Leadership Excellence

About Leadership Excellence

Leadership Excellence Podcast Leadership Excellence is a weekly podcast for aspiring and established leaders who want to grow beyond tactics and titles—and develop the habits, mindset, and discipline required for sustained excellence. Hosted by George Trachilis with Dr. Tom Lawless, the podcast explores the human side of leadership—where purpose, identity, self‑development, and performance intersect. Each episode features real conversations, practical insights, and lived experience from leaders, practitioners, and guests who understand that leadership begins from within. Drawing from Lean leadership, the Harada Method, continuous improvement, mental fitness, and values‑based leadership, Leadership Excellence goes beyond goal‑setting to focus on daily practice, self‑reliance, and building people who can lead themselves—and others—through change. Whether you’re leading a team, a business, or yourself, this podcast is designed to help you: Develop disciplined daily habits Lead with clarity, calm, and purpose Build resilient, self‑reliant people Navigate burnout, identity shifts, and growth Turn personal development into consistent action 🎙️ New episodes are recorded weekly with a live audience. 📅 Join us live every Wednesday at 4:30 PM CST 🌐 Learn more and watch episodes at https://leadershipx.tv (https://leadershipx.tv/) Leadership isn’t about position. It’s about who you become—and how you show up every day.

Publisher

George Trachilis

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Oct 2025

Latest episode

9 May 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 May 2026

   S2E8 - Developing People and Partners

   Send us Fan Mail Leadership Excellence Podcast If processes are the delivery mechanism for value… then people are the engine that makes them improve. In Season 2, Episode 8, we explore the third “P” of the Toyota Way: People and Partners — and why development, not training, is the true competitive advantage. Most organizations say, “People are our greatest asset.” Toyota proves it. In this episode, we unpack: ✅ Why respect means challenge, not comfort✅ The difference between training ho...

2. 

   16 Apr 2026

   S2E7 – Integrated Lean Systems

   Send us Fan Mail Leadership Excellence Podcast What is the true delivery mechanism in your organization? In this episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, we explore one of the most misunderstood — yet foundational — principles of lean leadership: Processes are the delivery mechanism for value. Most organizations are structured vertically — purchasing, engineering, operations, sales — each optimized for its own metrics. But customers don’t experience departments. They experience processes...

3. 

   29 Mar 2026

   S2E6 - True North Values: Continuous Improvement, Respect for People & Lean Leadership

   Send us Fan Mail In this episode, George and Tom explore the meaning of True North Values through the lens of Toyota’s philosophy and Lean leadership. At the beginning of the episode, Dr. Jeff Liker shares insights from his in-depth study of Toyota, explaining how its philosophy is built on the two inseparable pillars of Continuous Improvement and Respect for People. He discusses Toyota’s five foundational values—Challenge, Kaizen, Genchi Genbutsu (go and see), Respect, and Teamwork—and clari...

4. 

   15 Mar 2026

   S2E5 - TPS Origins – The Thinking Production System

   Send us Fan Mail What if the Toyota Production System was never about efficiency? In this episode, George Trachilis and Dr. Tom Lawless explore the true origins of TPS — and challenge one of the biggest misunderstandings in modern Lean thinking. Taiichi Ohno didn’t begin with Kanban. He didn’t begin with standard work. He didn’t begin with tools. He began with people. Starting in a simple machine shop cell, Ohno experimented relentlessly. He learned that flexibility required multi...

5. 

   4 Mar 2026

   S2E4 - Problem Solving the Toyoda Way: The Toyota Way & True Lean Leadership

   Send us Fan Mail 🎙 Leadership Excellence with Dr. Liker, Dr. Lawless & George Trachilis Season 2 – Episode 4 Lesson #2 of 75 Watch here: 👉 https://youtu.be/6R5fafiT4a4 In this powerful episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Dr. Tom Lawless, and George Trachilis explore the deeper meaning behind The Toyoda Way and what Lean leadership truly represents. This is Lesson #2 of 75 in our complete Leadership Excellence development series. Most leaders think Lean is ab...

6. 

   14 Feb 2026

   S2E3 - From Good to Great: Lean Leadership, Gemba & Building a Culture That Lasts

   Send us Fan Mail 🎙 From Good to Great: Lean Leadership, Gemba & Building a Culture That LastsWhat separates a good company from a truly great organization? In this episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, George and Dr. Tom Lawless explore powerful lessons from Lean Leadership, Toyota’s philosophy, and the principles behind Good to Great. This conversation dives deep into: ✅ Why great companies start with passion for the customer ✅ The difference between “and” thinking vs. “or” thin...

7. 

   1 Feb 2026

   S2E2: Beyond the Goal with Mark Fujiwara

   Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 2 Beyond the Goal with Mark Fujiwara What happens when achievement isn’t enough? In this episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, George Trachilis and Dr. Tom Lawless are joined by Mark Fujiwara for a powerful conversation that goes beyond traditional goal‑setting and performance. Together, they explore the deeper work of leadership—identity, purpose, mental fitness, and who we become as we pursue success. Mark shares his personal journey through loss, ...

8. 

   22 Jan 2026

   S2E1: Create a Meaningful Goal with Dr. Vance Cooper Jr.

   Send us Fan Mail Create a Meaningful Goal Subtitle: Why Purpose-Driven Leadership Begins With How You See Yourself What if the key to better leadership—and better results—starts with creating a goal that actually means something? In this powerful podcast conversation, Dr. Tom Lawless, George Trachilis, and Dr. Vance Cooper Jr. explore what it truly means to create a meaningful goal and why so many goals fail to inspire lasting change. Recorded on January 21, 2026, this episode challenges the ...

