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
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