The Power of Presence and Connection in Manufacturing Leadership
What’s the secret to retaining your team members and creating an organization where people love to work? DigiKey, an electronic component manufacturing organization in Thief River Falls, Minnesota has it all figured out—and Shane Zutz, their vice president of human resources, recently stopped by Mindfulness Manufacturing to share the stories and lessons behind DigiKey’s success. … Read More
Houseplants and Trees: How to Identify, Nurture, and Retain All Types of Team Members
Are your team members houseplants or trees? Learning the difference can be the key to improving retention, reducing turnover, and improving relationships with your team! The houseplant and tree analogy comes from Cara Silletto, the founder, president, and chief retention office of Magnet Culture, a partner in helping organizations reduce turnover and create cultures where … Read More
3 Lessons for Saying Less and Learning More
We all love giving advice! Wanting to help others and show our value is ingrained in us from an early age, and many leaders find themselves naturally defaulting to providing advice and answers to their team. But when giving advice is always your default, it can actually hurt your team by crushing curiosity, spreading disconnection, … Read More
How Deepening Trust and Building Curiosity Takes Teams from Good to Great
As Jim Collins describes in his book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t, the companies that thrive are the ones that work together. When teams are united, there’s stronger communications and decreased disconnect. This leads to better productivity, increased morale, and an overall better flow on the floor and … Read More
From Greenfield Site to Transformative Organization: Lessons from Launching a New Plant
What goes into launching a brand-new manufacturing plant? Spoiler alert: it’s a lot of work! But launching a greenfield site is about so much more than finding the right space or buying the right equipment—the success of your new plant also heavily depends on hiring the right team and building strong relationships. Whether you’re involved … Read More
Three Tools and Tips for Bridging the Uncertainty Gap
In manufacturing, retention and recruitment are two of the biggest challenges. To attract great talent and keep your best team members, you need to set yourself apart from the competition — and you can get started by paying attention to your response times and efficiency. Find the tools and tips you need in a recent … Read More
When Bad Process Beats Good People: Strategies for Measuring and Improving Your Team
In manufacturing, we’re all about results! Whether you’re looking at quality, safety, or productivity, it’s important to know how you’re performing. But when it comes to measuring people, it can be a bit trickier to determine if you’re making the best investment. After all, you can’t exactly measure people the same way you measure inventory … Read More
Your Guide to Finding the Curiosity Advantage
Imagine you come into your plant on a Monday morning and find that your team only completed half of the work they were supposed to complete. What would you think or say? You might immediately jump to negative and judgmental thoughts like: What a disaster! Someone should have raised the flag. This is going to … Read More
The Power of Storytelling: How to Create Stories That Resonate with Your Team
Since our early ancestors sat around their campfires swapping stories, storytelling has been an integral part of human culture. As humans, we’re all storytellers . . . and when we hone our skills and put them to use on the manufacturing floor, it can have incredible results. Through storytelling, you can find creative and productive … Read More
Three Keys to Unlocking Your High-Performance Potential
What do humans and race cars have in common? Like the cars driven by your favorite NASCAR or Formula One Drivers, we’re high-performance vehicles. And like race cars, we sometimes need building, fixing, and restoration to reach our greatest potential. With a background as an award-winning senior executive for agencies, brands, and team properties in … Read More
Three Foundations for Building Trust (with Yourself AND Your Team!)
