Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! We all love giving advice. But when advice becomes your default as a manufacturing leader, it can crush curiosity, create disconnect, and limit team performance. In this episode, bestselling author Michael Bungay Stanier shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and growth mindset for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Michael explains how leaders can move beyond the advice trap by building curiosity, improving employee engagement, and strengthening trust. You will learn practical habits to support authentic leadership, encourage problem solving, and create manufacturing cultures where teams feel empowered, connected, and accountable. 2:17 – With more curiosity, you can engage your people, boost morale and retention, and create a thriving organization 3:31 – Slow down in your rush to provide immediate advice 4:16 – As a leader, shift away from making advice your default response 5:13 – With curiosity, you can become a more strategic leader 6:11 – Defaulting to giving advice is often an ingrained habit 6:48 – When you start being more curious, you let others shine 7:17 – Curiosity can also strengthen your relationship with your family and others outside of work 8:40 – Forming new curiosity habits can take time and practice 9:47 - If you always give answers and advice, your team can become over-dependent, more disconnected, and less productive 10:48 – Through more curiosity, you and your team can find the purpose of your work 12:22 – While practicing curiosity and other new skills, approach it with patience and grace for yourself 13:28 – Be specific and deliberate in building your coaching habit 14:13 – Your team are your allies 15:19 – Instead of answering right away, stay in a place of curiosity a little bit longer 16:53 – Ask curious questions to find the root cause of issues within your team 18:48 – Asking questions can be more effective than giving advice 20: 11 – Your job isn't to come up with the best answer, but to help your team come up with the right answer 21:42 – To practice curiosity, pay attention to your body language Connect with Michael Bungay Stanier Visit his website and download chapter one of The Coaching Habit Learn more about Box of Crayons Read my book reports of The Coaching Habit

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! What does it really take to launch a new manufacturing plant? A successful greenfield site is about more than equipment and facilities. It also depends on how leaders hire, communicate, and set the tone for their teams. In this episode, Daniel Knecht, Solar Project Director at NSG Group, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, team development, and strategic thinking for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Dan draws from his experience launching a greenfield site to explain how communication skills, trust building, and authentic leadership shape culture from day one. You will learn practical strategies to support your workforce, improve daily leadership behaviors, and drive long term performance during periods of growth and change. 4:04 – While manufacturing requires many technical skills, it's still all about people and connection 4:55 – If you're a technically minded person, you might need to shift your behavior to form stronger connections and learn to lead through others 5:22 – At a new plant, choosing and building a new team is an important part of the process 6:13 – As a leader, you want to hire a team who can respectfully challenge you, not just people who think exactly like you 7:27 – Changing how you show up for your team starts with authenticity and vulnerability 9:45 – Show up for your team with action, not just words 10:23 – Even with a large team, you can form great connections through intention and curiosity 12:54 – At a new plant, it's imperative to set the right tone 14:38 – Manage your emotions and use patience to navigate challenges and connect with your team 19:09 – How you show up in a moment of adversity says a lot about you as a leader 20:05 – You lead how you're led, so be aware of behaviors you might have picked up from others 20:40 – Take responsibility for your role as a leader in your organization 21:53 – Hire the right people and invest in them 23:20 – You can't successfully address every issue your team brings to you, but you can approach the issue with an open mind 24:14 – To get a better understanding of the pulse of your floor, create a safe space for your team Connect with Daniel Knecht Find him on LinkedIn Learn more about NSG

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! In manufacturing, labor shortages and hiring challenges continue to impact retention and recruitment. Leaders who respond faster and communicate more clearly gain a competitive advantage in attracting and keeping talent. In this episode, Jay Baer shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and workforce retention for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Jay explains how reducing uncertainty, improving response times, and strengthening strategic thinking help leaders build trust and improve employee engagement. You will learn practical strategies to close the skills gap, improve onboarding experiences, and create manufacturing cultures where top talent wants to stay and grow. 3:50 – There is a correlation between responsiveness and revenue 5:34 – People care about their time more than ever, which is why it's important to respect the time of others 6:11 – Creating an efficient recruitment process is one way to be respectful of other's time 7:43 – With a faster recruitment process, you won't miss out on great talent 10:32 – Having an efficient system for replying and following-up cuts down on team anxiety and improves your culture 11:52 – You don't always have to have the answer right away, but you can improve your relationships by giving a response 14:31 – As a leader, being responsive builds trust and helps you form better relationships within your organization 15:08 – Through responsiveness and strong communications, you can bridge the Uncertainty Gap 17:27 – People are trained to want more details and information 20:07 – Responsiveness should be a company policy, not an individual choice 21:40 – Find ways to continuously improve 23:57 – Customers will often go with the person who responds first, regardless of price Connect with Jay Baer Visit his website Learn more about The Time to Win Subscribe to his newsletter Thanks for Listening! Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Results matter. Whether you are focused on safety, quality, or productivity, manufacturing leaders want clear performance metrics. But measuring the return on investment of your people can feel more complex. In this episode, Martin Low, Founder and CEO of On Plane Consulting, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, workforce development, and performance measurement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his experience in human resources at companies like Amazon and Blue Apron, Martin explains how strategic thinking, accountability, and communication skills help leaders measure team performance more effectively. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen processes, improve employee engagement, and build manufacturing cultures where people drive measurable results. 3:23 – You can't measure people in the same way you measure inventory, cash flow or other main areas of your organization 6:31 – If you don't invest in your people, it leads to issues like high turnover and halted productivity 7:36 – If you don't have a baseline, you can't measure 8:45 – If someone on your team is underperforming, use curiosity to find the cause 8:52 – Establish a baseline for what good looks like within your team or organization 9:45 – If someone on your team has higher rates than others, study their process and see how you can implement their methods for your whole team 11:50 – When results don't meet expectations, approach the issue with curiosity instead of judgement 14:08 – With clearer processes, your team can improve and your organization can reduce turnover 14:24 – As a leader, you should make your expectations clear and hold others accountable 15:33 – With clarity, your team members find more agency and can improve the way they show up 17:31 – Create a process where you and your team can use your energy in a productive way, instead of just trying to survive the day 19:37 – Surveying your team is a strategy for assuring everyone is aligned and understands your processes, values, mission, and goals 22:52 – With a survey, leadership can find solutions directly from their team on the floor 24:18 – Most people show up wanting to do a good job, and clear processes can help them improve how they show up Connect with Martin Low Learn more about On Plane Consulting Contact On Plane Consulting at [email protected] Contact Martin at [email protected]

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Stories connect people, build trust, and help manufacturing leaders drive engagement, accountability, and productivity. When used intentionally, storytelling becomes a powerful leadership tool on the shop floor. In this episode, Trevor Perry, award winning speaker and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Trevor explains how storytelling supports authentic leadership, strengthens trust building, and improves feedback delivery during difficult conversations. You will learn practical ways to use stories to grow your influence, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where teams feel connected, motivated, and aligned with shared goals. 4:04 – When someone owns, lives, and feels a story, that makes for powerful storytelling 5:31 – Some people might be bad storytellers with great stories to tell, or great storytellers with bad stories 6:24 – Storytelling is a way to connect and help others relate to what you're trying to share 7:12 – Good storytelling is transparent and draws on your own experiences 8:42 – If you're telling someone else's story, you still need to find a way to personally connect and own the story you're telling 11:18 – Storytelling is an inherent part of human nature, which is why stories resonate so well 12:47 – Every story needs a purpose, especially if you're in a leader or mentor role 15:15 – If you're trying to adopt someone else's story as your own, it won't feel authentic 16:19 – A culture of storytelling can bring more connection to your organization 17:44 – How you tell a story is always going to be different depending on your audience or situation 20:28 – Practicing improv is a unique way to hone your storytelling skills 20:30 - Learn more about improv and storytelling in Episode 97 22:55 – You can also learn about storytelling about listening to others 23:57 – As a human, you are a storyteller Connect with Trevor Perry Visit his website Thanks for Listening! Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! How can manufacturing leaders bring more mindfulness to the shop floor without sacrificing productivity or performance? In this episode, Mike Mooney, former senior executive in NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula One, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Mike explains how communication skills, growth mindset, and authentic leadership help leaders improve trust building, accountability, and workforce retention. You will learn practical strategies for root cause analysis, strategic thinking, and feedback delivery while reducing burnout and supporting upskilling across your teams. This conversation connects soft skills with operational results, showing how intentional leadership strengthens culture, improves onboarding, and drives measurable performance in today's manufacturing environment. 3:46 – Like racecars, humans are high-performance vehicles that needs building, fixing, innovation, and restoration 5:04 – Being high-performance involves being present, intentional, and curious 8:13 – You can still get work done well and efficiently without sacrificing your relationships or workplace presence 9:22 – To improve your presence and how you show up, commit to shifting your micro-behaviors 12:00 – Sometimes, you need to slow down to go fast 13:33 – In the space between stimulus and response, you have a choice to jump to conclusions or react with curiosity 16:22 – Curiosity opens up conversations and leads to more productive outcomes 19:10 – Great ideas can come from anywhere, not just the executive team 23:20 – With curiosity, any idea can be interesting 25:05 – We were all designed to be high-performance vehicles and with time and authenticity, you can become the leader your organization needs Connect with Mike Mooney Visit his website Find him on LinkedIn Connect on X and Instagram @mike_mooney Connect on Facebook @mikemooney_speaks Thanks for Listening! Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Trust is the foundation of strong manufacturing leadership. Without it, teams struggle with engagement, accountability, and productivity. In this episode, Justin Patton, leadership presence expert and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, trust building, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Justin explains how communication skills, feedback delivery, and authentic leadership help leaders strengthen relationships and improve workforce retention. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, growth mindset, and transparency that support onboarding, reduce turnover, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to perform. 3:10 – Trust requires transparency, tact, and togetherness 4:03 – Trust is your biggest competitive advantage 4:41 – When people don't have all the information, they fill it in with fear or make up stories 5:59 – As a leader, you can create a culture of trust by having the courage to be transparent and vulnerable 8:39 – You have to speak your truth, but also take accountability for how you deliver it 10:41 – When an organization values results over everything else, it leads to issues like a lack of trust, increased disconnect, and poor leadership 12:22 – Think about who you are at your best, then work to show up for others as that best version of yourself 14:37 – To grow as a leader, you don't have to fundamentally change who you are, but can learn how to lean into your best qualities and align your actions and behavior with who you are at your best 16:21 – Trust is built in small moments 17:46 – Find the balance between oversharing and transparency 20:51 – Trust does not leave people second guessing 21:20 – Choose discomfort over resentment 22:53 – There are also situations where building trust can require staying silent 25:43 – Every choice you make either gets you closer to trust or drives you away from it Connect with Justin Patton Visit his website Learn more about his books Check out my book reports of Your Road to Yes and The High-Impact Manager Thanks for Listening! Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! The manufacturing industry just keeps getting greater—and it's all thanks to passionate, mindful leaders who show up every day ready to engage their teams, improve their mindset, and create an environment where people love to work. One of these leaders is Karen J. Lund, a bestselling author and keynote speaker with a long career in the steel industry. Drawing on her experience in the steel industry, Karin now leads the team at G-Power Global, an organization she founded to inspires corporate and organizational entities to lead with compassion while continuing to focus on productivity, service, and profits. In this episode, Karin talks more about transformations facing the steel industry and manufacturing as a whole, and shares why compassion, connection, and conversations are the key to unlocking creative solutions, overcoming challenges, and bringing new energy to the manufacturing floor. 3:03 – In manufacturing, you can't do everything by yourself, which makes it very important to seek out and build strong connections 5:33 – It can be a challenge to form relationship on the floor, especially for younger professionals 6:48 – When people have connections on the floor, it makes it easier to voice feedback and navigate challenges 9:01 – By creating a culture that fosters connections and conversation, you'll find more productivity and more creative solutions 11:37 – Compassion is the competitive edge 15:55 – There is a difference between training and learning 16:39 – Employee resource groups are a strong tool for building connections and community in the workplace 19:20 – If you want to redefine your industry and image, start by having conversations about your values and how you present to the media and others 22:25 – In manufacturing, it's important to have conversations about how your role impacts the work of others, and vice versa 23:29 – Everyone learns in different ways and some people may need different accommodations 25:02 – When someone makes a commitment to their industry, it can have a positive impact for entire teams and organizations Connect with Karin J. Lund Visit her website Thanks for Listening! Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! When mistakes happen on the plant floor, many leaders focus on blame. But there is a better approach that improves safety, accountability, and performance. In this episode, Dr. Jake Mazulewicz shares insights on manufacturing leadership, safety culture, and root cause analysis for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his background in high hazard industries, Jake explains how curiosity, communication skills, and trust building help leaders reduce errors and strengthen reliability. You will learn practical strategies to improve problem solving, support employee engagement, and create safer manufacturing environments where people feel supported and accountable. 3:35 – Procedures and policies are the work that is imagined, and on the floor is how the work actually gets done 4:19 – The work as-done is almost always radically different than the work as-imagined 5:20 – Even when you have standards and people show up wanting to do a good job, you can still see issues that need to be addressed 6:44 – There will always be areas that absolutely need to have procedures in place 8:02 – There are also adaptive jobs, which leans less into procedures and more intro troubleshooting and tacit human knowledge 10:56 - In an ideal environment, both mechanistic and adaptive models are used and respected and needed 12:11 – There are four levels, ranging from strict procedurals to looser guidelines that show what to do, but not how to do it 15:36 – Tacit knowledge gets shared through conversations 16:22 – A way to share important information is to have frontline experts record videos sharing their insights to problems, especially those that are not covered in procedures 19:44 – Through conversation and connection, more knowledge is shared 21:58 – Debriefing also plays a central role 23:45 – If you have strong discipline, you'll find more freedom 25:31 – In most situations, errors are signals, not defects 27:07 – When an error occurs, be curious and find the deeper cause of the problem Connect with Jake Mazulewicz Find him on Linkedin Visit his website

