Everyday Business Problems
When it comes to your business, you know everything – except what you don’t. Hosted by David Crysler, each episode we dive into finding and solving everyday business problems. Learn from business leaders and subject matter experts about the challenges they've overcome, and the challenges they still face. Join us for fresh insights, real talk, and inspiration to grow your business!
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The Real Reason You're Not Moving the Needle
01/20/2026
The Real Reason You're Not Moving the Needle
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler dives into a theme that keeps resurfacing across leadership conversations, client work, and personal experience: focus and clarity. Dave explains why many organizations struggle not because of a lack of effort or intelligence, but because attention is scattered, priorities shift too often, and expectations are never fully clear. From lost customers and shiny new initiatives to AI distractions and leadership avoidance, this episode breaks down how a lack of focus quietly compounds problems, and how getting clear can reverse the trend faster than most leaders expect. What You’ll Discover: Why focus and clarity fix more issues than new tools or hires. How distractions like AI initiatives pull teams away from core priorities. The difference between being effective and being efficient, and why it matters. Why avoiding hard conversations creates confusion and misalignment. How clarity enables consistency, and consistency makes accountability easier. Why accountability fails when expectations are vague or constantly shifting. How focus applies at both the organizational and individual level. A simple way to audit where your time and energy are really going. If your business feels busy but unfocused, or if progress feels harder than it should, this episode will help you step back, simplify, and refocus on what actually moves the needle.
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Escalating vs. De-escalating: The Leadership Choice That Shapes Your Culture
01/13/2026
Escalating vs. De-escalating: The Leadership Choice That Shapes Your Culture
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down a pattern he’s seen over and over again in leadership, defaulting to escalation instead of creating space to solve the real problem. Using real client stories and personal leadership lessons, Dave explores how emotionally charged reactions shut down learning, block root cause analysis, and quietly erode culture. This episode isn’t about avoiding tough conversations. It’s about knowing when escalation actually helps, and when it makes everything worse. What You’ll Discover: Why escalation often feels productive but rarely solves the real issue. How emotional reactions push teams into defense and justification instead of problem-solving. The hidden risks of over-de-escalating and trying to appease everyone. How to slow down tense moments without ignoring accountability. A practical way to handle the “hot potato” when someone drops an urgent issue on your desk. Why gathering facts and setting the room matters more than immediate action. How repeated escalation shows up later as turnover, stalled growth, and customer churn. What leaders can do to reset after escalation and rebuild trust. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of fires, frustration, and repeat problems, this episode will help you rethink how you respond under pressure, and how small changes in behavior can create calmer teams and better outcomes.
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Why Slowing Down Is the Fastest Way to Move Forward
01/06/2026
Why Slowing Down Is the Fastest Way to Move Forward
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down a lesson most leaders learn the hard way, going too fast often creates more problems than it solves. Using real examples from client work, technology initiatives, and even a home renovation gone wrong, Dave explains why rushing decisions, skipping steps, and chasing efficiency too early leads to rework, frustration, and stalled results. This episode challenges the instinct to “just move faster” and reframes what it really means to build momentum, align teams, and create lasting impact. What You’ll Discover: What “slow down to speed up” actually looks like in real businesses. Why rushing implementations often leads to rework and hidden costs. How chasing efficiency inside silos hurts overall system performance. The difference between being efficient and being effective. Why clarity on the problem matters more than picking a solution. How FOMO-driven initiatives like AI and new tools fail without alignment. Practical ways to stay focused without trying to do less, just doing the right things first. If your team feels busy but stuck, or if every new initiative creates more chaos instead of momentum, this episode will help you pause, refocus, and move forward with intention.