Trust is the antidote to many challenges on the manufacturing floor, from combating team disconnect to improving your own behavior as a leader. Building trust, in both yourself and your team, can be a long journey… and luckily, you don’t have to navigate it alone! To build trust in your organization, one great resource is … Read More
Compassion, Connection, and Conversations: The Key to Transforming Manufacturing
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 … Read More
You Can’t Proceduralize Everything: Using Connection and Curiosity to Improve Safety and Reduce Errors
In a high-hazard industry like manufacturing, procedures and policy play a critical role in promoting safety, reducing errors, and ensuring the job gets done. But when you only focus on strict procedures, it can prevent you from rooting out the deeper issues in your organization. With a background as a firefighter, EMT, and military paratrooper, … Read More
Three Actions for Navigating Setbacks and Building Resilience
Have you recently encountered a challenge or setback? You’re not alone! Throughout our lives, we all experience struggles and adversity. This includes career setbacks, like getting passed up for a big promotion or underperforming in a meeting, as well as personal challenges like a scary medical diagnosis or a breakup with a partner. I know … Read More
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
Three Ways Manufacturing Leaders Can Prepare for the Tech-Driven Future
As the manufacturing becomes more reliant on technology, what does that mean for industry leaders? Are leaders going to become obsolete as machines and automated processes take control? Can they sit back and let machines do all the work? The answer to both these questions is a resounding no, according to tech humanist and recent … Read More
Three Questions for Changing Behavior
On the manufacturing floor, there are always going to be dozens of different, diverse personalities. When people with different—or even conflicting—personalities need to engage with each other, and it can cause conflicts that drain the energy of the team, create frustration, and lead to low productivity or high turnover. However, it’s still possible for a … Read More
The Six Steps to “Think and Grow Rich”
In Napoleon Hill’s 1938 book Think and Grow Rich, he presents six steps leaders can take to find wealth, achieve success, and follow their greatest dreams. But when I first read his book, I was skeptical—could Hill’s tips really apply to today’s manufacturing leaders? Yes, according to recent Mindfulness Manufacturing guest Ann McNeill! As the … Read More
Using Everyday Language to Improve Manufacturing Floor Communications
Stuff. Things. Literally. Simply. Think back to your last conversation on the manufacturing floor. Did you use any of these words? If you’re anything like me, there’s a good chance you did! But unclear words like these create confusion, contribute to miscommunications, and get in your way of coming across as a confident leader. To … Read More
Finding Your Power in the Changing World of Manufacturing
The manufacturing world is on the verge of change! Due to the rise of artificial intelligence, automated technology, and other emerging technology, the manufacturing industry could see some huge changes in the next decade. Are you ready? Michael Neuendorff certainly is. He’s an executive coach and the president of Bay Area Executive Coach, based in … Read More
Connection Before Trust: The First Step is an Inside Job!
“My team just has too much connection!” Throughout my years of coaching and advising manufacturing leaders, this isn’t a statement I often hear. In fact, it’s usually the exact opposite. When there is a disconnect between leaders and their teams, it leads to communication challenges, poor culture, halted productivity, and a lack of trust throughout … Read More
3 Keys Ways Leaders Can Take Their Employees from “Disposable Batteries” to Energized Team Members
Your employees aren’t batteries, so why treat them like they’re disposable or easily replaced? That’s the mindset of Josh Levin, a recent guest on the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast and the CEO of Empowered Electric in Kansas City, Missouri. With his high energy and “people over profit” attitude, Josh is a great example of a leader … Read More
Using Empathy, Intention, and Communication
Using Empathy, Intention, and Communication: The Tools for Breaking Down Barriers for Women in Manufacturing Women only account for 43% of the total workforce. Their numbers are even smaller in the manufacturing industry, with women holding around 27% to 29% of manufacturing industry jobs. To make matters worse, this percentage has stayed the same since … Read More
The Steps to Embracing Your Rubber Band Resilience
The Steps to Embracing Your Rubber Band Resilience To learn about growth and resilience, look toward rubber bands! On a recent episode of the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast, I welcomed corporate energy expert Kathy Parry for an energizing conversation about her ideas on “rubber band resilience” and how manufacturing leaders can embrace the strain that comes … Read More