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! When crisis hits, manufacturing leaders must stay calm, communicate clearly, and guide their teams through uncertainty. In this episode, Dave Sanderson, Flight 1549 survivor, bestselling author, and leadership speaker, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, resilience, and communication skills for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his Miracle on the Hudson experience, Dave explains how trust building, growth mindset, and authentic leadership help leaders navigate adversity. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, accountability, and employee engagement that strengthen safety culture, improve productivity, and support workforce retention during high pressure situations. 2:18 – Dave shares his Flight 1549 story 8:11 – In times of conflict, whether it's a plane crash or issue on the manufacturing floor, calmness and confidence play key roles 9:05 – To get through challenging situations, you need to manage your own mindset 10:05 – You don't need to know everything to handle a crisis, but you have to be able to lead yourself first 11:09 – Every moment in your life happens for a reason 13:38 – How to react to and cope with a challenging situation depends on the meaning you attach to it 14:22 – By reframing the meaning you attach to a situation, you can find healthy and productive ways to react and grow 15:33 – Everyone assigns different meanings to different challenges, so it's important to approach others with curiosity instead of judgement 17:56 – To truly understand others, you need be curious and have authentic interactions 21:52 – To feel included in an organization's mission, people need and want certainty, variety, connection, significance, growth, and the ability to contribute 24:48 – As a leader, it's up to you to find creative solutions and create opportunity from challenges 28:57 – If you get casual, it can lead to safety issues, accidents, and other serious problems for your organization Connect with Dave Sanderson Check out his website and download a free copy of his Moments Matter Magazine Connect on LinkedIn to see new blog content

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! In many manufacturing organizations, core values live on wall plaques but never show up in daily leadership behavior. Turning values into action is key to building trust, engagement, and real results on the shop floor. In this episode, Adam Hill, CEO, keynote speaker, and bestselling author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, authentic leadership, and workplace culture for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Adam explains how communication skills, accountability, and growth mindset help leaders bring values to life. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen employee engagement, align behaviors with expectations, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel connected, motivated, and committed to shared success. 4:13 – Core values should serve as a driving force, but can sometimes become restrictive 6:26 – In some cases, holding onto an old or legacy core value can actually hold back your organization 8:15 – If your organization is struggling or plateaued, look toward your core values and address what ideals need to stay and which ones can be changed or removed 9:24 – Culture and strategy are very similar, but can't be treated as the same 10:51 – As culture shifts, you might have to shift your behavior while still staying true to your core values 13:06 – If you want change, you need to create a culture where people feel empowered to speak up 14:19 – If people in your organization don't feel comfortable speaking up, it can lead to unsafe environments 16:29 – Healthy conflict is often necessary when discussing which core values to keep or get rid of, especially in family or legacy companies 21:50 – The strongest core values are the ones that can grow and evolve with your organization 24:00 – Great results can arise from challenging conversations Connect with Adam Hill Visit his website Listen to his Flow Over Fear podcast

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! If you want to improve safety, quality, productivity, and results, the first step is looking toward improving connection. With more mindfulness and connection, your entire organization can thrive—and in this episode, guest Jon Gordon is here to show you exactly how you can improve connection and fight disconnect in your organization! Jon is one of the top three leadership speakers in the world, and his talks on mindset and leadership have inspired hundreds of individuals and organizations. He is also the bestselling author of 28 books, including one of my favorites, The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy. In this episode, Jon delves deeper into some of the insights in The Energy Bus to share how leaders can use positivity and connection to improve results and combat difficult situations. 3:31 – You are always going to have to deal with negative people, or energy vampires, but overcoming them is a key part of your journey to connection 4:40 – Every negative person is a test for you to find your own power and resiliency 6:40 – We are meant to be connected, which is why disconnect and isolation leads to anxiety and other mental health issues 7:55 – The more united and connected you are, the stronger you'll be as a team 10:10 – If you only focus on the results instead of the process, it can lead to disconnect and other negative outcomes 11:15 – Feed yourself with words of positivity and encouragement instead of listening to negative self-talk 12:30 – Understand the wound behind your negative thoughts, so you can find a way to speak truth to them 13:49 – By embracing opportunities to heal and grow, you become a stronger leader for your team 16:25 – A positive team starts with positive leadership 18:03 – Understanding the dynamics of your team can help you find ways to improve connection 20:23 – You need both love and accountability 22:48 – There will always been the need for difficult conversations, so find a way to deal with them and make them less difficult for you and your team 24:49 – You can't be thankful and stressed at the same time Connect with Jon Gordon Visit his website Learn More about The Energy Bus and his other books Read my previous book report on The Energy Bus Connect on LinkedIn and social media Hear Jon's podcast with Alan Mullally

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! "I am great in my role and have valuable information to share, so why does no one want to work with me?" If you have ever asked yourself this question, this episode is for you. In this episode, Karine Leblanc, bestselling author and international speaker with an engineering background, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, emotional intelligence, and communication skills for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Karine explains how self awareness, active listening, and authentic leadership help technical professionals strengthen trust building and improve employee engagement. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and growth mindset that support workforce retention and create manufacturing cultures where collaboration and productivity thrive. 4:10 – In any role, there is much more to do that simply learn the technical role of your job 5:00 – By having a mentor or someone else you trust in your organization, you can gain valuable feedback and insights 6:18 – To better yourself through feedback, you need to be ready to hear feedback and make it clear to your team that you're open to listening to them 8:30 – When you work on yourself and improve your self-awareness, it can have a positive impact on all levels of your information, including your relationships with clients 9:45 – Emotional intelligence is not about being happy all the time, but learning to be self-aware of your own emotions and behaviors 10:42 – Through being intentional conversations with your team, you can still find productive outcomes and dynamics even when you're not at your emotional best 11:51 – Have the courage to be vulnerable 15:05 – By being self-aware and intentional, you can learn your own behavioral signals and find the best ways to navigate challenging situations 16:18 – Using emotional intelligence, you can also learn other people's behavioral signals and triggers, and find the best way to communicate with them 18:12 – If you're stuck, all you need is a fresh perspective 19:09 – To find new perspectives and feedback, take a pause and zoom out 21:23 – Through simple and honest dialogue, you can improve safety and find more productive results 22:37 – When you combine technical skills with human skills, magic happens Connect with Karine Leblanc Visit her website Connect on LinkedIn

