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.

  1. Be Present. To build stronger relationships and find better results, you need to be present. You should walk the floor, engage in conversations, and make an effort to foster genuine connections with your team. Even small gestures, like saying good morning to your team or asking someone about their family, can make a huge difference in boosting morale, creating trust, and building a more positive culture.
  2. Stay Curious. Curiosity is a cornerstone of effective leadership! As a leader, stay curious. Ask insightful, open-ended questions, and try to be curious instead of judgmental when it comes to understanding other perspectives. On the podcast, Shane recommended a great tip for practicing curiosity: keep a list of thoughtful questions on your desk or computer, so you’ll always have questions at the ready.
  3. Build a Strong Foundation. As a leader, you’re bound to encounter challenging and uncertainty times, from stressful product launches to global issues, like the COVID-19 pandemic. But if you have a strong foundation, it’s much easier to weather challenging times. As a leader, make an effort to foster trust and accountability in your team and organization. By doing this, you’ll create strong foundations for helping your team navigate any kind of crisis.

Learn More on the Podcast

To hear more from Shane Zutz, listen to his episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing here.