{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Wayward Leaders","home_page_url":"https://waywardleaders.com","description":"Wayward Leaders","author":{"name":"Wayward Leaders"},"items":[{"id":"the-roi-of-vfd-training-building-the-business-case-for-your-plan","html_content":"

Every maintenance manager already knows that training has value. The challenge is never convincing yourself. The challenge is putting numbers in front of leadership that justify the cost at budget time.

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-roi-of-vfd-training-building-the-business-case-for-your-plan","title":"The ROI of VFD Training: Building the Business Case for Your Plan","date_modified":"2026-04-18T11:31:10Z"},{"id":"vfd-overtemperature-fault-why-drives-overheat-and-how-to-fix-it","html_content":"

Overtemperature is the most common VFD fault category, full stop. Across every major manufacturer, it accounts for 50% to 60% of reported issues during the first weeks of operation. If your drive is tripping and you do n...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/vfd-overtemperature-fault-why-drives-overheat-and-how-to-fix-it","title":"VFD Overtemperature Fault: Why Drives Overheat and How to Fix It","date_modified":"2026-04-18T11:25:54Z"},{"id":"vfd-overcurrent-fault-common-causes-and-how-to-investigate","html_content":"

The drive tripped on overcurrent. You pressed reset, pressed start, and it tripped again. The production supervisor is walking over. Someone has already floated the idea of calling the manufacturer to report a defective ...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/vfd-overcurrent-fault-common-causes-and-how-to-investigate","title":"VFD Overcurrent Fault: Common Causes and How to Investigate","date_modified":"2026-04-18T11:19:01Z"},{"id":"nobody-in-industrial-training-is-asking-questions","html_content":"

Picture a maintenance technician standing in front of a faulted variable frequency drive (VFD) at 2 AM. The production line is down. The plant manager is calling. There is no slide deck on the wall, no instructor in the ...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/nobody-in-industrial-training-is-asking-questions","title":"Nobody in Industrial Training Is Asking Questions...","date_modified":"2026-04-15T20:48:05Z"},{"id":"the-hidden-science-behind-specialist-success","html_content":"

The Hidden Science Behind Specialist Success: What Maintenance Folks Reveal About Who Thrives

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-hidden-science-behind-specialist-success","title":"The Hidden Science Behind Specialist Success","date_modified":"2025-11-06T20:14:04Z"},{"id":"law-3-specialization-beats-generalization","html_content":"

3 Minute Read

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/law-3-specialization-beats-generalization","title":"Law #3: Specialization Beats Generalization","date_modified":"2025-11-02T16:55:43Z"},{"id":"law-2-specialists-must-generate-measurable-value","html_content":"

5 Minute Read

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/law-2-specialists-must-generate-measurable-value","title":"Law #2: Specialists Must Generate Measurable Value","date_modified":"2025-10-27T10:53:47Z"},{"id":"law-1-experience-trumps-education","html_content":"

Why Real-World Knowledge Still Wins in an AI-Driven World

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/law-1-experience-trumps-education","title":"Law #1: Experience Trumps Education","date_modified":"2025-10-18T19:52:11Z"},{"id":"the-specialist-at-the-crossroads-why-im-breaking-my-silence","html_content":"

Published: 10/08/2025\n 7-minute read

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-specialist-at-the-crossroads-why-im-breaking-my-silence","title":"The Specialist at the Crossroads: Why I'm Breaking My Silence","date_modified":"2025-10-08T19:34:08Z"},{"id":"the-battle-of-jargon-vs-expertise-in-organizations","html_content":"

The dreaded question of business jargon and meaning: Chatman is widely cited as saying that jargon masks meaning and is used as a substitute for thoughtful insight. I agree with the definition mainly, as I can only handl...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-battle-of-jargon-vs-expertise-in-organizations","title":"The Battle of Jargon vs. Expertise in Organizations","date_modified":"2024-06-04T21:13:44Z"},{"id":"being-technical-and-deliberative","html_content":"

Building an electric bicycle over the last few weeks reminded me of a classic book called Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig in 1974. Pirsig’s narrative, while ostensibly chronicling a journey thr...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/being-technical-and-deliberative","title":"Being Technical and Deliberative","date_modified":"2024-03-31T22:46:59Z"},{"id":"some-thoughts-on-plcs","html_content":"

Writing blogs has been tricky lately as I am still settling into a new job and life in South Dakota; however, LinkedIn has invited me to start commenting on collaborative articles regarding some subjects. An interesting ...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/some-thoughts-on-plcs","title":"Some thoughts on PLCs","date_modified":"2023-12-31T15:11:49Z"},{"id":"new-leaders-and-the-first-90-days","html_content":"

I have not been as motivated to write lately after being on the verge of leaving for Israel on a planned visit two years in the making. I am both saddened by the war and thankful that my Wife Jill and I did not get stran...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/new-leaders-and-the-first-90-days","title":"New Leaders and the First 90 Days","date_modified":"2023-10-21T12:30:56Z"},{"id":"public-shame-and-leadership-part-1","html_content":"