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! There is a four letter word manufacturing leaders should avoid: hope. Hope is not a strategy when it comes to safety, productivity, or workforce performance. In this episode, Shawn Rhodes, speaker, author, and change leadership expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, strategic thinking, and accountability for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his background as a war correspondent, Shawn explains how growth mindset, communication skills, and authentic leadership help leaders move from reaction to action. You will learn practical strategies for root cause analysis, difficult conversations, and workforce retention that replace hope with clear plans, stronger execution, and measurable results on the shop floor. 2:58 – If you rely on hope and wait for your environment to change, it can spell failure 3:15 – Identify where you're using hope in your plans, then replace it with something else 5:08 – As a leader, replacing hope starts with changing your mindset 6:03 – To replace hope, identify areas where issues could occur, then work to address the issues 8:50 – By making small changes, you can eliminate bigger issues and free up more time and resources for yourself and your team 11:18 – By changing your mindset to remove hope, you will also create a positive standard for your team and organization 13:51 – Take time to monitor your environment and assesses what is and isn't working 15:07 – Set objectives and figure out what you need to do to reach them 18:40 – As a leader, your biggest concern should be living up to your potential and fully showing up in how you serve 21:05 – Replace hope with systems and processes 21:53 – Take ownership and think about what you could do differently as a leader and how you can put those changes into action 25:16 – Have the courage to take a pause or briefly shut down operations, and it will save major time and stress down the line 27:30 – If you put in the work to replace hope and improve your leadership, success will find you Connect with Shawn Rhodes Find him on LinkedIn Learn more about Shawn's book Pivot Point

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Do you want to improve relationships at your organization and change the way you show up for your team? It all starts with self-awareness . . . and in this episode, guest Zovig Garboushian is here to show you the tips you need to become a self-awareness champion! With years of experience in brand marketing, management consulting, and leadership development, Zovig now puts her passion and experience to use at Boldness Ablaze, a boutique professional firm that helps leaders overcome personal limitations and find authentic success. In this episode, Zovig delves into the important topic of self-awareness and shares her favorite tips on how leaders can use skills like curiosity and compassion to grow their self-awareness, form healthier connections, and find the life they want to have. 2:30 – Self-awareness is the key to having the kind of life you want to have 2:50 – It is also about the ongoing and evolving relationship you have with yourself 7:20 – Through self-awareness, you develop the ability to notice and change when something in your life feels incongruent with what you want for yourself 8:40 – The more we connect to ourselves, the more we behave in our natural ways 9:12 – Our essence is our unique way of showing up and adding value to the world 11:24 – Self-awareness also requires you to attend to yourself and practice self-care 13:25 – One way to practice self-awareness is to take small moments throughout your day to pause and reflect on how you want to show up 16:43 – Another self-awareness tip is to observe yourself, your behavior, and your interactions and reactions 18:40 – By staying self-aware and reflecting on your own behavior, you can improve your relationships with others in your organization 19:48 – Showing up with self-awareness takes courage 20:18 – Everything we do for others begins with ourselves 20:35 – Self-awareness includes curiosity, compassion, and acceptance for ourselves 22:05 – You're never going to treat someone else better than how you treat yourself 24:26 – You deserve to take time for yourself Connect with Zovig Garboushian Visit her website Email [email protected] Connect on LinkedIn

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! What are the three Ps of success? Passion, purpose, and perseverance can shape how manufacturing leaders show up, engage their teams, and drive results. In this episode, Tonia Jahshan, founder of Sipology and successful entrepreneur, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, growth mindset, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Tonia explains how authentic leadership, strategic thinking, and resilience support productivity and workforce retention. You will learn practical strategies for building confidence, strengthening communication skills, and creating manufacturing cultures where people stay motivated, push through challenges, and perform at their best. 2:18 – Tonia shares stories from her experience on Dragons' Den 8:49 – When pitching a new idea, do your homework and know your audience 9:18 – Be transparent and show you truly care about your product or process 10:18 – Strong and long-lasting partnerships often start with a personal connection 12:04 – To drive change, you have to show up with passion 12:27 – The three P's of success are passion, purpose, and perseverance 13:26 – If you're not showing up with passion, others in your organization will feel it as well 16:24 – By setting boundaries and taking care of your own mental health, you can improve your mindset and how you positively show up for your team 18:52 – On the journey to success, you're not alone and it's okay to rely on your team and others in your life and organization 19:28 – If you're not passionate about w hat you're doing or feel like you're lost your purpose, reconsider and rework Connect with Tonia Jahshan Learn more about Sipology Connect with Tonia on Instagram or LinkedIn Visit Tonia's website

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! What does manufacturing leadership have in common with endurance sports like marathons and mountain climbing? Both require resilience, mindset, and consistent effort. In this episode, Steven Pivnik, entrepreneur, author, and endurance athlete, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, resilience, and productivity for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his experience leading Binary Tree and competing in extreme endurance events, Steven explains how growth mindset, authentic leadership, and strategic thinking help leaders improve employee engagement and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for workforce retention, difficult conversations, and building stamina for long term success on the shop floor and beyond. 2:19 - There are actually many tie-ins between endurance sports and entrepreneurship 6:11 – Avoid taking shortcuts, especially when it comes to tasks like hiring 6:55 – Shortcuts may feel good and lead to easy solutions, but they don't always lead to long-term, sustainable outcomes 8:20 – Many people have the false notion that there is always time to do sometime twice, but there's rarely time to do it right the first time 10:57 - If you rely on shortcuts, it can hurt you in the long-run 12:22 – Often, going slowly instead of rushing or using a shortcut leads to more positive outcomes and a greater chance of success 14:23 – When it comes to forming connections and having deeper conversations, it's especially important to slow down and be intentional about your behavior and mindset 14:50 – In relationships, quantity supersedes quality 16:50 – Stronger connections come from building true relationships through work 18:43 – When people have strong personal connections at work, they are more likely to show up and productively engage with their organization 21:20 – Forming stronger relationships takes work and patient, but the benefits can be very rewarding 22:43 – Everyone has stories and greatness, and you can discover opportunities for new connections by being open and willing to learn Connect with Steven Pivnik Visit his website Connect on LinkedIn Pre-order Built to Finish

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! From retaining top talent to improving performance, manufacturing leaders use influence every day on the shop floor. In this episode, Alyson Van Hooser, keynote speaker, leadership expert, and author of Infinite Influence, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Alyson explains how curiosity, intentionality, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and growth mindset that support workforce retention, improve productivity, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel motivated, valued, and connected. 2:57 – There are many ways to influence people, from convincing them to stay on your team to influencing someone to level up their performance at work 3:19 – Change the way you think about everyone you know and recognize your ability to influence anyone, anywhere, at any time 4:27 – Influence is very different from manipulation 5:21 – You can't motivate someone to do something they don't want to do 14:52 – Instead of making assumptions, stay curious and think about what others need 17:25 – By making assumptions, you might not be meeting your team's needs, if you are going in with good intentions 18:51 – You need a combination of good intentions and intentional actions 22:48 – Leading with biases and assumptions instead of curiosity and intentionality can lead to further disconnect in your organization 23:46 – You don't need radical shifts to change your leadership. Instead, you can focus on small moments of building curiosity and intention 26:03 – To find the best way to communicate with someone, you need build a relationship and get to know their story 28:33 – Successful organizations are built through the support and investment of others Connect with Alyson Van Hooser Visit her website Connect on LinkedIn Learn More About Infinite Influence

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! In the fast paced world of manufacturing, staying focused can feel impossible. Resetting your mindset is key to improving productivity, engagement, and performance. In this episode, Penny Zenker, international speaker, business strategy coach, and productivity expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, strategic thinking, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Penny explains how growth mindset, communication skills, and authentic leadership help leaders reduce distractions and strengthen accountability. You will learn practical strategies to improve focus, support workforce retention, and build manufacturing cultures where teams stay aligned, energized, and productive. 3:46 – Focus always coming back to setting objectives and aligning your actions with those objectives 4:47 – To find your focus, you need to step back, get out of your daily cycle, and reset 5:29 – To engage in reset practice, you have to recognize the trigger for the reset moment and then take a step back to get perspective and realign 7:03 – The more you practice, the easier it is to build a reset mindset 7:53 – If you don't give yourself permission to step back and reset, you increase the risk of errors that can hinder productivity and cause mistakes 8:53 – Taking small break is a way to relearn how to focus 9:30 – Another part of practicing a reset mindset is learning to recognize when something isn't working, like getting rid of an unproductive meeting 11:39 – Stepping back can mean giving up control in some areas 12:14 – Being able to step back creates a culture with less bureaucracy and more trust and autonomy 13:59 – Sometimes we focus on the wrong areas, like focusing on micromanagement when it would be more productive to focus on fostering autonomy 16:30 – A reset mindset starts with creating reset moments for yourself 17:44 – Constantly look for ways to bring out the best in yourself and in others 18:22 – A reset mindset also requires curiosity and a willingness to adapt 21:24 – If one person in an organization can demonstrate a reset mindset, others will learn to do the same Connect with Penny Zenker Visit her website Check out her Take Back Time podcast

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Is humor the secret weapon for improving connection on the manufacturing floor? In this episode, Tim Gard, Hall of Fame speaker and business coach, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Tim explains how humor supports trust building, growth mindset, and authentic leadership while helping teams navigate difficult conversations. You will learn practical strategies to boost morale, improve productivity, strengthen workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel connected, energized, and ready to perform. 2:49 – When humor comes at the expense of others, it fuels disconnect 4:14 – Self-effacing humor is a strong skill in the workplace, but can be difficult to master 4:49 – There is a difference between understanding humor and being humorous yourself 5:35 – If you can find humor in a stressful situation, it can lead to moments of connection for you and your team 7:04 – By figuring out what is humorous to your team members, you can find ways to bridge the disconnection gap with humor 10:25 – When you can work hard and laugh hard with you team, you can find results 10:58 – If you're not connecting with someone, you have to adapt to their communication style and figure out what's important to them 12:01 – You also need to be aware of your behavior and how others might interpret it or react to it 12:47 – If you don't connect with someone at first, don't abandon the process 15:32 – By having your own good mood and positive mindset, you can convey that to your team 17:34 – Humor can also be used to convey safety messages in your organization 20:07 – By using humor, you can draw others to you and your team and can get better results 22:35 – Harnessing your own positive thoughts and feelings is a powerful tool for connection 25:08 – We can't always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we perceive and react Connect with Tim Gard Visit his website Learn more about Sticky Safety

