Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In manufacturing, labor shortages and hiring challenges continue to impact retention and recruitment. Leaders who respond faster and communicate more clearly gain a competitive advantage in attracting and keeping talent.

In this episode, Jay Baer shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and workforce retention for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Jay explains how reducing uncertainty, improving response times, and strengthening strategic thinking help leaders build trust and improve employee engagement. You will learn practical strategies to close the skills gap, improve onboarding experiences, and create manufacturing cultures where top talent wants to stay and grow.

3:50 – There is a correlation between responsiveness and revenue

5:34 – People care about their time more than ever, which is why it's important to respect the time of others

6:11 – Creating an efficient recruitment process is one way to be respectful of other's time

7:43 – With a faster recruitment process, you won't miss out on great talent

10:32 – Having an efficient system for replying and following-up cuts down on team anxiety and improves your culture

11:52 – You don't always have to have the answer right away, but you can improve your relationships by giving a response

14:31 – As a leader, being responsive builds trust and helps you form better relationships within your organization

15:08 – Through responsiveness and strong communications, you can bridge the Uncertainty Gap

17:27 – People are trained to want more details and information

20:07 – Responsiveness should be a company policy, not an individual choice

21:40 – Find ways to continuously improve

23:57 – Customers will often go with the person who responds first, regardless of price

Connect with Jay Baer

Visit his website

Learn more about The Time to Win

Subscribe 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.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

Results matter. Whether you are focused on safety, quality, or productivity, manufacturing leaders want clear performance metrics. But measuring the return on investment of your people can feel more complex.

In this episode, Martin Low, Founder and CEO of On Plane Consulting, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, workforce development, and performance measurement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Drawing from his experience in human resources at companies like Amazon and Blue Apron, Martin explains how strategic thinking, accountability, and communication skills help leaders measure team performance more effectively. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen processes, improve employee engagement, and build manufacturing cultures where people drive measurable results.

3:23 – You can't measure people in the same way you measure inventory, cash flow or other main areas of your organization

6:31 – If you don't invest in your people, it leads to issues like high turnover and halted productivity

7:36 – If you don't have a baseline, you can't measure

8:45 – If someone on your team is underperforming, use curiosity to find the cause

8:52 – Establish a baseline for what good looks like within your team or organization

9:45 – If someone on your team has higher rates than others, study their process and see how you can implement their methods for your whole team

11:50 – When results don't meet expectations, approach the issue with curiosity instead of judgement

14:08 – With clearer processes, your team can improve and your organization can reduce turnover

14:24 – As a leader, you should make your expectations clear and hold others accountable

15:33 – With clarity, your team members find more agency and can improve the way they show up

17:31 – Create a process where you and your team can use your energy in a productive way, instead of just trying to survive the day

19:37 – Surveying your team is a strategy for assuring everyone is aligned and understands your processes, values, mission, and goals

22:52 – With a survey, leadership can find solutions directly from their team on the floor

24:18 – Most people show up wanting to do a good job, and clear processes can help them improve how they show up

Connect with Martin Low

Learn more about On Plane Consulting

Contact On Plane Consulting at [email protected]

Contact Martin at [email protected]

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

Stories connect people, build trust, and help manufacturing leaders drive engagement, accountability, and productivity. When used intentionally, storytelling becomes a powerful leadership tool on the shop floor.

In this episode, Trevor Perry, award winning speaker and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Trevor explains how storytelling supports authentic leadership, strengthens trust building, and improves feedback delivery during difficult conversations. You will learn practical ways to use stories to grow your influence, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where teams feel connected, motivated, and aligned with shared goals.

4:04 – When someone owns, lives, and feels a story, that makes for powerful storytelling

5:31 – Some people might be bad storytellers with great stories to tell, or great storytellers with bad stories

6:24 – Storytelling is a way to connect and help others relate to what you're trying to share

7:12 – Good storytelling is transparent and draws on your own experiences

8:42 – If you're telling someone else's story, you still need to find a way to personally connect and own the story you're telling

11:18 – Storytelling is an inherent part of human nature, which is why stories resonate so well

12:47 – Every story needs a purpose, especially if you're in a leader or mentor role

15:15 – If you're trying to adopt someone else's story as your own, it won't feel authentic

16:19 – A culture of storytelling can bring more connection to your organization

17:44 – How you tell a story is always going to be different depending on your audience or situation

20:28 – Practicing improv is a unique way to hone your storytelling skills

20:30 - Learn more about improv and storytelling in Episode 97

22:55 – You can also learn about storytelling about listening to others

23:57 – As a human, you are a storyteller

Connect with Trevor Perry

Visit his website

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.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

How can manufacturing leaders bring more mindfulness to the shop floor without sacrificing productivity or performance?

In this episode, Mike Mooney, former senior executive in NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula One, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Mike explains how communication skills, growth mindset, and authentic leadership help leaders improve trust building, accountability, and workforce retention. You will learn practical strategies for root cause analysis, strategic thinking, and feedback delivery while reducing burnout and supporting upskilling across your teams. This conversation connects soft skills with operational results, showing how intentional leadership strengthens culture, improves onboarding, and drives measurable performance in today's manufacturing environment.

