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 episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing featuring guest Jay Baer. Jay Baer is a researcher and advisor specializing in business growth and customer experience. He’s also a seventh-generation entrepreneur, the creator of six multi-million-dollar companies, and the author of seven bestselling books, including The Time to Win.

On the podcast, Jay shared some tools and insights leaders can use to speed up their recruiting processes, stand out from the competition, create a stronger culture for their organization, and reduce anxiety by bridging “the uncertainty gap.”

The Uncertainty Gap

As humans, we crave information. If we don’t have the information we need, it can lead to confusion, anxiety, and disconnect. When someone doesn’t have the information they need, it creates the uncertainty gap. For example, if someone sends you an email asking to schedule a meeting and you forget to respond, they might jump to conclusions, like assuming you’re angry with them or purposefully ignoring their question. When this happens, it not only slows down operations, but can have an affect on your entire organization’s culture.

How Do We Bridge the Uncertainty Gap?

In his episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, Jay shared three tools and insights leaders can use to bridge the uncertainty gap in their own organization.

Try Out AI and Automation
When it comes to speeding up processes, AI and automation are valuable tools. This is especially true in hiring and recruiting, where a slow response time can mean losing out on great talent. By implementing AI and automation tools, you can speed up processes like reading resumes, scheduling interviews, and following-up with strong candidates.
Always Give a Response
As a leader, you might not always have all the answers... but that doesn’t mean you can’t give a response. If someone asks you a question you don’t know how to answer, tell them you’re working on it. Acknowledge their communications and give a time-frame of when you’ll get back to them. This technique not only reduces anxiety for others, but ensures you have the time you need to come up with a great response.
Make Responsiveness a Policy
In your organization, responsiveness should be a policy, not an individual choice. By encouraging responsiveness at all stages — from hiring and recurring to working with clients — you can create a culture of responsiveness throughout your entire organization. This often means making small and continuous improvements along the way.

Learn More on the Podcast

To hear more insights from Jay Baer, check out his episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing here.

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.

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, DigiKey’s vice president of human resources, is here to share the stories and insights behind DigiKey’s success!

In this episode, Shane shares stories highlighting the importance of curiosity, empathy, and leadership presence, and offers simple-yet-powerful strategies manufacturing leaders can put into action to build trust, accountability, and stronger connections at their own plant.

5:12 – Building a better organization starts with being present and making personal connections

8:13 – If your organization is in a small community, making personal connections is extremely important

9:00 – To find curious ways to engage your team, one strategy is to create a list of questions to ask

13:30 – With a strong foundation, you’ll be better equipped to tackle challenges or crises

15:11 – There is a lot of value in simple gestures, like greeting your team in the morning

18:12 – Personalization goes a long way

22:41 Show care and concern for your team members

Connect with Shane Zutz

Learn more about Digikey

Connect with Shane on LinkedIn and reach out to get added to his newsletter

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.