One of the research topics I looked into very thoroughly was the effect of public shame on leadership as individuals and within groups. On one of my more recent trips to Scotland, what motivated me was the reminder that ...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/public-shame-and-leadership-part-1","title":"Public Shame and Leadership Part 1","date_modified":"2023-08-27T21:54:50Z"},{"id":"the-illusive-voice-of-the-customer","html_content":"

The notion of the voice of the customer (VoC) came up earlier this week in a discussion where I was asked how I gather the data and what I do with it. As I look at things, there is a formal and informal way to capture da...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-illusive-voice-of-the-customer","title":"The Illusive Voice of the Customer","date_modified":"2023-07-27T21:56:59Z"},{"id":"where-does-perceived-risk-enter-modern-reliability","html_content":"

Well, there are many pressures and motivations behind how the modern manifestation of reliability practices has been established. From the risk perspective, reliability came from the perceived risk associated with produc...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/where-does-perceived-risk-enter-modern-reliability","title":"Where does perceived risk enter modern reliability?","date_modified":"2023-07-02T11:34:35Z"},{"id":"what-does-15%25-automatic-gratuity-say-about-group-behavior","html_content":"

I just returned from the EASA show at National Harbor where I discovered an unusual practice of automatic 15% gratuity on all purchases at many restaurants around town. The IRS (from the web) declares this 15% as a servi...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/what-does-15%25-automatic-gratuity-say-about-group-behavior","title":"What does 15% automatic gratuity say about group behavior?","date_modified":"2023-07-02T09:45:44Z"},{"id":"reliability-versus-availability-a-vfd-in-bypass-example","html_content":"

There was a conversation recently about a system’s availability versus reliability. I like Crouse-Hind’s (2016)definition of reliability and availability “Reliability is the probability that an item will work for a state...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/reliability-versus-availability-a-vfd-in-bypass-example","title":"Reliability Versus Availability: A VFD in Bypass example","date_modified":"2023-06-17T14:50:05Z"},{"id":"initial-risk-management-at-the-specification-phase","html_content":"

Initial Risk Management at The Specification Phase of The Asset Life-Cycle

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/initial-risk-management-at-the-specification-phase","title":"Initial Risk Management at The Specification Phase","date_modified":"2023-05-31T11:22:52Z"},{"id":"burglar-alarms-versus-diagnostic-sensors","html_content":"

Interestingly, the standard description of smart sensors for reliability targeting vibration and temperature can be divided mindfully into burglar alarms and diagnostic tools. The division is unwritten as often the devel...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/burglar-alarms-versus-diagnostic-sensors","title":"Burglar Alarms Versus Diagnostic Sensors","date_modified":"2023-05-20T22:16:32Z"},{"id":"ac-drives-are-both-a-blessing-and-a-curse-for-system-vibration","html_content":"

Vibration caused or contributed to by AC drives, also known as variable frequency drives (VFDs), is somewhat obscure, unlike non-VFD literature associated with natural frequencies and vibration. Generally speaking, even ...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/ac-drives-are-both-a-blessing-and-a-curse-for-system-vibration","title":"AC Drives are both a blessing and a curse for system vibration","date_modified":"2023-05-20T18:24:35Z"},{"id":"emotional-intelligence-is-pop-culture","html_content":"

This week’s blog adds to my reoccurring writing theme about memes, as memes hide in the most exciting places, including leadership education and the often passionate beliefs surrounding some theories. I have written prev...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/emotional-intelligence-is-pop-culture","title":"Emotional Intelligence is Pop Culture","date_modified":"2023-05-20T17:28:55Z"},{"id":"memes-and-youth-sports","html_content":"

I saw this meme today, and it stated, “Uncoachable kids become unemployable adults.” I love these memes as they sound wise and evoke great emotions, and on LinkedIn, the comments struck a chord with supporters and nonsup...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/memes-and-youth-sports","title":"Memes and Youth Sports","date_modified":"2023-05-14T21:39:01Z"},{"id":"the-distributor-brand","html_content":"

Here is an interesting statistic—90% of consumers think it’s essential for a brand they use to be authentic. And 67% of adults agree that once a brand loses their trust, there’s no getting it back. I find this interestin...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-distributor-brand","title":"The Distributor Brand","date_modified":"2023-05-06T14:50:49Z"},{"id":"the-map-policy-and-the-free-rider-problem-for-distribution","html_content":"

Adam Smith discussed the individual’s endeavors to spend capital for return on maximum utility in 1776. Smith’s attention to the social good was that the individual was blind to the public interest and the promotion ther...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-map-policy-and-the-free-rider-problem-for-distribution","title":"The MAP Policy and the Free-rider Problem for Distribution","date_modified":"2023-04-30T20:51:10Z"},{"id":"work-culture-and-defection","html_content":"

Another one of the popular topics for 2023 specific to leadership is the struggle to create or maintain a positive work culture. One of the potential reasons is the newfound norm of ultra-flexibility based on the steps t...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/work-culture-and-defection","title":"Work Culture and Defection","date_modified":"2023-04-22T22:46:20Z"},{"id":"complaining-is-a-sign-of-trust","html_content":"