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Just think positive. We have all heard that phrase, but in manufacturing environments filled with pressure and challenges, positivity can feel out of reach. In this episode, Dr. Paul Jenkins, psychologist, author, and positivity expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, growth mindset, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Dr. Paul explains how emotional intelligence, communication skills, and authentic leadership help leaders shift perspective, strengthen trust building, and improve accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, resilience, and feedback delivery that support workforce retention, increase productivity, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel empowered, focused, and motivated to perform. 2:39 – Positive thinking is more than a trite motivational phase 4:35 – The equipment of your mind is amazing at what it's intended to do 5:55 – Your brain's job is to keep things really efficient 6:44 – Metacognition is thinking on a higher level, or thinking about thinking 7:06 – Metacognition creates a space where choice exists 9:19 – You are constantly judging and evaluating, so you brain can work to keep you safe and to prove you right 13:59 – You can't always get rid of a negative situation, but you can find a sense of relief and gratitude by comparing it to something worse 17:59 – If you assume something is bad or has no upsides, your brain will work to prove you right 18:40 – You can't tell others to just be more positive, and others can't do the same for you 20:03 – Toxic positivity is when you ignore the difficulty and act like everything is okay 22:37 – Creation mode is all about what is to be and what doesn't exist yet 23:34 – When you imagine that worse things are coming, it leads to anxiety 25:15 – What we imagine is our brain's blueprint for moving forward, even if what actually happens doesn't perfectly match what you envisioned 27:25 – The two stages of thinking are evaluation and creation 28:48 – As a leader, you can help others create their own positive visions 30:01 – Come to peace with how things are, then work to upgrade your situation Connect with Dr. Paul Jenkins Visit his website Get your free positivity model here

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! If you missed part one with Jon Giganti, be sure to listen to Episode 103 before diving into this conversation. In this episode, Jon Giganti, speaker, tech executive, and USA Today bestselling author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, intentionality, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Jon explains how agency, awareness, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills, trust building, and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to support growth mindset, improve workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where leaders build stronger connections, drive productivity, and deliver meaningful results. 1:29 – Schedule white space or margins into your day to avoid overbooking yourself 3:29 – Quiet moments in your schedule give you a chance to rest your brain, body, and soul 8:06 – Setting aside time in your schedule is a way to invest in yourself and your future\ 10:00 – Scheduling margins also gives you time to form more productive connections within your organization 13:27 – When you have a lack of connection, you have a lack of engagement 13:40 – Let others see your authenticity 14:22 – By building trust and serving as your authentic self, you can work toward stronger results with your team 15:57 – You need self-awareness to find the best ways to improve and serve 17:27 – Get below the surface to know yourself, including your identities, beliefs, and values 20:20 – If you don't deal with what's in your head, it will impact your heart 22:26 – By building relationships, you can impact others and drive change 25:45 – Vulnerability is a superpower Connect with Jon Giganti Visit his website, where you can learn about his speaking, podcasts, and With Intention course Check out my book report of With Intention, then get your own copy

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Do your days start with positive intentions but end without meaningful progress? Many manufacturing leaders struggle with intentionality while juggling productivity demands and daily challenges. In this episode, Jon Giganti, speaker, tech executive, and USA Today bestselling author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, growth mindset, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Jon explains how self awareness, agency, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills, trust building, and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to improve focus, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where intentional leadership drives productivity, engagement, and stronger results. 6:33 – To accomplish something, you need to show up, serve, and add value 7:08 – Intention is finding out what your priorities are, then living into it as much as possible 7:58 – Every day is a new day with opportunities to be intentional and make an impact 9:28 – In order to serve others, you have to serve yourself first by establishing a routine and setting yourself up for success 10:48 – To find sustainable results, you need to have self-awareness and self-intention 13:13 – You need to put yourself in the right position for success 14:08 – Your energy levels are not the same throughout the day, so being intentional about your time is important 15:44 – Journaling or writing down affirmations is one way to practice intentionality 16:34 – You should also set a core foundation yourself by working on your own standards and beliefs 18:30 – To accomplish what you want to accomplish, show up, and form habits 21:07 – If you want to be more intentional about how you lead or connect with others, start with curiosity, connection, and bridging disconnects 23:29 – To serve others on your team, act as a safe place to connect 24:00 – To get stronger results or find out what is driving a performance issue, stay curious and find ways to connect with your teams 24:39 – Trust also plays a large role in building connections and finding results 25:23 – Along with self-awareness, you also need agency and the ability to take ownership of your past, present, and future Tune in next episode to learn more about intentionality with Jon Giganti! Connect with Jon Giganti Visit his website, where you can learn about his speaking, podcasts, and With Intention course Check out my book report of With Intention, then get your own copy

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Strong relationships drive curiosity, connection, and performance on the manufacturing floor. In this episode, Corban David Jenai, entrepreneur and Chief Hope Officer at HopeGuide, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, trust building, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Corban explains how vulnerability, intentionality, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, growth mindset, and feedback delivery that support workforce retention and create manufacturing cultures where people feel seen, valued, and motivated to perform. 3:14 – Talking about ourselves and real aspects of our lives is a way to kick off strong connections 4:00 – Vulnerability is a path to connection 4:23 – By listening and getting to know others on your team, you build a sense of trust, which in turn leads to greater results on performance, quality, safety, and more 5:03 – To show others that you care, you have to actually care 6:36 – To build connections, think about what is important to you, and work with the assumption that others might have feelings similar to yours 8:23 – While modern society gives us the chance to connect with many people, we don't always have the time or capacity to form meaningful connections with every person we encounter 10:15 – By connecting with smaller groups, we have the chance to be a witness to others, and they can be a witness to hear, see, and feel us as we are 11:06 – By investing in others at a deeper level, you can improve productivity and results 12:56 – Being vulnerable and open with your team allows them to see your humanity as a leader 14:38 – By looking at someone and actually seeing them, you can make a major difference, even if you don't have a solution to their problems 16:51 – When people feel seen and heard, they are more likely to show up for you and your organization 20:06 – Even small moments of connection, like making eye contact, go a long way when forming connections 25:54 – Being a witness can help you show up better in all your relationships Connect with Corban David Janai Find Corban online at his website Learn More About HopeGuide here

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! To make better decisions and improve engagement across manufacturing teams, leaders need diversity of thought and authentic leadership. In this episode, Kathy Miller, former manufacturing executive at General Motors, Delphi Automotive Systems, and Rolls Royce, and Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, workplace culture, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Kathy draws from her experience as a woman in manufacturing to explain how communication skills, trust building, and growth mindset help leaders create stronger connections and better results. You will learn practical strategies to improve collaboration, support workforce retention, and build manufacturing cultures where people feel empowered, valued, and motivated to perform. 3:29 – Steel Toes and Stilettos is inspired by the different roles women play to be both their authentic, feminine selves and hold their own on a shop floor 4:21 – A successful journey in manufacturing requires soft skills, which can be harder to develop than people realize 5:19 – To make a significant cultural transformation stick in your organization, you need to make it feel like it belongs to the employees, and make them feel it with their hands and the hearts 8:23 – To get more women and their perspectives into manufacturing roles, it's important to get women into manufacturing roles at a young age 9:12 – Inclusive environments get better business results 9:35 – Every person in your organization has a heart, a brain, and a set of hands, and you have to tap into all three 11:00 – By giving others an opportunity to contribute, you can find new and better results 13:50 – Kathy's equation for successfully improving plants involves relationships, realities, results, and authenticity 14:45 – Every single relationship matters 16:37 – Face your realities and work on what's in your control 17:27 – Focus on where you are and you'll find results 18:09 – If you're a man in manufacturing, work to amplify female voices 19:05 – Women in manufacturing can also advocate for their authentic selves Connect with Kathy Miller Connect with Kathy on Linkedin Learn more from Kathy and her coauthor Shannon Karels on their website Buy Steel Toes and Stilettos

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Are you winning? It is one of the most important questions manufacturing leaders can ask when it comes to safety, quality, and productivity. In this episode, Eric Berdan, business optimization leader at Nestle North America with years of factory leadership experience, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Eric explains how strategic thinking, accountability, and communication skills help leaders motivate teams and drive measurable results. You will learn practical strategies for workforce retention, growth mindset, and daily performance improvement that support continuous improvement and create manufacturing cultures where teams focus on winning the day. 3:28 – Every person in your organization has a different definition of what it means to win 3:55 – By engaging your team in their daily activities and their goals, you'll find stronger overall success 6:11 – You don't have to be perfect, but you still need to win and set up a winning streak for yourself 7:19 – To achieve results, you need to break your paradigms, be willing to push through challenges, and find ways to motivate others 8:56 – Momentum always plays a key role 10:28 – Let you team work within their own frameworks and set goals that are attainable for them 14:10 – You can't expect everyone to share your goals or reach the same expectations you personally set for yourself 17:54 – By being intentional about how you start your day, you can set yourself up for wins 22:23 – Sometimes, a strong winning streak can actually hurt productivity 24:59 – Understanding how you're doing at work requires many different senses 27:38 – Discretionary effort adds to win and productivity 28:19 – The key to success is tapping into emotion and getting your team emotionally connected to a goal

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! "What else can I do to help?" That simple question can transform how manufacturing leaders build influence and strengthen their teams. In this episode, Susan Baier, founder and president of Audience Audit, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, strategic thinking, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Susan explains how communication skills, authentic leadership, and growth mindset help leaders become relentlessly helpful while strengthening trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to improve feedback delivery, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where service, connection, and productivity drive measurable results. 2:08 – To be relentlessly helpful, ask other what else you can do to help them and think about what you can do to help the others around you or in your organization 3:44 – Shift your mindset to think about the ways you can have an impact on others 3:54 – We all know things that someone else doesn't know 8:15 – The people with the greatest experiences and the most unique perspectives are often not sharing their information 8:40 – Being generous reaps huge rewards and builds goodwill 10:37 – Being relentlessly helpful can also be a way to break out of your own routine and make yourself feel better about your own role 12:36 – Some days may have more opportunities to be helpful than others, but there are always small gestures you can make or questions you can ask to support others 14:34 – Both overconfidence and a lack of confidence can impact the ability to be relentlessly helpful 14:54 – Organizations, not just individuals, can embrace a culture of relentless helpfulness 18:39 – Learning on the job is a critical component of advancement 19:45 – To understand what is helpful for others, you need to listen and communicate 20:33 – As you shift your mindset, you'll grow your listening skills and find more way to be helpful 22:18 – We often dismiss our own knowledge and forget to think about how our knowledge can be important to someone else, even in a small way 23:34 – Just being open and available for conversation can help others Connect with Susan Baier Audience Audit website Contact Susan

