Navigating a Crisis with Confidence and Curiosity: Lessons from “The Miracle on the Hudson”
In 2009, barely a few minutes after takeoff from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, a flock of birds collided with the engine of US Airways Flight 1549, causing a total engine failure. Faced with a harrowing situation, the pilot made the decision to land the plane in the Hudson River… and thanks to his calmness … Read More
How To Get Your Core Values off the Walls and Onto the Floor
Your organization’s core values might be seen in plaques on your walls, but are they showing up on the shop floor? Even when you think your organization has strong core values, they might not be clear through actions, behavior, and language—or if they’re outdated, your core values might actually be doing more harm than good! … Read More
How to Use Positivity to Unlock Stronger Connections
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. But from “energy vampires” to negative self-talk, there are many factors that can stand in your way of creating a more mindful, positive organization. How can you … Read More
How to Find New Perspectives Through Emotional Intelligence
“I’m good at the technical parts of my role and have valuable information to share… so why does it seem like no one wants to work with me?!” If you’re asking yourself a question like this, it might be a sign that you’re in need of a fresh perspective. This was the topic of a … Read More
Why Hope Is Not a Strategy—And How You Can Replace it on the Manufacturing Floor
There’s a four-letter word you shouldn’t use on the manufacturing floor: hope! While hope plays a valuable role in life, relying on hope can slow productivity, increase the risk of safety issues and other problems, and negatively impact the way you show up for your team and organization. But how can you eliminate hope from … Read More
How to Use Curiosity and Compassion to Become a Self-Awareness Champion
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 “self-awareness champion” Zovig Garboushian is ready to help. With years of experience in brand marketing, management consulting, and leadership development, Zovig now puts her passion and experience … Read More
Manufacture Your Own Greatness: 3 Lessons From Our New Name
Last month, we made a big announcement: Operations Kickstart is now Manufacturing Greatness! This new name symbolizes our mission of guiding manufacturing teams into greatness by bridging disconnect, fostering curious dialogues, and sharing the tools for finding stronger leadership and more productive outcomes. Are you ready to manufacture greatness in your own organization? Here are … Read More
Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance: Powerful Lessons from Dragons’ Den
Have you ever wanted to pitch your great ideas on a show like Shark Tank or its Canadian equivalent, Dragons’ Den? Canadian entrepreneur Tonia Jahshan had the experience of a lifetime when she and her husband pitched their loose-leaf tea company, Sipology, on Dragons’—and Tonia recently came onto the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast to give a … Read More
Slowly, Slowly: An Endurance Athlete’s Four Lessons for Going the Distance
What does manufacturing leadership have in common with running marathons or climbing mountains? Steven Pivnik is the perfect person to answer this question! Steven is an entrepreneur who brough great growth and success to his company Binary Tree during his tenure as CEO. He is also an accomplished endurance athlete, who has reached the summits … Read More
Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness: The 3 Reasons Behind Our New Name
Operations Kickstart is now Manufacturing Greatness! After years of helping manufacturing organizations combat disconnect by connecting the top to the shop floor, my team and I are excited to keep up the same work under a new name. Why The Change? While change can be scary and uncomfortable, this shift felt right for three big … Read More
Three Lessons for Growing and Harnessing Your Infinite Influence
On the manufacturing floor, you influence people every day, from encouraging a valued supplier to stay with your organization to motivating an underperforming team member to step up their game. But what exactly is influence, and how can you unlock the skills you need to improve the way you influence your team? Alyson Van Hooser … Read More
A Focusologist’s Three-Step Process for Finding Your Reset Mindset
While you’re working at a fast-paced manufacturing plant with multiple demands on your time and energy throughout the day, it can feel impossible to find a moment to focus! When this happens, you might feel like you’re losing track of what matters most to you and your team, like improving safety, boosting productivity, and strengthening … Read More
Is Humor the Secret Tool for Bridging the Connection Gap?