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Best of 2025 Volume 2
12/30/2025
Best of 2025 Volume 2
In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler continues the Best of 2025 series with a curated set of clips that highlight what really drives sustainable growth. This volume brings together lessons on scaling through systems, choosing effectiveness over efficiency, and having the leadership conversations most people avoid—but shouldn’t. From building one of the fastest-growing franchise systems in the country to unpacking why efficiency without alignment backfires, this episode connects real-world stories with practical leadership insights you can apply immediately. What You’ll Discover: How Aaron Harper helped transform a 35-year-old business into one of the fastest-growing franchise systems, and the systems that made it possible. Why scalable growth depends on removing variables, not adding complexity. The difference between efficiency and effectiveness, and why confusing the two slows growth. How local optimization can actually hurt overall performance. Why leaders must address missed expectations with clarity instead of avoidance. How to define success, close gaps, and create accountability without damaging trust. When a role is no longer a fit, and how to approach that conversation the right way.
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Best of 2025 Volume 1
12/23/2025
Best of 2025 Volume 1
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler pulls together key clips from multiple episodes throughout 2025 to highlight the systems leaders need to drive sustainable growth. From SOPs and custom software decisions to roles, responsibilities, and job clarity, this episode connects the dots between structure, execution, and accountability. Dave revisits his core framework of clarity, consistency, and accountability, sharing practical examples of how these principles show up in real businesses and where most organizations quietly drift off course. What You’ll Discover: Why documented SOPs only work if leaders inspect what they expect. How clarity breaks down when processes aren’t reviewed, tested, or reinforced. The real risks behind building custom software without a clear roadmap. Why buy vs. build decisions often fail due to maintenance, security, and ownership blind spots. How unclear roles, responsibilities, and org charts create friction and overlap. Why most job descriptions fail to define what success actually looks like. How simple time-tracking exercises uncover hidden inefficiencies and misalignment. Why clarity enables consistency, and consistency makes accountability possible.
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How to Tell the Difference Between Noise and Real Problems in Your Business with Sean Stormes (Part 2 of 2)
12/16/2025
How to Tell the Difference Between Noise and Real Problems in Your Business with Sean Stormes (Part 2 of 2)
In this follow-up episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler is joined again by Sean Stormes, founder of the Demand Creation Institute, to go deeper into variation, systems thinking, and why most leaders chase the wrong problems. Building on their first conversation, this episode focuses on how to recognize real signals versus noise, why rushing to solutions makes things worse, and how purpose, culture, and continuous improvement actually work together. Sean shares practical examples from decades of leadership experience, including how Deming’s principles still apply today, why most organizations unintentionally reward the wrong behaviors, and what it really takes to slow down, reduce chaos, and build durable growth systems. What You’ll Discover: How to tell the difference between normal variation and real system problems. Why reacting too quickly to spikes and dips often creates more chaos. How Deming’s thinking applies to modern leadership, culture, and decision-making. Why most companies celebrate problem-solving instead of problem prevention. How fear shows up in organizations and quietly blocks improvement. The role of purpose and mission in breaking down silos and aligning teams. Why continuous improvement is a force multiplier when it’s done right. How slowing down actually leads to faster, more sustainable results.
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Why Most Growth Transformations Fail and How to Flip the Odds with Sean Stormes (Part 1 of 2)
12/09/2025
Why Most Growth Transformations Fail and How to Flip the Odds with Sean Stormes (Part 1 of 2)
In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler welcomes Sean Stormes, founder of the Demand Creation Institute and creator of a proven growth advisory framework that helps B2B companies achieve profitable, sustainable growth. Sean shares insights from decades of leading and advising organizations on how to eliminate randomness in results, uncover root causes of underperformance, and build systems that compound value over time. What You’ll Discover: Why most leaders mistake random variation for real growth, and how to fix it. What Deming’s principles reveal about the forces behind performance swings. How to identify and apply force multipliers that drive profitable demand. Why chasing tactics widens variation instead of reducing it. How operational precision, organizational fitness, and customer value work together as an ecosystem. The importance of defining purpose, mission, and core behaviors that customers can feel. Real-world stories of companies that achieved growth by simplifying systems and aligning around purpose.