How to Bring “The Golden Rule” to the Manufacturing Floor
How to Bring “The Golden Rule” to the Manufacturing Floor “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Even though most manufacturing leaders have probably heard this “golden rule”, kindness and understanding are not always prioritized in the manufacturing industry. This was the topic of my recent Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast with guest Thom Singer, … Read More
What Keeps Women Out of Manufacturing Leadership Roles — and What We Can Do to Break Down Barriers
Did you know that women only make up 43% of the total workforce? As this recent statistic shows, the numbers are even smaller in manufacturing industries, with female employees rarely making it to higher-up leadership positions. This means that women in manufacturing are a massively untapped market, even in the midst of ongoing worker shortages. … Read More
Showing Who You Really Are: The Key Characteristics of Great Leaders
“People see who you are—even if you don’t!” That’s one of the favorite sayings of John Raymer, a recent guest on my Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast. In this episode, John shared some great insights learned from his 28-year-career with Toyota Motor Manufacturing, especially about how manufacturing leaders can identify problems in their organizations by looking closely … Read More
Out the Window or Through the Mirror: Where You Should Look to Drive Productive Outcomes
When you have a big success as a leader, it’s all too easy to pat yourself on the back, congratulate yourself on a job well done, and take all the credit. On the flip side, it’s also incredibly easy to blame others at the first sign of trouble. If you find yourself taking credit for … Read More
Growing Your Mindset: The Steps it Does—and Doesn’t—Take
The Barriers to a Growth Mindset In a book I read recently, I learned more about the two types of mindsets: growth mindsets and fixed mindsets. It got me thinking about the importance of being opened minded, but how open-mindedness alone isn’t always enough to set you up for success. It can actually cause you … Read More
When Results Make You a Believer — Improving Your Culture, Part 3
“Emotional intelligence” has become a buzzword lately. With a growing emphasis on culture and shortages of supply of our talented workplace, curiosity about emotional intelligence is likely to grow. An interest in emotional intelligence is probably why you opened this article, so let’s dive back into our series on emotional intelligence and how it helped … Read More
3 Key Steps to Getting Your Team Engaged — Improving Your Culture, Part 2
Great, you have an indication that the culture you want to be working in is not what you desire. Congratulations, you can’t fix what you are not willing to expose, and it sounds like you have the first step well on your way! That is the first step, having data to start with. … Read More
The Emotional Culture Index – Improving Your Culture, Part 1
Do you know how your staff really feels about you, or wonder what you can do to retain great staff and attract new employees? There’s now a simple way to measure that! You may have a feeling or opinion about what your employees think of you, but what you see or think might not align … Read More
What To Know Before Beginning Executive Coaching
If you’re considering executive coaching, here are a few things that will simplify your decision-making process! Pain and Permission When I was certified with the Center of Executive Coaching many years ago, I learned—the hard way!—that there are two key elements that are required for successful executive coaching engagement: pain and permission. What Does Pain … Read More
Why No One Listens To You—and How To Change That With The Coach Approach
When you’re driving your car and a passenger is giving you directions—like turn left, take this exit, get in this lane, and turn right when we pass that old orange brick church—do you think you’ll remember how to get there by yourself next time? Heck no! Now, consider driving to the same location by yourself … Read More
There’s No Crying in Frames: Why Leaving Your Emotions at the Door Doesn’t Work
“There’s no crying in baseball!” Thanks to the 1992 movie A League of Their Own, where Tom Hanks plays a coach for an all-women’s baseball team, this quote has become famous and even came in at number 54 on the American Film Institute’s list of top 100 movie quotes. Like many others, I found the … Read More
Your Safe Has a Back Door: I Sealed Mine and You Can Too
When someone trusts you enough to tell you top secret information, it drives the connection we crave in relationships and confirms that others like us. But how do you know what you should or should not share? When it is gossip and ego urging us to impress others with what we know versus being authentic … Read More
Have You Been Riding your Emotional Waves or Tumbling into the Surf?
