The Just Don't Get It!

but it's the only work that pays off—for you, your people, and your business. You Don't Think You Need To These leaders genuinely believe they already know what's happening on the floor. They've been doing this for years. They walk the lines, talk with people, and pride themselves on being close to the action. "I can tell you everything about this plant just by listening to what I can—and can't—hear," one veteran plant manager told us, inferring that silence means equipment is down. "I don't need a computer screen to tell me what I already know." They see problems, hear stories, and trust their instincts to fill in the rest. To them, data feels like bureaucracy—something that slows down decisions rather than improving them. After all, they didn't get to where they are by staring at spreadsheets. But here's the reality: even the most experienced leaders have blind spots. Your morning walk shows you a snapshot, not the full picture. The problems you see today might not be the ones costing you the most money. The stories you hear are filtered through

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