Leadership Archives - Page 19 of 19 - Manufacturing Greatness

Breaking the Golden Handcuffs

April 12, 2017By Trevor BlondeelArticles by Trevor, Leadership

I didn’t even know I had them on. Just over a year ago, a recruiter called me about a very interesting opportunity which could have been a good fit. Through the conversation, we discussed what my salary was at that time. He sensed my concern in what the future position compensated. He then said to … Read More

Put Some Windex On It

May 9, 2016By Trevor BlondeelArticles by Trevor, Leadership

Put some Windex on it; it will fix anything. Spending time with my wife means watching a lot of romantic comedies. It’s because she wants to watch them and I am so supportive. Honest. My Big Fat Greek Wedding has become one of my favourites of the genre. Gus Portokalos, the father of the bride … Read More

My Lean Journey Derailed, Here is How I am Getting Things Back on Track

April 14, 2016By Trevor BlondeelArticles by Trevor, Leadership

It’s hard to believe I’ve spent twenty years in the automotive industry. For the last eight, I’ve held senior leadership positions in: Logistics, Material Planning, Trucking, Internal Material flow, Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations. And I never had a clue what I was doing. We had started doing great things before the financial crisis of 2008. … Read More

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Mindfulness Manufacturing

Our show is about providing listeners with real stories that come from a place of experience, transparency, and authenticity. Most importantly it’s about what we learn from these stories and applying Mindfulness in our everyday work and personal lives.
Our intention is to create an environment where people can learn through open honest discussions on how we apply Mindfulness. Although our experiences and stories come from time in a manufacturing environment hence the title “Mindfulness Manufacturing”, we still see our discussions and topics relatable to any organization or profession.

If you want to change your results, you need to change your approach. These words of wisdom come from Maggie Harlow, the co-owner of Signarama Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky. With years of experience in the custom sign manufacturing industry, Maggie doesn’t just talk about leadership—she lives it. She’s also a keynote speaker and speaks on a range of topics, including visionary leadership, gratitude, and finding new approaches to problem-solving.

In this episode, Maggie shares more about her background in the sign industry and offers practical, transformative insights on what it really takes to balance quality, speed, and culture in a high-mix, low-volume environment.

3:06 – In high-stress environments, creativity and craftsmanship keep people engaged 6:08 – It is important to have communications between all departments 7:00 – When systemic issues occur, remember that it may be a focus issue, not a people problem 8:14 – Quality is the most important thing 9:17 – As a leader, if you want something to improve or change, you need to bring it to your team’s attention 10:28 – When leadership is present on the shop floor, it shifts perception 11:41 – To get sales and production to truly collaborate, you may need a cultural shift 13:09 – To find healthy balances between departments, have honest conversations 14:35 – Focus on ownership, not blame 15:26 – When breakdowns occur, it’s often because team members don’t understand each other’s realities 17:44 – Give your team space to try, fail, and grow within safe boundaries 20:00 – For honest problem-solving, assume everyone is doing their best

Connect with Maggie Harlow Find her on LinkedIn Visit her speaking website Learn more about Signarama Downtown