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Stop Watching the Scoreboard and Start Changing the Game
11/25/2025
Stop Watching the Scoreboard and Start Changing the Game
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down one of the most common mistakes leaders make, tracking the wrong metrics. He explains why most KPI reports simply “tell the news” instead of helping teams act, and how shifting focus to leading indicators creates real visibility, accountability, and proactive decision-making. What You’ll Discover: The difference between leading and lagging indicators, and why it matters. Why “more data” isn’t better if it’s not actionable. A simple example of how leading indicators can predict outcomes and improve profitability. How to move from reactionary reporting to proactive management. Why manual tracking can be more powerful than a fancy dashboard, at least at first. How to test and validate new KPIs before automating them. The mindset shift that turns metrics into meaningful action.
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Are You Building Systems or Just Creating Workarounds?
11/18/2025
Are You Building Systems or Just Creating Workarounds?
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler tackles a question every leader should be asking, are you building real systems or just layering new tools and workarounds on top of old problems? Drawing from client stories and his own experience leading operational transformations, Dave breaks down why technology alone doesn’t fix process issues, how poor change management drives inefficiency, and what it really takes to create smoother, more scalable systems. What You’ll Discover: Why tools aren’t systems, and what’s missing when you treat them that way. How to recognize when you’re solving symptoms instead of root causes. The difference between workarounds and true process improvement. Why most tool issues come down to configuration and implementation, not functionality. How avoiding tough conversations leads to costly inefficiencies. Why systems that integrate planning, people, process, and technology always outperform software swaps. What it means to lead with ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.
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How Financial Forecasting Drives Sustainable Growth
11/11/2025
How Financial Forecasting Drives Sustainable Growth
In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler sits down with Josh Notes, serial entrepreneur, CFO, and dealmaker, to unpack how financial storytelling connects the dots between operations, cash flow, and sustainable growth. Together, they explore how leaders can use numbers to forecast what comes next, make smarter decisions, and unlock opportunities hiding in plain sight. What You’ll Discover: What financial storytelling really means and how it ties operations to financial health. Why so many growing businesses struggle with cash flow visibility, and how to fix it. The difference between a bookkeeper, controller, and CFO, and when you need each one. Why neglecting finance limits your creativity and flexibility as an entrepreneur. How forecasting tools and rolling projections help you make confident, informed decisions. Why collaboration between operations, finance, and sales creates real momentum. The truth about scaling, leveraging debt, and knowing when it’s time to bring in help.
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You Don’t Need a New ERP, You Need to Use the One You Have
11/04/2025
You Don’t Need a New ERP, You Need to Use the One You Have
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down why most technology issues aren’t really tool problems, they’re planning, people, and process problems in disguise. Drawing from years of leading ERP implementations across multiple facilities, Dave explains how configuration and implementation often make or break success, and why chasing the next shiny system rarely solves the root cause. What You’ll Discover: The two biggest factors that determine whether any tool, ERP, CRM, or otherwise, actually works. Why configuration and implementation failures cause most technology frustrations. How one company’s ERP setup broke down when they tried to run two business models in one system. When it really does make sense to replace or upgrade your tool (and when it doesn’t). The difference between tool problems and process or adoption problems—and how to spot the difference. How to start fixing your systems by asking the right questions about what’s slowing your team down.
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How to Build a Change Management Timeline That Actually Works
10/28/2025
How to Build a Change Management Timeline That Actually Works
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler tackles one of the most common leadership questions: “How fast can we make this change happen?” Drawing from real-world client stories and decades of operational experience, Dave breaks down why most change efforts stall, not because of strategy or tools, but because leaders underestimate the time, clarity, and consistency real change takes. What You’ll Discover: Why change management timelines matter, and how to build them for real progress. The difference between focusing on actions versus dates when planning change. How to create milestones and measurable behaviors that show change is taking hold. The importance of clarity, consistency, and accountability from leadership. How to coach and upskill your team through change instead of overwhelming them. Why technology moves faster than culture, and how to bridge that gap. Simple ways to stay flexible, give progress time to breathe, and know when to adjust.