I got some news I was not expecting that put me on the emotional surfboard and I went for a ride! Not the fun kind, the more distracting and uncomfortable kind; like a rollercoaster you really did not want to go on, and once it started, you just wanted off. If you work in manufacturing, … Read More
Episode #10 Building Resilience through COVID-19
Join us for the first time recording in separate locations. With everything going on in our world and practicing safe distancing we wanted to do our part and still provide you, our listeners with a good quality podcast. Today’s theme is resiliency and how do we work this into our daily lives during this COVID-19 … Read More
Episode #9 Authenticity – Mike and Trevor Share Tips From Lessons Learned
The guys take some time to talk about what they have learned about authenticity based on their success and failures. Signs on how you can tell how self-aware people are, and ways to show up as your best self! 2:55 The ways we got better. We discuss our offsets and the benefits of this. Being … Read More
Episode #8 Lianne Gallie
Privileged to have this dynamic woman share her path of mindfulness growing in all areas in manufacturing Human Resources, and now teaching these lessons at the college level. Join us as we have fun with our friend Lianne Gallie, who provides great insights in how channel your emotions with intention! 2:19. My growing up phase. … Read More
Episode #7 Brian Skerrett
Welcome Mindfulness Manufacturing community! The legendary Brian Skerrett shares some of his wisdom gained through his 40 plus year career. A pioneer integrating mindfulness and leadership training, it is a privilege to share this with you today. His primary focus has been business coaching, with a niche in helping people to make individual changes today … Read More
Episode #6 JC Wilkinson
Welcome Mindfulness Manufacturing community! Today we get some great insights from JC Wilkinson. He is currently the VP of Business Transformation for Vivid Impact based in Louisville KY. Prior to Vivid Impact, JC spent 10 years as a COO/CFO for privately held organizations and another 10 years working with regional consulting firms providing accounting, tax, … Read More
Episode #5 Andrew De Haan Part 2
Welcome Mindfulness Manufacturing community! Enjoy more great discussions with Andrew De Haan Part 2. He is a culture builder in automotive manufacturing. A toolmaker with a love for people and leadership. He touches on aspects of emotional intelligence, discusses his mistakes and successes, and shares a few laughs. Including his mantra of -Do what is … Read More
Episode #4 Andrew De Haan Part 1
Welcome Mindfulness Manufacturing community! Today enjoy some great discussions with Andrew De Haan. He is a culture builder in automotive manufacturing. A toolmaker with a love for people and leadership. He touches on aspects of emotional intelligence, discusses his mistakes and successes, and shares a few laughs. Including his mantra of -Do what is right, … Read More
The “Who, What and Why” of Productive Meetings
I am busy, lots of meetings, can’t get anything done! A surefire way to know a drastic change is needed. There was a standard production meeting in comfy chairs that usually ran over an hour every day. We had lots of data to review and had interesting discussions on what happened the previous day and … Read More
Does Emotional Intelligence Improve Safety?
Results from one large manufacturer bear further study. Trevor Blondeel JAN 08, 2020 At the 2019 Genos Annual Global Conference in Hawaii, participants from 17 different countries heard speakers around the theme of “Emotional Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” I was surprised to find that a session on the relationship between emotional intelligence … Read More
Episode #2 Bill Priamo Part 1
Exciting interview Part 1 with the one and only Bill Priamo. It is not often Bill shares his leadership insights on social media, Mindfulness Manufacturing had the privilege of going deep with Bill on many of his leadership perspectives. Not your typical leader with a maintenance background. 1/ 2:30 Technology development verses the connection with … Read More
Episode #3 Bill Priamo Part 2
Part 2 with Bill Priamo – more great discussions! 1:00 – The fear of dealing with people 5:00 Try harder – does not work – those who Bill used to think were soft, actually had a lot to offer 9:00 Timing on when to send your message, positive or negative 13:50 Awareness of others 17:20 … Read More
An Introduction Mindfulness Manufacturing
Episode 1: Mike Hillman and Trevor Blondeel are excited to launch their new manufacturing podcast. This episode provides information about how and why they decided to develop this resource. Each episode will feature an interview with manufacturing leaders on the topics of leadership challenges.
How are You Showing Up?
Turn Missed Targets into Better Results with Feedback. It was a typical day in high-volume manufacturing. Our $100 million+, 300-person operation had a new task at hand, one that needed to be completed right away. To get it done, I gathered the leadership team together and explained the task that we needed to accomplish. I … Read More