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Have you ever wanted to write a book or strengthen how you communicate ideas to your team? Storytelling is a powerful leadership skill that helps manufacturing leaders engage people and drive results. In this episode, AJ Harper, publishing strategist and author of Write a Must Read, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. AJ explains how authentic leadership, growth mindset, and strategic thinking help leaders tell better stories, improve feedback delivery, and build trust. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen influence, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where clear communication inspires accountability, productivity, and connection. 1:03 – In a previous episode with Michael Port, we talked about speaking and growing your speaking skills to improve your impact in your organization. 2:39 – As a ghostwriter for bestselling books, AJ gained the experiences and insights she now uses to help others craft must-read books 5:01 – Like manufacturing, crafting a good book means developing strong systems and processes 5:30 – By having a strong and repeatable system, you can overcome challenges like self-doubt or your inner critic 6:28 – A key point of strong storytelling is remembering details 6:48 – To remember details you want to write down or share with your team, write them down in your phone or even record them for later 8:33 – Even if you have a very busy schedule, you can still find times in your day to write 9:17 – Writing doesn't have to be daily and you don't have to write a ton of words every day, as long as you find time to write on a regular basis that works for you and your schedule 10:42 – Other people may have already written ideas similar to yours, but the world still hasn't heard it in your unique voice 11:43 – To connect with your audience, you need to put your reader first 13:35 – By using the reader first concept, you can also find better ways to connect and communicate with your team 14:50 – Even by just acknowledging an existing problem or condition, you can still motivate and support your team or audience 16:37 – Think about the hearts and minds of your audience and demographic 19:12 – Having a script is a way to prepare yourself before speaking, even if it's just a few key points 20:42 – Instead of only focusing on your own objective, think about how you want to make others feel 21:35 – Don't expect to be great at first Connect with AJ Harper Visit her website, where you can sign up for her newsletter with more writing tips Learn more in my review of Write a Must-Read

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! What do manufacturing leaders have in common with performers? More than you think. Leadership on the shop floor requires presence, communication skills, and the ability to influence outcomes. In this episode, Michael Port, bestselling author and founder of Heroic Public Speaking, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Michael explains how authentic leadership, feedback delivery, and growth mindset improve influence and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, trust building, and persuasive communication that support workforce retention, increase productivity, and help leaders motivate teams with clarity and confidence. 3:30 – Putting on a performance doesn't necessarily mean showcasing a fake version of yourself, and performances can still be intentional and mindful 5:02: To change what other people do, consider what you make them think and how you make them feel 5:30 – You need to earn the privilege of influencing how others think 8:11 – To be a person who others want to help, you need to create value for them 10:48 – Success is not just about numbers and goalposts, but about growing every single member of your team 12:05 – To build a long-term, sustainable organization, it always comes back to being intentional and thinking about how your team feels and how you make them feel through your leadership and behavior 15:28 – As a leader or manager, you need to be careful and deliberate about what you say on a everyday basis, and think about how others might interpret your words 17:14 – Before starting a conversation, especially in a time of conflict, think about how the other person might react to your words, and what you can say to start an engaging dialogue without them feeling attacked or defensive 18:40 – To increase productivity and create a healthier workplace culture, you need to make your team feel like they're in a safe environment 21:11 – You want to present you team with something that can get excited about, and show them something of value they'll get out of it 22:41 – Along with showing your team members what they'll get from your initiative, you also have to highlight the consequences of not doing it 23:59 – Most people don't really hear you until you're sick of saying the point you want me to hear 25:21 – To be a person who others want to help, you have to show others you can both make and fulfil commitments 29:55 – If you always shut down other's ideas, they will eventually learn to stop coming to you 30:27 – To have productive conversations, you need to keep them moving Connect with Michael Port Heroic Public Speaking website Heroic Public Speaking Substack Follow @HeroicPublicSpeaking on social media

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! First impressions matter on the manufacturing floor, and appearance plays a bigger role in leadership presence than many realize. In this episode, Morgan Wider, personal style expert, speaker, and founder of Wider Style, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and authentic leadership for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Morgan explains how confidence, emotional intelligence, and intentional presentation support trust building and employee engagement. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen leadership presence, improve feedback delivery, and show up with clarity in male dominated manufacturing environments while supporting productivity, workforce retention, and professional growth. 2:42 – You only have seven seconds to make a strong first impression, and your appearance is typically one of first elements others notice about you 4:03 – By dressing as your authentic self, you also encourage your team to be themselves and show up in their own authentic ways 5:18 – Even if your role requires a uniform, there are still ways to show your own authentic personality and style, like through hair or makeup choices 6:20 – In male-dominated industries like manufacturing, women may feel like they need to blend in with their fashion choices, but this can also keep them from showing up as their most authentic selves 9:12 – In your clothing and appearance, you need to be both authentic and appropriate 10:33 – Make style choices that honor who you are and truly present who you are in the best way possible 11:33 – By being mindful of factors like your body type, age, strengths, and weakness, you can dress in a way that's both appropriate for your role and honors who you are as an individual 12:24 – When you're comfortable and happy with how you look, it improves your productivity and morale, plus makes you feel better and more confident 13:23 – By putting effort into your appearance, you can get yourself into the mindset you need 14:39 – Different audiences and occasions can mean different style choices 18:40 – If you don't put in the effort, it can affect how others perceive you and how you show up 25:30 – As a leader, think about what you can do to create a space than honors diversity 26:58 – If find yourself in a space or role where you can't be your authentic self, it might be time to consider if it's the right space for you Connect with Morgan Wider Website More on her book, The Worthy Wardrobe

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! On the manufacturing floor, you may not see magic tricks, but there are daily opportunities to create meaningful moments that improve engagement, morale, and performance. In this episode, Jon Petz, entrepreneur, speaker, bestselling author, and magician, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and workplace culture for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Jon explains how intentionality, creativity, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills, trust building, and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to boost productivity, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing environments where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to perform. 3:11 – In the workplace, magic is all about creating moments that make your team feel valued, support, and like they're part of something special 4:24 – To create magic, be intentional, lean into organic moments, and create moments of surprise 5:15 – Don't overlook the simple moments 6:31 – Magical moments play a big role in improving productivity and efficiency 10:58 – Purpose drives passion and helps your team find ways to truly engage instead of just getting up in their role 12:39 – You can't always plan for moments of magic, but you can think about what your team needs to feel empowered and supported 15:05 – Deeper conversations drive results and solutions 16:06 – Take a genuine care in your team member's outside of their role in your organization 17:17 – Jon's book recommendation – Work Plus Love by Marcus Buckingham 18:01 – Take steps to truly appreciate and recognize your team 20:45 – You also need to pay attention to other's mindsets and see what they need to feel valued or encouraged 21:36 – With title comes authority, but title does not always come with leadership Connect with Jon Petz Website Buy Significance in Simple Moments, now available in paperback

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Why does communication break down and lead to conflict on the manufacturing floor? And how can leaders use emotional intelligence to improve engagement, trust, and productivity? In this episode, Dr. Irvine Nugent, author and emotional intelligence expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his experience growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, Dr. Irvine explains how self awareness, active listening, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and growth mindset that help reduce conflict, improve workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel respected, connected, and motivated to perform. 1:57 – How we present our emotions has a big impact on how we forge relationships, avoid conflict, and find more productive outcomes 5:04 – Before you can lead others, you need to lead yourself 6:59 – One tip for increasing your self-awareness is to take a one-minute pause before entering a room and give yourself time to process your emotions and get rid of any emotions you don't want to bring into the room 7:57 – You can't always make your emotions disappear, but you can manage and acknowledge them 8:16 – If you don't give people the information they need, they'll fill in the gaps themselves and are more likely to jump to conclusions about your emotions and behavior 9:43 – Emotions are contagious 11:32 – By taking the time to have quality interactions, you can find better outcomes and change the way you show up for your team 14:54 – Leaders need to know the truth, and that truth becomes data 17:57 – On a strong team, everyone holds each other accountable 19:17 – Anger, fear, disgust, contempt, surprise, happiness, and sadness are the seven universal emotions 20:20 – By learning to recognize facial expression and body language, you can understand when you need to ask more questions or start a deeper dialogue 25:15 – Even in times of violence and conflict, there are always reminders of humanity's resilience and potential Connect with Dr. Irvine Nugent Website YouTube More about Leadership Lessons from the Pub

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Do you dread Mondays or feel constant pressure to keep up on the manufacturing floor? You may be dealing with burnout, a growing challenge tied to chronic workplace stress. In this episode, Nina Nesdoly, expert in neuroscience and organizational behavior, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, resilience, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Nina explains how emotional intelligence, communication skills, and growth mindset help leaders reduce burnout and strengthen trust building. You will learn practical strategies to support workforce retention, improve productivity, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel supported, focused, and energized to perform. 2:43 – Burnout is different from just feeling tired or overwhelmed at work, and there are three major characteristics that set it apart from regular feelings of stress 2:50 – The first symptom of burnout is physical exhaustion, including physical symptoms like headaches and muscle tension 3:13 – The second symptom is cynicism and depersonalization 4:20 – The third and most difficult to spot symptom is professional efficacy, or a feeling like you and your work are not good enough 6:01 – When you tried to compensate for feeling like you're bad at your job or not meeting expectations, it can actually fed into the cycle of burnout 7:21 – The difference between stress and burnout is that stress is your body's response to demands in your environment, while burnout is the consequences of chronic stress built up over time 8:46 – Over time, burnout can change your brain and make it harder to regulate your emotions and stress response 10:16 – To combat and prevent burnout, evaluate when you're putting your energy and how you're expending your energy 11:25 – Oftentimes, we are the ones putting unnecessary stress on ourselves 12:45 – When you're feeling stressed, it's important to connect with others, and there are even hormones in your body that will push you toward wanting to connect with people 14:25 – To say yes to some things, you have to say no to others 15:34 – By being intentional about when you say no, you can make sure you have the time and energy to say yes to the projects that really serve your organization 16:36 – Thinking about your goals is another way to combat burnout, as we can get stuck in the same stressful trajectory 17:30 – If you find yourself in a position that doesn't align with your values or goals, have the courage to say reevaluate and say no 18:50 – You can practice saying no in low stakes situations 19:32 – You can also practice the 24-hour rule to give yourself more time to evaluate a situation before saying yes or no 21:30 – There are also alternatives to saying no, like telling someone you need to shift your priorities or that if you do one task, it means you won't be able to get to another 22:54 – To combat burnout, you need to REST, or recognize, evaluate, say no, and take care of yourself 33:00 – You can't focus on everything at once, so be intentional about how you use your time Connect with Nina Nesdoly Find her on Instagam and Tiktok @WorkplaceClarity Website LinkedIn

