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
Productivity
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
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