9. 

   14 Dec 2025

   Episode 11: The 3 Power Moves of Delegation: How Leaders Stop Carrying Everyone’s Monkeys

   Send us Fan Mail In Episode 11 of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, George Trachilis and Dr. Tom Lawless dive deep into one of the most essential skills every leader must master: Delegation. The real kind—the kind that develops people, frees up your time, and creates a truly self‑reliant team. This episode begins with a classic leadership parable inspired by the Harvard Business Review story “Who’s Got the Monkey?”. Leaders often overload themselves not because they work too hard, but becaus...

10. 

    7 Dec 2025

    Episode 10 - Leader Burnout – Five Powerful Ways to Beat Burnout Using the Harada Method

    Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, George Trachilis and Dr. Tom Lawless tackle one of the most urgent issues facing today’s leaders: burnout. Contrary to popular belief, burnout is rarely caused by long hours alone. It comes from misalignment, loss of autonomy, and the gradual erosion of personal purpose. George and Tom break down how the Harada Method, a globally recognized self‑leadership system used by high performers including Shohei Ohtani, pr...

11. 

    29 Nov 2025

    Episode 9: THE CALM LEADER – 5 Powerful Ways to Clear Your Mind Before Every Conversation

    Send us Fan Mail THE CALM LEADER – 5 Powerful Ways to Clear Your Mind Before Every Conversation Episode Description: In this episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, hosts Tom Lawless and George Trachilis break down the essential habits that help leaders show up calm, clear, and fully present in every interaction. Whether you're leading a team meeting, coaching an employee, or navigating a tough conversation at home, these five practices will transform the way you think, listen, and con...

12. 

    23 Nov 2025

    Episode 8 - Engaging People: 3 Inspiring Ways to Build Commitment

    Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Leadership Excellence Podcast Engaging People: 3 Inspiring Ways to Build Commitment and Keep People Engaged Description: In this powerful episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, hosts George Trachilis and Dr. Tom Lawless dive into three inspiring ways leaders can build lasting commitment and engagement. Commitment doesn’t come from pressure, incentives, or compliance—it grows when people feel purpose, connection, and genuine care. George and Tom share personal stori...

13. 

    15 Nov 2025

    Episode 7 - Support Daily Kaizen: 6 Winning Habits that Drive Progress

    Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis dive into the third pillar of the Lean Leadership Development Model — Support Daily Kaizen. They explain how continuous improvement becomes part of everyday work, not a project or event, but a daily rhythm that strengthens teams and drives progress. Dr. Lawless illustrates the importance of going to the Gemba — where the real work happens — to observe the process, not just th...

14. 

    8 Nov 2025

    Episode 6 - Cultivate Leaders: Coaching for Continuous Growth

    Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis explore what it truly means to cultivate leaders through coaching and continuous growth. Dr. Lawless begins with the concept of the Leadership Mirror — a challenge for every leader to look inward and ask, “Am I taking care of my people?” He reminds us that humility, respect, and accountability start by reflecting on our own behavior and choices. George builds on this by sharing...

15. 

    2 Nov 2025

    Episode 5 - The Leadership Trap: Why Failing to Commit to Self-Development Holds You Back

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis unpack “The Leadership Trap”—the hidden danger leaders face when they stop committing to self-development. Through personal stories, reflection, and humor, they reveal how continuous learning is the foundation of true leadership growth. Dr. Lawless shares his lifelong pursuit of improvement, from his early days in Omaha to earning his PhD at 56, while George reflects on resisting self-d...

16. 

    26 Oct 2025

    Episode 4 – Creating True North Values | Leadership Excellence Podcast

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Leadership Excellence Podcast, hosts Dr. Tom Lawless and George Trachilis dive deep into the concept of True North values. True North values serve as a moral and operational compass, helping leaders and teams make decisions that align with the organization’s mission and vision. Key Takeaways from the Episode: What Are True North Values?True North values are the fixed points that keep a company focused on what truly matters.They represent the company’s p...

17. 

    18 Oct 2025

    Episode 3: Aligning Goals to Your Vision

    Send us Fan Mail Podcast Description: Episode 3 – Aligning Goals to Your Vision In this episode of Leadership Excellence, hosts George Trachilis and Tom Lawless explore the critical topic of aligning your team’s goals with your company’s vision. Through real-world examples and proven strategies, they provide actionable insights for leaders who want to build clarity, eliminate confusion, and create a unified path to success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Power of Alignment: Discover w...

18. 

    11 Oct 2025

    Episode 2: Creating Vision

    Send us Fan Mail The Leadership Excellence Podcast Episode Title: Creating a Vision Hosts: George and Tom Key Discussion Points 1. Introduction George and Tom open the podcast with a discussion about the importance of vision in leadership and organizations.Mention of using AI to enhance processes, with a teaser for an announcement at the end of the episode.2. What is a Vision? A vision is the ideal state of what a company or individual wants to achieve in the long-term.Discussion on the ba...

19. 

    7 Oct 2025

    EPISODE 1: Foundations of Leadership – What It Means to Truly Take Care of People

    Send us Fan Mail In this debut episode of Leadership Excellence, Tom and George dive into the core question: What is leadership? Welcome to the very first episode of Leadership Excellence with Tom and George! In this debut episode, Tom Lawless and George Trachilis dive deep into the heart of leadership, exploring what it truly means to lead. They define leadership not as authority or control, but as taking care of people. But what does “taking care of people” really mean? Through engaging ...

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.