Is humor the secret weapon for combatting disconnect in your organization? In the often fast-paced and high-stress manufacturing industry, it might not seem like there’s time for humor . . . but Tim Gard wants to change your mind! Tim is a Hall of Fame Speaker and business coach, who uses his own humor-infused presentations … Read More
More Than Positive Thinking: A Psychologist’s Lessons for Finding a Productive Approach to Positivity
“Just think positive!” We’ve all heard this saying dozens of times in our lives. It’s likely you’ve even said it yourself to a friend or coworker struggling with a challenge or setback. But is “just think positive!” really helpful, or is it nothing more than a trite motivational phase? Could we all benefit from shifting … Read More
Three Lessons for Leading with Intention
Have you ever started the day with positive intentions, then left your plant at the end of the day feeling like you didn’t actually accomplish any of your intentions? You might be struggling with “intention deficit disorder,” a term coined by my friend, public speaking colleague, and USA Today bestselling author Jon Giganti in his … Read More
Lessons Learned from 100 Episodes of Mindfulness Manufacturing
Winning starts with small steps! If you want to climb a mountain or run a marathon, you can’t get there just by thinking about the peak or the finish line. You have to put in the time, establish a routine, and put one foot in front of the other in your path toward success. This … Read More
Relationships, Realities, Results, and Authenticity: The Equation for Success
“How can I be my most authentic self at work?” Throughout her years working in the male-dominated auto manufacturing industry, recent Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast guest Kathy Miller was no stranger to this question. For women like Kathy, it can be a challenge to find the balance between holding their own on the floor and staying … Read More
Win the Day! Using Motivation, Engagement, and Intentionality to Find Productive Results
Are you winning? I love to ask this question when I enter a manufacturing plant, and it’s always interesting to see the variety of results. I recently had my own win—reaching Episode 100 on my Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast! I started the podcast in 2019, and have released an episode every two weeks without a single … Read More
The First Steps for Creating Must-Read Content
The First Steps for Creating Must-Read Content I recently had a blast doing a speaking event for the Louisville Society of Human Resources, and I credit much of my success to the hours I spent writing and preparing my speech. Before this event, I wasn’t the biggest fan of preparing, but as I worked on … Read More
“What Else Can I Do to Help?” And Other Ways to Be Relentlessly Helpful
“What else can I do to help?” When Susan Baier, a professional speaker and the founder of Audience Audit, was fresh out of college, this simple question changed the entire trajectory of her career. As she recently shared as a guest on my Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast, Susan was in an interview with an advertising professional … Read More
Three Ways to Prepare for an Ovation-Worthy Performance
Any conversation has the potential to be an ovation-worthy performance! This is the basis of Michael Port’s book, Steal the Show: From Speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches, How to Guarantee a Standing Ovation for All the Performances in Your Life. As a former professional actor and the founder of Heroic Public Speaking, Michael … Read More
Ready to Write a Must-Read Book? 4 Methods for Getting Started!
Have you ever wanted to write a book? Do you have a great idea, but no idea how to find the time to start? In her book Write a Must Read: Crafting a Book That Changes Lives—Including Your Own, AJ Harper addresses questions like these. With years of experience as a ghostwriter, AJ has developed … Read More
Using Style Choices to Make a Great Impact
You only have seven seconds to make a great first impression! If you’re a listener of my Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast, you might remember this insight from guest Sylvie di Giusto, who joined me to chat about the factors that go into creating a memorable and successful first impression. One of the biggest factors is appearance, … Read More
Bringing Everyday Magic to the Manufacturing Floor
On the manufacturing floor, you might not see rabbits being pulled out of hats or people vanishing in a puff of smoke, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t everyday chances to create a little magic! According to my recent Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast guest, speaker, author, entrepreneur (and magician!) Jon Petz, magical moments are all around. … Read More
Body Language: The Key to Improving Communications, Addressing Conflicts, and Growing Connections
Why does communication break down and lead to conflict? Can we find a way to harness emotions for good? Or are we always doomed to division and misunderstandings? These are questions that have come up time and time again throughout history, and which have been asked by everyone from presidents and dignitaries to manufacturing leaders … Read More