The keyword “overthinking” has been up over 250% in the past five years, according to some of the media watcher apps. Interestingly, via exploding topics, the definition is “Dwelling for too long on past events or future...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/complaining-is-a-sign-of-trust","title":"Complaining is a Sign of Trust","date_modified":"2023-04-16T11:17:18Z"},{"id":"ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-in-finality-for-now","html_content":"

Over the last few blog posts (1 to 3 specific to AI), the focus was understanding a few basic notions of AI lore and reality: (1) AI will not have consciousness, (2) AI is just a program, (3) AI gets smarter with better ...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-in-finality-for-now","title":"AI – Missing The Divine Spark Part in Finality For Now","date_modified":"2023-04-08T22:48:16Z"},{"id":"ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-3","html_content":"

AI – Missing The Divine Spark Part #3

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-3","title":"AI – Missing The Divine Spark Part #3","date_modified":"2023-03-25T21:34:57Z"},{"id":"ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-2","html_content":"

AI – Missing The Divine Spark Part #2

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-2","title":"AI – Missing The Divine Spark Part #2","date_modified":"2023-03-18T20:19:58Z"},{"id":"ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-1","html_content":"

AI – Missing The Divine Spark Part #1

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/ai-%E2%80%93-missing-the-divine-spark-part-1","title":"AI – Missing The Divine Spark Part #1","date_modified":"2023-03-12T21:38:17Z"},{"id":"nps-as-a-supplier-report-card","html_content":"

A few years ago, I started experimenting with a version of a net promoter score (NPS) as a means to grade vendors (suppliers) as a report card. Reichheld, the original developer of the NPS, simply asked, “would you recom...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/nps-as-a-supplier-report-card","title":"NPS as a Supplier Report Card","date_modified":"2023-03-06T09:48:34Z"},{"id":"creative-destruction-and-the-turkey-problem","html_content":"

Driving around on a Sunday with my Wife, we discussed pop culture references that, as we get older, fewer and fewer folks seem to get. I do recall my grandfather discussing westerns and losing me as a teenager, but it dr...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/creative-destruction-and-the-turkey-problem","title":"Creative Destruction and the Turkey Problem","date_modified":"2023-02-26T23:43:29Z"},{"id":"psychological-safety","html_content":"

According to Exploding Topics, “psychological safety” has grown in popularity by over 350% in the last five years. And I am not shocked. Attested by Amy Edmondson, one of the premier researchers of psychological safety, ...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/psychological-safety","title":"Psychological Safety","date_modified":"2023-02-18T17:36:09Z"},{"id":"taking-blame-and-the-normalization-of-fibs","html_content":"

In some of the literature, there are discussions where certain conditions, such as being tired and distracted, allow more temptation to let dishonesty creep into thoughts and actions, as honesty requires effort and contr...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/taking-blame-and-the-normalization-of-fibs","title":"Taking Blame and the Normalization of Fibs","date_modified":"2023-02-11T23:25:08Z"},{"id":"how-much-do-you-read-per-quarter","html_content":"

I was at a tradeshow recently in Florida (motors and drives), and one of the folks I was chatting with got on the subject of books, and I laughed that I read about 20 books per quarter in addition to hundreds of research...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/how-much-do-you-read-per-quarter","title":"How much do you read per quarter?","date_modified":"2023-02-04T22:49:02Z"},{"id":"4-tips-for-cooperation-without-trust","html_content":"

One hot topic in 2022 for leadership was the notion of trust, and how many institutions and organizations lost a step based on many factors. Trust is a multi-faceted topic, for sure. I prefer to look at cooperation as, i...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/4-tips-for-cooperation-without-trust","title":"Building Cooperation Even Without Trust","date_modified":"2023-01-28T22:35:29Z"},{"id":"the-fallacy-of-agreeing-to-disagree","html_content":"

To warm up an engineering meeting last week, I asked what was something unique or special that everyone did that most folks did not know about. I like this question as it does two things: it pulls down barriers to discus...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-fallacy-of-agreeing-to-disagree","title":"The Fallacy of Agreeing to Disagree","date_modified":"2023-01-21T14:15:10Z"},{"id":"perfume-over-sprockets","html_content":"

Several interesting facts surfaced when I was researching the history of industrial distribution. For instance, during the Civil War, I found a group of writings discussing the Charleston blockade runners and how they we...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/perfume-over-sprockets","title":"Perfume over sprockets","date_modified":"2023-01-13T20:38:15Z"},{"id":"the-failure-of-labels-leaders-and-managers","html_content":"

Not shocking to some of my friends and colleagues, but I have always had difficulties with little memes (quotes or sayings) that we often see on social media about leadership. I have a running list of over 1,000 that I c...

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/the-failure-of-labels-leaders-and-managers","title":"The Failure of Labels: Leaders and Managers","date_modified":"2023-01-08T13:32:44Z"},{"id":"silence-served-with-breakfast-on-the-west-side","html_content":"

Silence Served with Breakfast on the West-Side

","url":"https://waywardleaders.com/field-notes/f/silence-served-with-breakfast-on-the-west-side","title":"Silence Served with Breakfast on the West-Side","date_modified":"2023-01-02T13:21:38Z"}]}