Welcome to the very first episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast with Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis — a conversation that sets the stage for what real leadership is all about. This debut episode dives deep into the question that every aspiring leader should ask:
👉 What is leadership, really?
Spoiler alert — it’s not about titles, authority, or power. According to Tom and George, leadership is about taking care of people. But as they uncover in this engaging dialogue, “taking care” doesn’t mean making people dependent — it means developing them to be the best version of themselves.
🧭 Leadership = Taking Care of People
“Leadership, to me, is taking care of people.” — Dr. Tom Lawless
But “taking care” isn’t about protecting people from challenge or doing their work for them. It’s about recognizing their potential, helping them grow, and supporting their goals — sometimes from the front, sometimes from behind, and often side by side.
Leadership is fluid. It’s coaching, encouraging, and at times pushing people out of their comfort zones so that they can reach their full potential.
“Taking care means developing people into better human beings — with values, integrity, and character — so they can enjoy their achievements.” — George Trachilis
This is the beating heart of real leadership: helping people become who they want to be.
🧱 The Foundation of Leadership: Character, Culture, and Compassion
Leadership doesn’t start with a team — it starts with the leader. Tom reminds us that “the culture of an organization revolves around the leader.” If the leader cuts corners for short-term wins, the organization will follow that example. But if they lead with integrity and compassion, they cultivate trust and excellence.
“You can’t blame anyone else as leaders. It’s us. Look in the mirror.” — Dr. Tom Lawless
This reflection mindset is mature leadership in action — taking full responsibility for the culture you create.
💡 Motivate, Inspire, and Stimulate
George recalls the wisdom of Lean legend Ritsuo Shingo, who taught that a leader’s job is threefold:
“Motivate. Inspire. And stimulate people’s thinking.” — Ritsuo Shingo
- Motivate — Connect to someone’s why.
- Inspire — Awaken belief.
- Stimulate — Challenge people to think differently.
This philosophy isn’t about commanding action; it’s about lighting the fire that helps others discover purpose and growth.
👣 Go to Gemba: Watch, Don’t Just See
A cornerstone of Lean leadership is Go to Gemba — the real place where work happens. But as Shingo explained, leaders must go not just to see, but to watch carefully. True observation means understanding context and learning from people doing the work.
When leaders watch with curiosity, they see through their team’s eyes — finding insights impossible to discover from behind a desk.
💖 The Compassionate Leader
Tom and George share a touching moment that captures leadership compassion. Ritsuo Shingo once apologized to a stray cat that scratched him, saying “I’m sorry” — a small moment that revealed his immense empathy.
“You can’t lead unless you have compassion and understand what drives people.” — Dr. Tom Lawless
Real leadership shines not in boardrooms, but in those subtle, human moments that show heart and humility.
🪞 The Leadership Mirror
Leaders shape the emotional atmosphere of their teams. When leaders are anxious or unethical, it echoes across the organization. Research even shows that empathy often fades as leaders move up the ladder. The best leaders fight to keep it alive — seeing people as human beings with stories, struggles, and dreams.
⚖️ People and Profit: Do Both
“A Lean leader would say, ‘Do both. What’s wrong with you?’” — George Trachilis
You don’t have to choose between caring for people and driving results. Genuine care creates commitment — and commitment drives sustainable profit. Take care of the people, and the results will follow.
🧠 Your Leadership Assignment
- Do you truly know your people — their goals, strengths, and challenges?
- Are you helping them grow rather than depend?
- When was your last “Gemba moment” — to watch and learn?
- How do you motivate, inspire, and stimulate thinking around you?
Leadership starts with you, but it’s never about you.
🚀 What’s Next
In Episode 2, Tom and George explore Creating a Vision — how to connect purpose, goals, and motivation using AI tools and the Open Window 64 Chart from the Harada Method.
✨ Final Thought
“True leadership isn’t measured by how many people follow you — but by how many you help rise.”
When you take care of people, respect them, and commit to your own growth, you build foundations that last.