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! You only have seconds to make a strong first impression, and on the manufacturing floor those moments can shape trust, engagement, and performance. In this episode, Sylvie di Giusto, consultant, author, and international keynote speaker, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and emotional intelligence for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Sylvie explains how self awareness, authentic leadership, and growth mindset help leaders overcome bias and strengthen trust building. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, difficult conversations, and employee engagement that support workforce retention and create manufacturing cultures where meaningful connections drive productivity and results. 3:19 – In the first seven seconds of a new conversation, we all make up to eleven major decisions about the other person 4:21 – We all have unconscious biases, which are built on our past experiences 4:33 – One of these is confirmation bias, which is when we search for something to show that our initial opinion about someone was correct 4:47 – Another is anchoring bias, where we cannot get rid of information or perceptions we already have 5:04 – Overall, there are around 185 biases that influence our decisions every single day 6:11 – To form stronger relationships and get rid of biases, take a step back from your own mindset and stay curious in conversations with others 7:39 – In a diverse industry like manufacturing, first impressions are particularly important, and you will have interactions with a wide variety of people, from clients to your team on the floor 8:37 – First impressions are also especially important for women in the manufacturing industry, since it's a traditionally male-dominated industry 10:24 – Instead of letting your gender drive other's first impression of you, make sure they see your experience, expertise, skills, confidence, and leadership 11:53 – Making a strong first impression comes down to five elements, or the ABCDEs of making a good impression 12:00 - A is for appearance, or the way you look, dress, and present yourself 13:21 – B stands for behavior, which includes factors like your attitude, your charisma, and your mindset and ethics 14:15 – C is for communication, and this also includes your listening skills 15:44 – While making a first impression, it's important to always do your best, even if you make mistakes in those first seven seconds 17:30 – Your reputation is what people say behind your back, not what they say to your face 18:05 – Authenticity is a lie 18:58 - You can show up different ways in different roles, but you are still the same person throughout your day 20:10 – Your core values don't change throughout your day, but you just deliver them differently in different situations, like when interacting with your children or with your team on the floor 21:21 – The first 11 words of a conversation play a huge role in creating a first impression, but many of us waste them on small talk 22:00 – In the ABCDEs of first impression, the D refers to how your digital footprint and how you present yourself in the digital space like social media 24:22 – E is for environment, or how factors like your office space, car, and family reflect on you 25:00 – By focusing on factors you can control, like your appearance, you can take the steps toward making a strong first impression and forging great connections Connect with Sylvie di Guisto Website Take the free Perception Audit Quiz Learn more about Sylvie's new book, Discover Your Fair Advantage Reach you to Sylvie on social media and let her know you loved the podcast!

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! If leadership is not connected to the shop floor, miscommunication, productivity loss, and disengagement follow. Strong manufacturing results start with strong connections from the top to the frontline. In this episode, Jason A. Hunt, leadership educator and manufacturing problem solving expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Jason explains how delegation, strategic thinking, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for root cause analysis, feedback delivery, and growth mindset that improve productivity, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where teams think critically and stay aligned. 3:17 – When you're a leader, it's all too easy to set out to solve one problem, then get distracted by another problem and forget to solve the first issue 4:53 – Many leaders believe they have to have the answer to every problem, and feel like always having the answers is part of their job or what makes them important as a leader 5:58 – By always solving problems, leaders may actually be taking away valuable opportunities for their team members to learn, grow, and develop their own problem-solving skills 7:33 – Delegating can mean the difference between losing three minutes or losing three hours 9:36 – When you ask people to solve their own problems, they may pushback or be upset at first, but it's a valuable opportunity for them to learn how to think critically and come up with their own solutions 15:12 – Leadership is about far more than your title, your knowledge, and your ability to manage others 16:08 – If the front of a train is moving ahead without connecting with the other boxcars, it's not going to get to its destination 18:15 – Instead of solely focusing on KPIs or getting your products out the door, think about what you can do to connect with your team and really develop your relationships 21:29 Turn This Ship Around by L. David Marquet is a good resource for leaders 23:23 – To build better connections, shift your mindset and spend more time thinking about how you can build relationships with others Connect with Jason A. Hunt Website Connect with Jason on LinkedIn My book review of Turn This Ship Around

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Have you ever felt unheard when sharing something important with your team? Communication breakdowns can limit engagement, productivity, and trust on the manufacturing floor. In this episode, Sandy Gerber, author of Emotional Magnetism and communication expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Sandy explains how emotional intelligence, active listening, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and growth mindset that support workforce retention and create manufacturing cultures where relationships thrive and teams communicate with clarity and purpose. 3:11 – To get your message across, you need to connect emotionally with the person you're speaking to 4:39 – Oftentimes, we're too busy listening to rely that we forget to listen to understand 5:00 – When someone is telling you a story or about an experience, let them finish what they have to say instead of responding with your own story 9:23 – SAVE is an acronym for the four emotional magnets, safety, achievement, value, and experience 11:58 – SAVE and emotional magnets can be used to improve personal relationships as well as professional relationships 12:42 – To understand another person's emotional magnet, you may have to shift your mindset and think about the best way to communicate with them 16:35 – Once you understand someone's emotional magnets, you can approach conversations and conflict with more empathy and curiosity, which helps form stronger, lasting connections 20:00 – If you really want to connect with your team, you need to be engaged and open about your own communication blocks 20:59 – Taking the emotional magnets quiz can be a great exercise for strengthening your relationships and finding out more about yourself 22:29 – By getting rid of your own biases and assumptions about others, you take a big step toward improving relationships and understanding others 24:05 – By identifying your own emotional magnet, you can also get better at communicating what you need Connect with Sandy Gerber Website Take the Emotional Magnet Quiz here Buy Emotional Magnetism Read my book report on Emotional Magnetism

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! In today's fast paced manufacturing environment, leaders are feeling stretched thin as expectations around productivity, performance, and people continue to rise. In this episode, Sara Canaday, author and leadership development coach, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, resilience, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Sara explains how emotional intelligence, communication skills, and growth mindset help leaders manage stress and prevent burnout. You will learn practical strategies for strategic thinking, trust building, and workforce retention that support productivity, strengthen relationships, and create manufacturing cultures where leaders and teams have the energy, focus, and accountability needed to perform at their best. 2:16 – Leaders are meant to ignite fires, not constantly put them out. If you're a leader who finds yourself constantly acting as a firefighter, it's time to reconnect with the meaning of your role. 3:22 – We're conditioned from a young age to be productive and to feel like we're only valuable if we're doing something, which impacts the way we lead and show up in the workplace 4:40 – Even when you're doing nothing, your mind is still very productive, which is why it's important to take a strategic pause to declutter your mind, find more clarity, and make better decisions and better serve your team 7:43 – Deep discovery and creative problem-solving can't fully happen when we're multitasking 8:26 – It can be helpful to reach out to others and let them add structure to your thinking and gain a broader prospective 9:40 – You have more control and agency over your own time than you think you do 10:00 – To gain more control over your time, dig deeper into your schedule and challenge yourself to think about what is the most important. For example, you could start skipping meetings that you don't really need to be at, or send someone else to takes notes for you. 10:25 – Instead of just thinking about your to-do list, consider starting a list of things you can stop doing or delegate to someone else on your team 10:48 – As a leader, you have an obligation to think about how your can use your time in a way that best serves your team and your clients 11:43 – A change in scenery, like a stop at a coffeeshop on your way to your plant, is a great way to shift your mindset and build productive new habits 13:50 – Leaders should be responsive, but they also have to clearly show their priorities to themselves and the rest of their organization 15:05 – Leaders deal with exponential and even sometimes unrealistic expectations, especially when it comes to solving problems and facilizing productive conversations about important issues like social justice and employee mental health 16:08 – Leaders are doers and drivers, but they are also human beings and there's only so much they can do 16:30 – There are many things team and organizations can do to support their leaders, including thinking about the most important priorities or even hiring someone to help with some of the leader's other tasks 17:39 – Instead of impressing others, spend more time on thinking about what they really need to feel support and healthy in their role 20:00 – Shifting your mindset starts with putting aside your own biases and anything else that is clouding your judgment 20:43 – After putting aside your assumptions, spend more time discovering new, time-saving solutions by staying curious and seeking out productive, unbiased conversations with others 22:43 – If you're not sure about something, don't be afraid to just ask 23:00 – It takes courage to ask for what you need, but it's important to find ways to protect your time and energy 23:42 – Leaders deserve a better experience, and a good experience can create a domino effect that positively impacts the rest of their team Connect with Sara Canaday Website LinkedIn Sara's LinkedIn Learning courses

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! To improve behavior and performance on the manufacturing floor, leaders need clear, actionable feedback. But giving and receiving feedback is not always easy in fast paced environments. In this episode, Brian Houp, leadership development coach and 360 feedback expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, feedback delivery, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Brian explains how communication skills, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, growth mindset, and workforce development that support productivity, improve retention, and create manufacturing cultures where continuous improvement becomes part of daily leadership. 2:15 – Feedback is more than a buzzword 2:44 – 360 Feedback is based around the individual and getting a stronger understanding of how others in your organization see you as a leader or team member 3:49 – How feedback is set-up and delivered can make a huge difference between having a negative or positive experience 4:44 – Confidentiality also plays a big role in 360 Feedback and only other type of constructive criticism 6:56 – As a leader, if you don't tell someone you want them to improve their behavior, then they have no idea of knowing there is an issue or area or improvement 7:24 – Feedback focuses on the past, but you can also look toward the future by giving feed forward and offering specific suggestions or advice others can use to improve their behavior 9:00 – To encourage others to share feedback, sometimes you need to think about the language and phrasing you're using when asking for feedback 10:36 – You should also consider who you're asking for feedback, and who in your organization you should talk to get the best feedback about a certain team member or problem on the floor 11:30 – People show up differently in front of different people, so be sure to get a wide range of feedback from different people, like executive, team members, or even vendors or clients who frequently interact with someone 14:55 – When you get feedback about your own behavior, take some time to digest and analyze it, but also get back out on the floor with your team and observe to get a stronger idea of what the feedback is talking about 16:44 – Sometimes, all you need is a new or fresh context 17:35 – It's natural to feel nervous or even scared about hearing feedback 18:16 – Many leaders focus on their team members who need the most improvement, but don't forget to also give feedback to the stronger members of your organization to help them get to the next level 20:00 – To get the best feedback, your whole team or organization needs to commit, especially supervisors and others in leadership positions 22:07 – Getting good feedback often also requires time and patience 25:41 – With feedback, you get what you give Connect with Brian Houp Website LinkedIn Brian's Forbes article on 360 Feedback