How to Prevent and Combat Burn-Out in the Workplace
Do you constantly feel stressed out? Are you worried you aren’t living up to your team’s expectations at work? Do you find yourself combating the “Sunday Scaries” and dreading heading in for another work week? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you might have burn-out. What is Burn-Out? Burn-out is a … Read More
How to Use a Personal Development Plan to Elevate Your Leadership
“How do I reduce turnover in my organization?” “Why do I keep losing my best team members to the competition?” “How do I grow the skills I need to inspire and guide my team?” As a leader in a manufacturing organization, questions like these might weigh on your mind every day. But you might struggle … Read More
A is for Appearance: The ABCs of a Great First Impression
First impressions are everything! Whether you’re introducing yourself to a new team member or heading into a job interview, the way you present yourself can be the make-or-break factor between a positive experience and a negative one. To add to the stress, you also only have about seven seconds before the other person forms an … Read More
Using Connection to Improve Communications
Think about a train traveling down the tracks. If the locomotive train engine isn’t connected to the other cars, what will happen? The train will detach, causing massive delays! This also applies to manufacturing: if top-level leadership isn’t connected to the shop floor, there’s bound to be miscommunications, productivity breakdowns, and more. This was just … Read More
How to Find—and Use—Your “Emotional Magnet” to Improve Your Relationships
What is your “emotional magnet?” In her book Emotional Magnetism: How to Communicate to Ignite Connection in Your Relationships, my friend (and fellow Canadian!) Sandy Gerber shares how everyone has an emotional magnet, or a factor that motivates and impacts their interactions with others. She breaks them into four categories, with the acronym SAVE: S: … Read More
Same Old, Same Old—Or Is It?!
An Everyday Reminder of Impermanence Earlier this month, I stayed at a hotel while I helped a client. After a few days, I built up a bit of a rapport with the manager working in the lobby. As I walked into the hotel one day, I asked her how her day was going. “Same old, … Read More
Ignite Fires, Don’t Put Them Out: Four Ways Leaders Can Free Up Their Time and Energy
On the manufacturing floor, leaders do a ton of work! They solve problems, put out small “fires,” and constantly work to manage and motivate their teams. Emotionally intelligent leaders may also spend much of their time thinking about the best ways to communicate, navigate conflict, and advocate for the needs of their team. While these … Read More
How to Harness the Power of 360-Degree Feedback
My friend Brian Houp and I might support different football teams, but in the years since we first met at a class through the Center for Executive Coaching, we’ve found we have many things in common, including a love for great feedback! In his work as an executive coach, Brian is particularly passionate about 360-degree … Read More
How to Use Personality Tests to Motivate, Inspire, and Show Up
Have you ever taken a personality test to learn more about your strengths, weakness, and leadership style? The Common Types of Personality Assessments There are dozens of different personality tests out there, but two of the most common are the DiSC assessment and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The DiSC assessment mainly looks at behavioral and … Read More
Three Questions to Improve Accountability and Autonomy
Do you want to improve accountability in your organization? Do you find yourself wishing your team was more autonomous? As a leader, you can steer your entire organization toward more accountability and autonomy—and it all starts with asking some simple questions! To learn more about how leaders can use questions to improve accountability and autonomy, … Read More
The Balance Between Emotions and Intellect: Emotional Intelligence Insights from an Air Force Pilot
High emotions and tense situations can mean trouble—and no one understands this more than recent Mindfulness Manufacturing guest Shawn Dawley! Shawn is a former Air Force pilot and the president of OT2 Consulting, where he uses his lessons from his combat experience and the aviation industry to help leaders overcome challenges, inspire their teams, and … Read More
How to Become “The Ultimate Diffuser of Drama” in Your Organization
No one wants to deal with drama in the workplace! But whether the cause is a fed-up employee or a disagreement between two team members, drama is something leaders of all types will likely encounter in their organization. To help leaders master the skills they need to become “the ultimate diffuser of drama” in their … Read More
How Leaders Can Take Their Team From “Average” to “Amazing”
What’s the difference between an “average” team and an “amazing” one? That was the exciting question behind my recent Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast, where I was joined by my friend Dustin E. James. Dustin shared some great stories about his past experiences, turning them into lessons leaders can use to connect with their teams, find new … Read More
Appreciation: More Than a Once-a-Year Job!