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The Real Purpose of Strategic Planning
10/21/2025
The Real Purpose of Strategic Planning
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler dives into what strategic planning really means, and why most businesses mistake goals for strategy. Drawing from his experience leading multi-facility operations and growing small businesses, Dave breaks down how to create alignment around your “North Star,” connect data with action, and build a plan that drives clarity, accountability, and sustainable growth. What You’ll Discover: Why understanding your North Star matters more than a spreadsheet full of goals. How to move from spot treatment to systems thinking in your planning process. The six key characteristics of an effective strategic plan—from data and ownership to cross-functional collaboration. Common signs your planning process is broken (and how to fix them). How to create feedback loops and review cadences that drive continuous improvement. The difference between wanting to grow and actually building a system that sustains it.
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How to use Chain of Custody for Root Cause Analysis
10/14/2025
How to use Chain of Custody for Root Cause Analysis
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler takes a fresh look at root cause analysis through the lens of chain of custody. Borrowed from legal and logistics contexts, this concept helps leaders trace every handoff, touchpoint, and variable to get to the bottom of complex or intermittent problems that never seem to stay solved. Dave shares how he first learned about chain of custody, how it connects to real-world problem-solving in manufacturing and service environments, and the five-step approach you can use to uncover and eliminate hidden process issues for good. What You’ll Discover: What “chain of custody” means, and why it’s a powerful mindset for operational problem-solving. Why intermittent problems are the hardest to solve (and how this approach helps). The five steps to apply chain of custody thinking to your root cause analysis process. How to build visibility across inputs, outputs, and controls to pinpoint hidden gaps. When to use manual data collection vs. automated systems for smarter troubleshooting. How this approach strengthens cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement.
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Revenue vs Profit vs Cash Flow
10/07/2025
Revenue vs Profit vs Cash Flow
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler unpacks one of the most common traps leaders fall into, chasing revenue at the expense of profit and cash flow. Drawing from his experience leading multiple print and manufacturing operations, Dave breaks down why “good” revenue isn’t always good for your business and how to evaluate whether your top customers are fueling growth or creating unnecessary risk. What You’ll Discover: The real difference between revenue, profit, and cash flow, and why it matters more than most realize. How to spot the revenue trap that leaves even growing businesses cash-strapped. Why extended payment terms and customer concentration can quietly destroy your financial health. How to evaluate your customer mix to ensure partnerships drive sustainable growth. Practical ways to shift from reactive to proactive financial management. A simple challenge to help you identify whether your biggest customers are true partners or hidden liabilities.
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What a Good KPI Report Actually Looks Like
09/30/2025
What a Good KPI Report Actually Looks Like
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler dives into KPI reports, what they are, how to build them, and why most fall short of driving real value. He breaks down the differences between dashboards and reports, explores the roles of leading and lagging indicators, and offers a practical approach to building reports that don’t just deliver the news but actually help move the needle. Whether you're starting from scratch or inheriting a reporting process, this episode will help you rethink how you use data to influence outcomes. What You’ll Discover: What separates a dashboard from a KPI report, and why both matter. The difference between leading and lagging indicators (with real examples from ops and sales). Why asking “Who owns this KPI?” is just as important as “What are we measuring?” A simple framework for building reports that drive clarity, accountability, and customer value. How to collect data the right way, whether long-term or temporary, without overcomplicating it. Why “more data” isn’t better, and how to push back on ineffective reporting habits. Tips for refining your reports over time to support continuous improvement and better decision-making.