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Personality assessments like DiSC and Myers Briggs can help manufacturing leaders better understand how they show up on the shop floor and how their leadership style impacts engagement and performance. In this episode, Christy Smallwood, speaker and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, emotional intelligence, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Christy explains how self awareness, communication skills, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to improve feedback delivery, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where leaders connect more effectively with their teams and drive stronger productivity and results. 1:54 – There are many reasons for manufacturing leaders to consider implementing personality assessments 2:29 – One major benefit of personality assessments is learning your communication style and the communication style of others on your team – this helps you understand what you need to do to get the best results from conversations 3:32 – "We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are" 5:03 – As a leader, it's important to take advantage of any tools you can use to better connect with your team, including personality assessments 5:14 – There are many different types of personality assessments to choose from, and you can pick something that best suits your team or organization 5:53 – One type of personality assessments is the DiSC assessment 7:26 – Some personality types assign an animal to go along with different personality traits 9:40 – If someone is acting differently from their normal personality type, it could be a sign they're dealing with an issue, like a family problem outside of work 10:55 – In a personality test, there is no wrong answer 11:43 – When people have different personalities, it may sometimes lead to conflict or miscommunications – this is why it's important to understand why others behave the way they do based on their personality 14:00 – With understanding, even people with vastly different personality types can get along 16:19 – Your personality type impacts the way you show up on a daily basis 18:31 – The COVID-19 pandemic has made personality assessments more important than ever 20:00 – By understanding a team member's personality, you'll have a better awareness of what they need to feel energized or supported 25:00 – We all have different aspects of our personalities Connect with Christy Smallwood Website

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Do you want to improve accountability and encourage autonomy on the manufacturing floor? It starts with asking better questions. In this episode, Jeff Nally, president of Nally Group Inc. and leadership coach, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, accountability, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Jeff explains how communication skills, strategic thinking, and authentic leadership help leaders strengthen trust building and support growth mindset. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, difficult conversations, and workforce development that empower teams, improve productivity, and create manufacturing cultures where people take ownership and perform at their best. 1:52 - Many leaders think that their team members simply want to be told what to do 2:12 - The #1 thing teams want from their leaders is a clear picture of the mission and vision 2:33 - When people know the "end game," they are more likely to follow instructions, be more autonomous, and find more success 3:25 - Leaders need to communicate their mission and goals to their team 3:39 - Leaders also need to be great storytellers 4:00 - If you don't believe in your mission and vision, your team won't either 7:06 - To really show off your mission and vision, weave it into your everyday behavior and actions 7:16 - As a leader, you can help your team by asking the right questions 8:10: Ask simple question like "are you finished with this task? How close to completion are you? What do you need to get it done?" to hold your team accountable 11:00 - Don't be afraid to ask "feelings" questions 11:52 - Support questions, like "what can I do to help you meet your goal?" are also very important for growing and encouraging your team 13:28 - If you hold your team accountable, you know they'll get the job done without you having to stay constantly involved 16:29 - You can also ask about concerns and apprehensions 19:58 - When a team is autonomous, it doesn't mean their leader has abandoned them Connect with Jeff Nally The Nally Group LinkedIn

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! In high risk environments like manufacturing, poor behavior and unmanaged emotions can quickly impact safety, quality, and productivity. In this episode, Shawn Dawley, former Air Force pilot and president of OT2 Consulting, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, emotional intelligence, and team dynamics for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his combat aviation experience, Shawn explains how communication skills, self awareness, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, growth mindset, and workforce development that improve employee engagement, reduce errors, and create manufacturing cultures where teams stay focused, resilient, and aligned. 0:42 – Leadership is all about the balance between intellect and emotions 2:17 – In the aviation industry, crew relationships and emotions play a critical role in the safety and success of each flight 5:52 – Processes can only get better when there is a healthy environment and a positive organizational dynamic where people can point out issues and speak their mind 7:00 – If a leader is in a bad mood or creating a hostile environment, others might be less willing to draw attention to issues or voice their feedback 12:23 – Poor decision-making does just happen when you're angry—it can even happen when you're euphoric or excited 13:32 – When you're at your "emotional worst," it can be very difficult to make important decisions 14:42 – We all have emotions and "triggers" that make us feel certain ways—how we react is what sets up apart 16:15 –What role does our nervous system play in making us feel emotions or have specific reactions to stressful situations? 17:57 – By recognizing your triggers and response, you can improve your behavior and emotional intelligence 19:06 – Even if you give the exact same feedback to two different team members, it will land differently to each of them because they have different life experiences 20:56 – To understand a team member's behavior reactions, form a relationship and find out more about their past experiences 21:56 – Leadership is innate to the human condition 23:16 – Take the time to listen to what others have to say 25:01 – Think about the qualities of people you admire—are you showing those same qualities to your own team? Connect with Shawn Dawley Website Shawn would also love to hear your feedback! Find him on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnmdawley to stay connected.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Do you want to eliminate drama on the manufacturing floor and create a more focused, productive workplace? In this episode, Cy Wakeman, president and founder of Reality Based Leadership and bestselling author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and accountability for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Cy explains how communication skills, self awareness, and growth mindset help leaders reduce workplace drama, strengthen trust building, and improve productivity. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and authentic leadership that support workforce retention and create manufacturing cultures where people stay focused on results instead of distractions. 1:30 – To avoid drama—and your own ego—approach every situation by considering what you know for sure 3:30 – It's easy to fall into situations where you believe someone else is the villain or that you're doing the right thing, which is why it's important to consider facts, mindsets, and what details you know for sure 9:07 – The power of self-reflection is the ultimate drama diffuser 10:19 – Instead of judging or making assumptions, approach situations with curiosity, patience, and grace 11:49 – By extending an invitation instead of a lecture, you can "call people up to greatness." 13:20 – "As the leader goes, so does the team." 15:05 – If something happens that's unpreferred, you need to step up and impact it 20:02 – As a leader, you can set an example and set your team up to avoid drama 21:32 – By setting a strong leadership example and empowering your team, you can find productive solutions while still maintaining healthy boundaries and not falling into the trap of being a "fixer" for everyone's problems 23:05 – A question to ask yourself: if I see behavior I don't want, how am I enabling it? 24:29 – When you quit buffering your team member's relationship with reality, they will make better choices 29:32 – To get through to others, state reality and ask for what you really need 33:16 – As a leader, you can only make the invitation—it's up to others to decide what to do with that invitation 34:59 – With the correct leader, your team will step into brilliance most of the time 35:16 – If you have drama in your workplace, it's because people are venting instead of self-reflecting Connect with Cy Wakeman LinkedIn Reality-Based Leadership Website Newsletter Read Trevor's book review on No Ego

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! On the manufacturing floor, leaders do not aim to be average. They aim to build teams that are engaged, inspired, and performing at their best. In this episode, Dustin E. James, founder of Moments Leadership, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and productivity for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Dustin explains how communication skills, authentic leadership, and growth mindset help leaders strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for workforce retention, difficult conversations, and team development that create manufacturing cultures where people feel energized, connected, and motivated to achieve stronger results. 1:40 – Energy comes in many different forms 3:00 – What is the balance between having a routine and bringing fresh energy into work every day? 3:10 – There isn't a single person on your team who doesn't want to be recognized for their good—when your team feels like they're being acknowledged for doing more than just the average, they'll continue to show up with new energy and motivation 4:34 – As a leader, it's your job to show your team how amazing they are 8:00 – We all have bad days filled with struggles, challenges, but there is always a life lesson to be found in hard experiences 8:25 – Even when you are doing something challenging or difficult, there are still opportunities to grow your own mindset or help or inspire someone else. You never know when you'll find a great lesson! 8:45 – If we want to learn new lessons and find new energy, we have to show up and be present every day instead of just embracing "average" 11:09 – As a leader, it's important to know your team member's individual goals and what motivates them 12:22 – In order to really connect, you need to know what makes each team member tick! 14:03 – "I see that you're doing your best" can be a powerful way to start conversations and better connection with your team 15:19 – As a leader, it's important to recognize that your team members are often doing the best they can and embracing that fact can help you build trust and move forward in productive ways. 16:08 – Trying to get someone to improve to change their behavior can be a big drain of energy—what are some ways to deal with this? 17:16 – Everyone on your team has something good that can be said about them 19:04 – At the end of the day, it all comes down to showing up and being there as a leader to your team. There's always going to be new challenges, but it's up to you to find lessons and energy in each day 20:00 – Always give your very best. Don't show up to be second! 21:52 – Our best days are always ahead of us Connect with Dustin E. James Moments Leadership website

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Showing appreciation is one of the most powerful ways manufacturing leaders can strengthen engagement, trust, and productivity. In this episode, Lisa Johnson, global human resources professional and founder of HR Know How LLC, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and workforce retention for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Lisa explains how communication skills, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership help leaders show genuine appreciation while strengthening trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, difficult conversations, and growth mindset that support productivity and create manufacturing cultures where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to perform. 1:13 – The strongest managers and leaders have a consistent practice for showing appreciation 1:40 – Showing consistent appreciation has many benefits, including increased morale and employees who are willing to go the extra mile 4:10 – While general positive feedback is often well-received, it is even better to offer specific positive feedback to individual employees 7:00 – Appreciation shouldn't be scheduled! Rather, you should weave it into your day-to-day interactions 8:15 – How you manage and organize you appreciation depends on your leadership style. One tip is to leave voice notes for yourself in your phone, so you can go back later and remember exactly what you wanted to say to your team member 11:58 – Giving appreciation can mean the difference between an average employee and an inspired employee who comes in feeling excited to work and ready to give it their all 14:37 – As a leader, you need to practice discipline to figure out the best feedback and appreciation practices 18:39 – Documentation matters. If you observe someone's good behavior but later forget to say something, it won't make a difference. 20:30 – Good appreciation practices can trickle-up to positively impact your whole organization 23:23 – Is there such a thing as too much appreciation? 24:00 – When showing appreciation, don't forget to be transparent and specific Connect with Lisa Johnson HR Know-How website Email

