better Podcast
In this episode of Even Better, Sinikka Waugh is joined by Aaron Matthews for a conversation about freeing your team from organizational drag and unlocking their full potential. Drawing from his expertise in organizational design and technology strategy, Aaron shares five practical ways to reduce friction and create space for creativity; without falling into the trap of over-relying on AI. Together, they explore the risks and rewards of AI adoption, why starting with human workflows matters, and how to build systems that amplify human strengths rather than replace them. Along the way, you’ll...
info_outlineIn this episode of Even Better, host Sinikka Waugh is joined by Scott Post to discuss how continuous improvement and lean thinking can help create more good work days. Reflecting on how they first met years ago in a project management class, including a memorable lesson involving a “crazy red chicken,” Scott shares how he found his path into lean, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. The conversation explores lean leadership as servant leadership, Scott’s long‑term involvement with lean consortiums such as the Iowa Lean Consortium and his fifteen years on the board of the Siouxland Lean Consortium, and the value of learning together through conferences and engaging meetings. They also touch on small business entrepreneurship and how lean principles apply across organizations of all sizes.
--
Scott Post is an Operational Excellence and Lean Leadership Coach with over 20 years of experience in leadership, continuous improvement, and Lean methodology. Known for his ability to identify inefficiencies and optimize processes, Scott helps individuals and organizations unlock their full potential through practical, results-driven approaches. Scott’s passion for process improvement began during his service in the United States Marine Corps and continued as he earned an Industrial Engineering degree from Iowa State University. His expertise deepened through roles at Pella Corporation and later as Chief Operations Officer at Pizza Ranch, where he led the Operations, Training, and Process Improvement teams toward operational excellence. Scott founded S Post Consulting in 2021 and began working full-time with clients in 2023. Based in Northwest Iowa, the firm helps Siouxland business leaders stabilize operations, boost profits, and build momentum. Scott helps organizations move from chronic inefficiencies to high-performing operations. Through a diagnostic, boots-on-the-ground approach, he uncovers root causes, aligns leadership, and builds sustainable systems that reduce waste, improve execution, and drive long-term profit, without adding headcount or complexity. Clients consistently experience improved employee engagement, increased labor efficiency, shorter lead times, and stronger bottom-line results. A dedicated Servant Leader, Scott has also been an active contributor to the local Lean communities, serving on the board of the Siouxland Lean Consortium, and volunteering with the Iowa Lean Consortium. Outside of work, he enjoys family life, camping, and a hobby farm by Rock Valley, Iowa with his wife, four children, and a collection of farm animals.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scott-post
Other: http://www.spostconsulting.com