Human Skills in a Technical World: How to Rethink Your Time on the Shop Floor
In manufacturing, everything is connected—and what happens at the top impacts everything else, including productivity and morale on the floor. This is especially true when it comes to culture. If leaders at the top aren’t practicing intentionality or accountability, it can trickle down and have a negative impact on the entire organization.
To better understand how to make cultural changes from the top-down, I spoke with Darcy Luoma on the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast. Darcy is a coach, consultant, and creator of the Thoughtfully Fit approach, a practical model for enhancing leadership capabilities, improving team dynamics, and navigating the complexities of leadership and teamwork.
On Mindfulness Manufacturing, Darcy shared more about the Thoughtfully Fit model and shared tips leaders can use to bring more accountability, intentionality, and thoughtfulness to their organization’s culture.
Tip #1: Set Clear Expectations
If your team members aren’t aware of your goals and expectations, it becomes hard to hold them accountable. To set clear expectations at all levels of your organization, try out Darcy’s “LAP Accountability” framework to:
- Lay out expectations
- Assess progress
- Pinpoint necessary adjustments
Tip #2: Create Space for Team Dynamics
To create a culture of stronger trust and accountability, you need to acknowledge the many different dynamics within your team. One way to carve out space for team dynamics is to have honest conversations about any issues. For example, if a problem or disagreement comes up during a team meeting, deal with it directly. Address the elephant in the room instead of putting it aside from later, and you can address your team’s challenges and dynamics in an open, curious way.
Tip #3: Start Small and Set Habits
Changing your organization’s culture doesn’t happen overnight! To get started, take small-but-practical steps. Take time to think about your own behavior and what you’d like to change or improve, then find everyday ways to implement your solutions and ideas. Strong habits start with small steps, and you’ll be on your way to more thoughtful leadership in no time.
Tip #4: Don’t Forget Compassion
When addressing team dynamics and practicing accountability, don’t forget your curious, empathetic mindset. Remember, everyone on your team is trying their best and that some people may be dealing with outside-of-work issues that are affecting their productivity. While it’s important to practice accountability, try to always emphasize compassion and human connection.
Learn More on the Podcast
To hear more from Darcy Luoma and take a deeper dive into her Thoughtfully Fit approach, listen to her episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing here.