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How to Use AI in Business: Start With Clean Data, Not Fancy Tools
09/23/2025
How to Use AI in Business: Start With Clean Data, Not Fancy Tools
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler dives into the foundational role clean data plays in leveraging advanced analytics and AI tools. Sharing real-world client stories and personal insights, Dave unpacks how poor data governance and integrity issues can derail even the best tech investments. He outlines a practical five-step framework to help you clean up your data, tighten your systems, and future-proof your business for smarter decision-making. What You’ll Discover: Why clean, reliable data is a non-negotiable for successful AI and analytics adoption. How to identify common signs of data integrity and governance problems. Real examples of how siloed systems and duplicate records damage trust in reporting. The difference between data cleanup and governance, and why both matter. A five-step framework: standardize, assign ownership, centralize, validate, and maintain. How to shift from siloed efficiency to cross-functional value creation. Why defining a clear outcome is just as important as selecting the right AI tool.
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People Problem or System Problem?
09/16/2025
People Problem or System Problem?
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler tackles a classic leadership question: is it a people problem or a system problem? Drawing on stories from his early days in leadership and recent client work, Dave unpacks why what looks like a “people issue” is often a symptom of broken or missing systems. From unclear expectations to a lack of tools and accountability loops, this episode explores what leaders can do to avoid jumping to conclusions and start building better outcomes. What You’ll Discover: Why most “people problems” are actually system problems in disguise. A practical 3-part test to determine whether your team is set up to succeed. Common traps leaders fall into, like vague feedback and avoiding hard conversations. Real-world stories of both overreaction and inaction, and the costly outcomes of each. How to create clarity, consistency, and accountability without overcomplicating your operations. Why investing in your team doesn’t just mean hiring better, it means building better systems around them.
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Tribal Knowledge Is Costing You More Than You Think
09/09/2025
Tribal Knowledge Is Costing You More Than You Think
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler tackles one of the most common and costly issues in business operations, tribal knowledge. Based on insights from a recent LinkedIn poll and decades of real-world experience, Dave breaks down where tribal knowledge causes the most friction and how businesses can start building what he calls a “Company Brain.” He shares personal stories, client examples, and tips for leveraging today’s tools to transform undocumented know-how into accessible, scalable systems. What You’ll Discover: The top 3 ways tribal knowledge hurts your business: when people are out, inconsistent output, and slow training. A real story of how one employee’s performance led to the creation of a documented best practice. Why older SOP binders and static process docs fail, and what to use instead. How to start building your own Company Brain using video, visual references, and searchable systems. What to look for in tools that support knowledge capture and learning retention. Why tribal knowledge impacts both culture and customer experience, and how to close the gap.
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What's the Difference Between Lean and Continuous Improvement
09/02/2025
What's the Difference Between Lean and Continuous Improvement
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down the difference between lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, and why understanding both is critical to long-term success. Drawing from personal experience and real-world client work, Dave shares how focusing only on tools like 5S without building the underlying habit of continuous improvement leads to short-lived results. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to move from check-the-box initiatives to lasting cultural change. What You'll Discover: The key difference between lean (tools and systems) and continuous improvement (habits and mindset). A cooking analogy that simplifies how lean supports continuous improvement. Why starting with lean tools is common, but often misses the bigger picture. A story from Dave’s early days that shows what happens when you skip the “why.” How try-storming and prioritization tools can drive quick wins and build buy-in. The three leadership elements required for sustainable growth: clarity, consistency, and accountability.
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The Myth of Best Practices
08/26/2025
The Myth of Best Practices
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler tackles the myth of “best practices” and why blindly copying what works for someone else rarely delivers the same results. Drawing on a story from early in his leadership career, Dave shares how a borrowed quality system fell flat until it was adapted to fit the real-world needs of his team. If you’ve ever felt frustrated that a proven method didn’t work for your business, this episode will show you how to turn best practices into better outcomes through clarity, consistency, and accountability. What You’ll Discover: Why best practices aren’t a silver bullet, and what to do instead. A real-world story about adopting and adapting a quality system from another company. How timing, context, and resources impact the success of any process. A practical way to use best practices as a foundation, not a finished product. The importance of involving your team to uncover the most critical tasks and hurdles.
