EPISODE · Dec 13, 2022 · 47 MIN
Tom Peters on Extreme Humanism, Leadership, and Excellence
from Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond · host Mark Graban
Episode page with transcript, video, and more My guest for Episode #465 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is the legendary (my word, not his) author, consultant, and speaker — Tom Peters. His new book is Tom Peters's Compact Guide to Excellence. Click here to enter to win a paperback copy (through December 20). He was previously a guest in Episode 382 of this podcast and My Favorite Mistake Episode 58. See previous blog posts about Tom and his ideas. Today, Tom and I talk about some core concepts from his book, but we also weave through many topics including leadership that demonstrates “extreme humanism” (and leaders who do not, such as Elon Musk). As always, it's a fun, free-wheeling, and thought-provoking conversation when Tom is involved. Note: Tom says he swears like a sailor… there are a few occasional mild curse words, so please be warned about that. Questions, Notes, and highlights: The moral bankruptcy of “maximizing shareholder value” — are we really moving away from that? Getting lip service from the Conference Board and others? “People got ‘the brand called you' all wrong — it's not about self-marketing” “Being good is good business. When you take the high moral ground it is difficult for anyone to object without sounding like a complete fool.” Caring about people… Reminds me of Paul O'Neill saying nobody should ever get hurt at work (Alcoa) — “habitual excellence“ The HP Way – Management By Wandering Around (MBWA) is an “intimate act” Following up on our Aug 2020 discussion about leading during Covid… how is MBZA (management by zooming around) working out? You've been very active on Twitter — still there? Should we still be using Twitter, even the free service? The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.
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What this episode covers
Legendary management thinker Tom Peters returns to the LeanBlog Podcast to discuss his latest book, Tom Peters’ Compact Guide to Excellence, and why “extreme humanism” is the leadership philosophy organizations need most today. In this wide-ranging conversation, Tom explains why leadership is an intimate act, why caring deeply about people is not only ethical but good business, and how decades of shareholder-first thinking have eroded trust, engagement, and performance. He reflects on lessons from the HP Way, management by wandering around, and why excellence spreads when leaders truly respect and protect people. The discussion also explores modern challenges—remote work, innovation in small and midsize organizations, and leadership failures in high-profile companies. Tom shares candid views on Elon Musk’s management style, the moral responsibility of leaders, and why extreme humanism is essential in an era of AI, disruption, and uncertainty. Provocative, human, and inspiring, this episode is a powerful reminder that excellence begins—and ends—with people.
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Tom Peters on Extreme Humanism, Leadership, and Excellence
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