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! In manufacturing leadership, you must take care of your own leadership behaviors before you can fully support your team. In this episode, Dean Heffta, speaker and trainer with Clarus Results, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Dean explains how self awareness, trust building, and authentic leadership help leaders overcome communication challenges. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, growth mindset, and accountability that support workforce retention and create manufacturing cultures where clear, effective communication drives success. 1:45 – "I know what I said, but I don't know what you heard." How do we overcome miscommunications on the manufacturing floor? 1:52 – As a leader, your role is to be aware, set expectations, and create a workplace environment that facilitates understanding 3:20 – Overcoming miscommunications begins with "healthy" leadership 6:45 – As a leader, put yourself not in a position of authority, but more of a position to facilitate. Taking less of a "boss" role and more of a collaborative role can lead to finding new solutions and creating a stronger workplace dynamic. 8:00 – Don't assume you know what others are thinking or what they need! 9:15 – The people who get promoted into leadership roles are often hard workers who are very driven and can't get the best results . . . but is this the mindset they need to be a great leader or manager? 12:00 – When miscommunications occur, it can often be attributed to "distress." When people are under stress, they are more likely to make mistakes or be less engaged, which can lead to miscommunications. 14:00 – Different personalities are speaking different languages. If you're not in tune with how another person communicates or "behavior signals," it can also contribute to communications breakdowns. 17:05 – To start with fixing communication issues in your workplace, start with becoming more aware of your own behavior. Learn your own behavioral style, think about the everyday language you use, and work to become more energized and present as a leader 18:40 – "Put on your own mask before helping others." You've probably heard this on planes during safety instructions, but it also applies to leadership and fixing your own behavior before you turn to helping others 21:45- It's only natural to want to avoid stress or do things you find rewarding. But to improve your leadership behavior, be intentional and seek out ways to learn 22:30 – Because we are storytellers, we have a tendency to make up stories about people and their behavior. 23:00 – One way to increase your awareness is to write down how much time you spent with certain people, then use it to analyze who you should be talking to more to improve behavior and overcome your own communications barriers 26:00 – When avoid miscommunications, it all comes down to mindset Connect with Dean Website LinkedIn

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Serendipity in manufacturing? It may sound unlikely, but unexpected moments can create powerful opportunities for connection, growth, and innovation. In this episode, Noah Graff of Graff Pinkert and the Swarfcast podcast shares insights on manufacturing leadership, strategic thinking, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing from his experience sourcing manufacturing equipment around the world, Noah explains how growth mindset, curiosity, and authentic leadership help leaders turn challenges into opportunity. You will learn practical strategies for problem solving, workforce development, and continuous improvement that strengthen accountability, improve productivity, and create manufacturing cultures where adaptability drives long term success. 2:00 – What does it mean to be a "treasure hunter" in manufacturing? 5:00 – Someone's trash always has the potential to be someone else's treasure—you just need to have the right mindset to find it! 6:22 – It's amazing what you can find by keeping an open mind and always looking for the unexpected 9:00 – Serendipity isn't just about being in the right place at the right time. You also have to be in the right mindset. 9:42 – What's the difference between mindfulness and luck? 11:30 – Many leaders have either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset, but leaders can also consider a "serendipity" mindset 12:00 – To embrace a serendipity mindset, one strategy is serendipity bombs, or seeking multiple people who can help you complete a task, like finding a piece of machinery or doing research for an article 14:00 – Another tactic is serendipity hooks, or opening up a conversation to find new opportunities 15:45 – By being open to new conversations with new people, you can find great and unexpected opportunities—don't be afraid to be the spark for a conversation! Connect with Noah Graff: Graff-Pinkert website Swarfcast Podcast

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Have you ever left a conversation on the manufacturing floor feeling misunderstood or frustrated by repeated requests that never seem to stick? Your words may be the missing link. In this episode, Phil M. Jones, influence expert and author of Exactly What to Say, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Phil explains how intentional language, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, difficult conversations, and growth mindset that improve productivity, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where conversations drive action and results. 3:00 – Leaders are often asked questions from their team, customer base, and others. As a leader, it's not always your job to provide an answer. Instead, what you often need to do is add an increased layer of clarity. 4:30 – "Help me understand" is a very powerful phase. Example: instead of saying "why haven't you done this safety check?" ask "help me understand why you believe it's important that we need to do a safety check." 5:30 – Don't default to "tell" mode. Be curious and think about the best ways to serve your community and solve the problem. 6:30 – Questions are usually a strong way to start productive conversations. 8:00 – In great conversations, intentionality is key. This is important in all industries and even relationships outside work, like with your partner or children. 9:30 – Conversations should be fueled from a position of curiosity. 10:00 – If you don't understanding someone's context, your content is not going to get through to them. Take time to earn someone else's context before you add more noise! 10:30 – To find someone's context, try questions like "when was the last time . . ." or "how do you think it made us feel?" 11:11 – If you've told someone to do something multiple times and they're still not getting it, the problem might actually be YOU and your communication 12:30 – Don't focus on what you need to say. Ask yourself what the other person needs to hear to understand what you're saying. 13:03 – "I'm guessing you haven't got around to it . . ." is another impactful conversations starter that sets you up for productive dialogue and finding solutions. 13:30 – Let others "own" the solution. 13:37 – You don't want an answer—you want things to get done! 16:45 – Even if you think you're able to think quickly, time some extra time to think about what you need instead of just blurting out the first thoughts that come to mind 19:05 – People do things for their own reasons, not for yours 19:45 – Questions start conversations, conversations become relationships, relationships create opportunities, and from new opportunities you can drive new actions 22:45 – When you need to get someone's attention, assume everyone is always busy and be dirct and intentional with your request 26:15 – Using the right words is important when communications by email, too. Don't put too many questions into one email and be sure you give the other person something to respond to. Connect with Phil M. Jones: Website Find additional resources at ExactlyWhatToSay.com Buy Exactly What To Say

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! "I want to take a vacation, but I'm worried about falling behind." This mindset is common on the manufacturing floor and contributes to burnout, retention challenges, and quiet quitting. In this episode, Joe Mull, speaker and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and workforce retention for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Joe explains how communication skills, authentic leadership, and growth mindset help leaders address labor shortages and improve team morale. You will learn practical strategies for boundary setting, difficult conversations, and feedback delivery that support productivity, reduce burnout, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel valued, supported, and motivated to stay. 2:00 – There is a massive recalibration going on right now about how work fits into our lives, which is something that started even before the pandemic 3:45 – The modern employee is firm about their boundaries and what they want from a workplace 5:20 – The number one reason why people don't take a needed vacation is fear of falling behind at work – how can we combat this? 6:00 – It's on the organization and leadership to set boundaries that will help others take time off to relax and recharge. They need to implement policies that honor time-off and their team's concerns about falling behind if they take a vacation 10:00 – As a leader, sometimes you have to learn to operate without the team members you need, so they can set boundaries and take time off 13:50 – People aren't "quiet quitting." They're just updating to a job that better fits their needs and boundaries. 15:30 – What are some of the reasons for a decrease in the labor force, especially in industries like manufacturing? 18:43 – In today's labor market, employees aren't going to settle for less or put up with a job where they're treated unfairly or not given time off 22:00 – Sometimes, employees quit but "forget to leave" and just go through the motions without much effort or passion – these are the quiet quitters 26:00 – Leaders can embrace storytelling to show their employees how they're doing valuable work every day – show how your organization's everyday work changes real lives 28:30 – With supply chain shortages and other issues, we need to sustain ourselves and the people who work for us 29:48 – Commitment is the key! Connect with Joe Mull: Website Preorder Employalty

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! There's a lot manufacturing leaders can learn from sharks — just ask Kenneth "Shark" Kinney. In this episode, Shark — speaker, marketing strategist, and podcast host — shares how curiosity and fearless leadership help Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors build their brand, connect with their community, and lead with confidence. We talk practical communication skills, authentic leadership, and simple social media strategies to strengthen visibility and trust — plus lessons from Shark's real-life shark diving that translate directly to leadership on the shop floor. 1:00 – We can use our personal brands to make real change 3:12 – Manufacturing leadership is a lot like diving with sharks—you need curiosity, bravery, respect, and boundaries. Be fearless and dive deeper! 4:40 – Your leadership image goes far beyond the four walls of your manufacturing plant 6:00 – When telling your brand's story, be clear, concise, and always remember who your real audience is. Focus on community, not just the company 8:45 – Show the humans behind your brand and organization, not just "stock imagery" 11:00 – When it comes to matters like supporting a charity, think about the true identity behind your brand and think about what will engage your team and community 15:00 – Your employees are going to talk on social media, so why not work to make sure they always have something positive to say about your leadership and organization? 18:00 – LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building your brand and finding your community—one great tip for building your brand is to engage with other people's post on LinkedIn 24:00 – When someone in your organization does a great job, don't shy away from praising them on social media like LinkedIn 26:00 – If your employees are active on social media or talking about your organization online, it doesn't have to be a bad thing, as long as you make sure they have positive things to say by treating your team well 28:00 – Social media is a great tool for showing your most authentic self 33:30 – You have to play an active role in your organization's community, or else you'll miss out on many opportunities for branding and engagement Connect with Kenneth "Shark" Kinney Website Email LinkedIn

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter. Now, let's jump in! Becoming a leader, not just a manager or supervisor, requires mindset shifts, difficult conversations, and consistent behavior change on the manufacturing floor. In this episode, Dr. Andy Neillie, speaker, corporate trainer, and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, growth mindset, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors. Dr. Andy explains how communication skills, authentic leadership, and accountability help leaders strengthen trust building and improve team performance. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, workforce development, and strategic thinking that support productivity, retention, and create manufacturing cultures where leaders confidently guide their teams toward better results. 3:30 – Due to COVID-19, the Great Resignation, and other recent events, leaders need to shift their mindset to understand their team member's needs on issues like flexibility—as a leader, you need to evolve with the times 6:00 – As a leader, it's not about you. It's about your team! 7:00 "There's nothing new in leadership. Once you get past Marcus Aurelius and Jesus Christ, there's really nothing new." 8:10 – To be a good leader, you first have to be a good person. If you show bad behavior or poor management, people will not respect you or want to work for you. 10:00 – "The four Cs of being a leader are conviction, competence, character, and covenant" 13:00 – If you shun hard conversations with your team, your employees will never grow, learn, or know when they're missing an opportunity for improvement 14:45 – Being a leader takes bravery and you need to have the responsibility and stewardship to have those hard conversations and take care of the bottom line 15:50 – Once you've written someone off as no longer competent at their role, you've lost your title of leadership and your position to help them. If that's your mindset, it's either time for you to grow or let that team member go. 16:50 – It's the leader's responsibility to build and represent the rest of the team 18:00 – Your team isn't necessarily your "family" because businesses have production goals and need to perform outward facing tasks – the goal isn't to make everyone feel good about themselves, but to win the game when it comes to profits and production 21:05 – Don't forget to document the positive feedback, too! However, you have to be geninue with your compliments and positivity 29:00 – "Extend grace to the teachable" 30:00 – Leadership takes courage Connect with Dr. Andy Neillie Download a copy of The Three Imperatives of Leadership Conversations here. Website Email Buy The Golden Principle: Life and Leadership Lessons from a Rescued Dog