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3 Conversations Leaders Avoid (But Shouldn't)
08/19/2025
3 Conversations Leaders Avoid (But Shouldn't)
In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler digs into three difficult conversations leaders tend to avoid, but shouldn't. Drawing from nearly 30 years of leadership experience and stories from the shop floor to the boardroom, Dave walks through the conversations that can make or break your team’s clarity, alignment, and long-term success. If you've ever hesitated to say what needs to be said, this episode gives you practical tools to lead with empathy, clarity, and confidence. What You’ll Discover: Why “You’re not meeting expectations” needs more than vague feedback. How to handle when a role is no longer a fit, without diminishing the person. Why sharing what’s changing (and why) early matters more than having all the answers. Real-world examples of change gone wrong, and how to prevent it. Communication tips that improve clarity, reduce turnover, and build trust. A mindset shift that separates high-performing leaders from the rest: leaning into the hard conversations.
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How to Build a Process When Everyone Does It Differently
08/05/2025
How to Build a Process When Everyone Does It Differently
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler tackles a common operational challenge: how to build a standardized process when everyone does it differently. Dave shares a five-step approach to defining your organization’s best practices while allowing for necessary flexibility. From observation to mapping, gaining consensus, testing, and continuous improvement, you’ll learn how to create repeatable outcomes that improve efficiency, culture, and customer experience. What You’ll Discover: Why observing and asking questions should come before documenting processes. How to map processes effectively using simple, accessible tools. Strategies for gaining team consensus and balancing flexibility with standardization. The importance of testing changes to ensure they deliver the intended results. How to embed continuous improvement loops to keep processes relevant and effective. Why standardized processes improve financial results, culture, and customer experience.
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How to Rehire a Boomerang Employee
07/29/2025
How to Rehire a Boomerang Employee
Boomerang employees, those who leave and later return are on the rise, but should you really rehire them? In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave talks with Jeannette Seibly, award-winning talent advisor and author of Hire Amazing Employees, about the strategic pros and hidden pitfalls of bringing former team members back on board. They explore how to avoid hiring mistakes, build smarter systems, and treat returning employees with the same rigor as new hires. What You’ll Learn: Why 35% of new hires today are boomerangs Risks of relying on memory instead of process How to use strategic job fit analysis and assessments Red flags to watch for in returning candidates How onboarding can make or break rehires Whether you're considering a return hire or just want to tighten up your hiring system, this episode delivers practical tips to help you make better decisions, reduce turnover, and build a more resilient team.
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Are You Guessing... or Assessing Risk?
07/22/2025
Are You Guessing... or Assessing Risk?
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler unpacks the importance of risk assessment exercises, and why they’re often overlooked until it’s too late. From lightning strikes and power outages to theft and server failures, Dave shares real-world stories that highlight just how vulnerable businesses can be without a disaster recovery and continuity plan. You’ll learn a simple, repeatable process for identifying risks, prioritizing responses, and creating systems that help your business bounce back quickly when the unexpected hits. What You'll Discover: Why most businesses underestimate the likelihood and impact of disruptive events. A 3-part framework for conducting risk assessments: identify, assess impact, and evaluate likelihood. Examples of internal and external threats, from employee theft to natural disasters. How to evaluate operational, customer, and data vulnerabilities across your organization. Real-world stories of backup failures and business disruptions caused by missing recovery plans. Why testing and reviewing your disaster plan regularly is just as important as having one.
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Continuous Improvement for Customer Onboarding
07/15/2025
Continuous Improvement for Customer Onboarding
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler explores how applying continuous improvement principles to customer onboarding can drive serious value, both internally and for your customers. Dave shares stories from his experience in business transitions and breaks down a simple three-step process to eliminate waste, prioritize changes, and sustain improvements in the front-end of your business. Whether you’re in manufacturing or services, this episode will help you uncover quick wins and build lasting systems. What You'll Discover: Why customer onboarding is often the best starting point for operational improvement. A 3-step framework: process mapping, prioritizing ideas, and implementing/testing improvements. Real-life examples of reducing wait times and eliminating bottlenecks with simple tweaks. How to build a continuous improvement wall and use tri-storming to crowdsource ideas. The hidden risk of “siloed efficiency” and how to prevent front-end improvements from overwhelming your ops. Why sustainable change requires both strategic vision and cross-functional collaboration.