How often do you show appreciation or give positive feedback to your employees? Like many leaders, you might only give positive feedback at certain points, like after an employee gives a great presentation or finishes up work on a big project. With some team members, you might even only share your appreciation during an annual … Read More
Three Steps for Staying Curious
In a recent article, I talked about why curiosity is a real superpower on the manufacturing floor. Even when a leader has great intentions or productive feedback, they may struggle to communicate with their team if they don’t have a curious mindset. Stay Curious or Shut Down Conversations?: A Case Study For example, look at … Read More
Your Team Doesn’t Need a Superhero: Why Empathy and Curiosity are the Real Superpowers
Who doesn’t love feeling like a superhero?! As a leader in the manufacturing industry, it feels great to be able to swoop in to solve a problem, offer a new solution, and get productive results. However, your team doesn’t always need a superhero. Oftentimes, what they need is an empathetic, curious leader who focus on … Read More
Good Intentions, Wrong Outcome: Stop Focusing on Changing behavior and inspire changes in thinking
“Put on your own mask before assisting others.” If you’ve recently been on a plane, you probably heard this phrase during the pre-flight safety instructions. If there is an emergency that requires oxygen masks, you’re encouraged to put on your own oxygen masks before helping others. If you lose consciousness from a lack of oxygen, … Read More
Is Your Team Hearing What You’re Saying? Four Ways to Use Behavior to Overcome Miscommunications
When you have a conversation with a team member on the manufacturing floor, you know what you’re saying . . . but do you know what your team member is hearing? Oftentimes, we think we’re being clear but others don’t hear exactly what we’re trying to say. When this happens, it leads to Communications breakdowns. … Read More
Right Time + Right Place + Right Mindset = Serendipity!
“Right place, right time.” You’ve probably heard this saying before, like when a team member happens to spot a small workplace issue before it gets worse or when you hear a miraculous story about a random bystander saving someone from an accident. Maybe you’ve even thought it yourself, like when when you arrive at your … Read More
Creating a Stronger, Safer Culture: The Basics of Psychological Safety
On the manufacturing floor, you probably take steps to protect your employees from physical harm, like offering safety training on certain equipment or having clearly marked emergency exits. But are you doing enough to ensure psychological safety for your team, too? What Is Psychological Safety? The term “psychological safety” was first coined by Harvard business … Read More
How to Change Your Language—and Mindset—To Find Productive Outcomes
“I’ve told her to complete this task a million times . . . why hasn’t she done it yet?!” As a manufacturing leader, have you ever asked yourself a question like this? On the floor, all leaders experience communication issues from time to time, and it’s all too easy to blame the team member who … Read More
Three Ways Manufacturing Leaders Can Combat “Quiet Quitting”
Do you have a team member who is putting in minimal work, hesitating to share their feedback, or acting unmotivated on the manufacturing floor? You may be dealing with “quiet quitting.” Quiet quitting is when an employee feels unfulfilled or unhappy with their job but doesn’t officially quit. Instead, they continue to show up but … Read More
Diving Deeper Into Your Personal Brand: The Lessons Manufacturing Leaders Can Learn from Shark Diving
Would you go swimming with sharks? For many people, shark diving might sound like a literal nightmare. But for recent Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast guest Kenneth “Shark” Kinney, it’s a favorite hobby. Shark is a speaker and marketing specialist who uses his experiences with shark diving to help professionals find fearless, curiosity-driven ways to grow and … Read More
Using “The Four Cs of Leadership” to Take Yourself From Manager to Leader
What’s the difference between a manager and a true leader? In his experience as a corporate trainer and speaker, recent Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast guest Dr. Andy Nellie has found four characteristics that make the difference between a leader and a manager—and they all begin with C! #1: Character If you want to be a good … Read More
The Manufacturing Leader’s Guide to Building Confidence
When you walk onto the manufacturing floor in the morning, what happens? Are you type who loves to confidently strike up conversations with your team, or would you rather keep your head down and avoid conversations, especially when it comes to difficult topics like addressing an employee’s poor behavior? If you’re the introverted type, you … Read More