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Why Our Words Matter
07/01/2025
Why Our Words Matter
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down why the words we use matter, especially when working across departments or launching new initiatives. Dave shares real-world examples of how misaligned language leads to confusion, inefficiency, and siloed thinking, even when everyone thinks they’re on the same page. He also offers practical tips to create a shared vocabulary and collective vision that drives clarity, communication, and better results across your organization. What You'll Discover: Why miscommunication often stems from different departments using the same words with different meanings. How to avoid siloed thinking and align your team with a shared definition of success. The power of creating a glossary of terms for cross-functional collaboration. Tips for simplifying language and eliminating unnecessary jargon in your organization. A simple pulse-check question to use in meetings to ensure alignment: “Are we all talking about the same thing?” How to build bridges across teams by focusing on collective effectiveness over siloed efficiency.
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Why You Should Walk the Process
06/24/2025
Why You Should Walk the Process
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler explains why walking the process, also known as a Gemba walk, is one of the most overlooked yet powerful habits leaders can adopt. From manufacturing floors to office environments, Dave shares real-world stories and lessons learned from skipping this critical step. He outlines how walking the process reveals hidden inefficiencies, improves decision-making, and builds trust with your team. What You'll Discover: What a Gemba walk really is, and why it's essential in any business environment. Real-life examples of how walking the process uncovered unexpected bottlenecks. Why dashboards and process maps can’t replace firsthand observation. The dangers of making decisions without context and frontline input. A practical prioritization tool and free download to help you turn observations into action. How to avoid the "change whiplash" that kills morale and stalls improvement efforts.
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Improve Less for Better Results with Chad Bareither
06/17/2025
Improve Less for Better Results with Chad Bareither
In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler welcomes Chad Bareither, Principal Consultant at The Bareither Group and author of Improve Less. Chad shares his Focus and Align framework, a strategy for narrowing your improvement efforts to achieve sustainable business results. Together, they unpack why most organizations take on too much change at once, and how to shift your approach to focus on the work that truly matters. From daily management to cultural transformation, this episode is full of practical advice for leaders looking to stabilize costs, expand capacity, and grow profitability. What You'll Discover: Why “doing less” can lead to more meaningful and sustainable improvements. How the Focus and Align framework helps leaders prioritize, align, and take action. Real-world examples of reducing project overload and increasing momentum. How to build buy-in by making process changes meaningful to frontline teams. The importance of consistent updates, clear communication, and avoiding initiative fatigue. How small and large businesses can overcome different obstacles to operational excellence. Tips for embedding tools like 5S and problem-solving in a way that actually sticks.
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Using a 6S Lean Tool for a Safer, More Effective Workplace
06/10/2025
Using a 6S Lean Tool for a Safer, More Effective Workplace
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down one of the most popular lean tools in operations, 5S. Dave walks through the 3S, 5S, and 6S versions of this system, explaining what each step means and how to actually make it stick. Through personal stories, client examples, and a trip to Toyota's factory, Dave explores the difference between implementing a tool and embedding it into your culture. If you've ever struggled to sustain workplace organization efforts, this episode will help you rethink your approach and start with the right why. What You'll Discover: The difference between 3S, 5S, and 6S, and why “sustain” and “safety” matter most. Why workplace organization fails without a clear why, what, and how. How tools like 5S support efficiency, quality, and safety when used intentionally. A behind-the-scenes story from Dave’s tour of Toyota’s Kentucky plant. How to avoid the common trap of short-term cleanup efforts that backslide over time. Practical tips to involve your team, build buy-in, and roll out 5S one step at a time. A free 5S audit template to help you get started or sustain your progress.
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