3:46 – Like racecars, humans are high-performance vehicles that needs building, fixing, innovation, and restoration

5:04 – Being high-performance involves being present, intentional, and curious

8:13 – You can still get work done well and efficiently without sacrificing your relationships or workplace presence

9:22 – To improve your presence and how you show up, commit to shifting your micro-behaviors

12:00 – Sometimes, you need to slow down to go fast

13:33 – In the space between stimulus and response, you have a choice to jump to conclusions or react with curiosity

16:22 – Curiosity opens up conversations and leads to more productive outcomes

19:10 – Great ideas can come from anywhere, not just the executive team

23:20 – With curiosity, any idea can be interesting

25:05 – We were all designed to be high-performance vehicles and with time and authenticity, you can become the leader your organization needs

Connect with Mike Mooney

Visit his website

Find him on LinkedIn

Connect on X and Instagram @mike_mooney

Connect on Facebook @mikemooney_speaks

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.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

Trust is the foundation of strong manufacturing leadership. Without it, teams struggle with engagement, accountability, and productivity.

In this episode, Justin Patton, leadership presence expert and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, trust building, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Justin explains how communication skills, feedback delivery, and authentic leadership help leaders strengthen relationships and improve workforce retention. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, growth mindset, and transparency that support onboarding, reduce turnover, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to perform.

3:10 – Trust requires transparency, tact, and togetherness

4:03 – Trust is your biggest competitive advantage

4:41 – When people don't have all the information, they fill it in with fear or make up stories

5:59 – As a leader, you can create a culture of trust by having the courage to be transparent and vulnerable

8:39 – You have to speak your truth, but also take accountability for how you deliver it

10:41 – When an organization values results over everything else, it leads to issues like a lack of trust, increased disconnect, and poor leadership

12:22 – Think about who you are at your best, then work to show up for others as that best version of yourself

14:37 – To grow as a leader, you don't have to fundamentally change who you are, but can learn how to lean into your best qualities and align your actions and behavior with who you are at your best

16:21 – Trust is built in small moments

17:46 – Find the balance between oversharing and transparency

20:51 – Trust does not leave people second guessing

21:20 – Choose discomfort over resentment

22:53 – There are also situations where building trust can require staying silent

25:43 – Every choice you make either gets you closer to trust or drives you away from it

Connect with Justin Patton

Visit his website

Learn more about his books

Check out my book reports of Your Road to Yes and The High-Impact Manager

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.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

The manufacturing industry just keeps getting greater—and it's all thanks to passionate, mindful leaders who show up every day ready to engage their teams, improve their mindset, and create an environment where people love to work. One of these leaders is Karen J. Lund, a bestselling author and keynote speaker with a long career in the steel industry. Drawing on her experience in the steel industry, Karin now leads the team at G-Power Global, an organization she founded to inspires corporate and organizational entities to lead with compassion while continuing to focus on productivity, service, and profits.

In this episode, Karin talks more about transformations facing the steel industry and manufacturing as a whole, and shares why compassion, connection, and conversations are the key to unlocking creative solutions, overcoming challenges, and bringing new energy to the manufacturing floor.

3:03 – In manufacturing, you can't do everything by yourself, which makes it very important to seek out and build strong connections

5:33 – It can be a challenge to form relationship on the floor, especially for younger professionals

6:48 – When people have connections on the floor, it makes it easier to voice feedback and navigate challenges

9:01 – By creating a culture that fosters connections and conversation, you'll find more productivity and more creative solutions

11:37 – Compassion is the competitive edge

15:55 – There is a difference between training and learning

16:39 – Employee resource groups are a strong tool for building connections and community in the workplace

19:20 – If you want to redefine your industry and image, start by having conversations about your values and how you present to the media and others

22:25 – In manufacturing, it's important to have conversations about how your role impacts the work of others, and vice versa

23:29 – Everyone learns in different ways and some people may need different accommodations

25:02 – When someone makes a commitment to their industry, it can have a positive impact for entire teams and organizations

Connect with Karin J. Lund

Visit her website

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.

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

When mistakes happen on the plant floor, many leaders focus on blame. But there is a better approach that improves safety, accountability, and performance.

In this episode, Dr. Jake Mazulewicz shares insights on manufacturing leadership, safety culture, and root cause analysis for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Drawing from his background in high hazard industries, Jake explains how curiosity, communication skills, and trust building help leaders reduce errors and strengthen reliability. You will learn practical strategies to improve problem solving, support employee engagement, and create safer manufacturing environments where people feel supported and accountable.

3:35 – Procedures and policies are the work that is imagined, and on the floor is how the work actually gets done

4:19 – The work as-done is almost always radically different than the work as-imagined

5:20 – Even when you have standards and people show up wanting to do a good job, you can still see issues that need to be addressed

6:44 – There will always be areas that absolutely need to have procedures in place

8:02 – There are also adaptive jobs, which leans less into procedures and more intro troubleshooting and tacit human knowledge

10:56 - In an ideal environment, both mechanistic and adaptive models are used and respected and needed

12:11 – There are four levels, ranging from strict procedurals to looser guidelines that show what to do, but not how to do it

15:36 – Tacit knowledge gets shared through conversations

16:22 – A way to share important information is to have frontline experts record videos sharing their insights to problems, especially those that are not covered in procedures

19:44 – Through conversation and connection, more knowledge is shared

21:58 – Debriefing also plays a central role

23:45 – If you have strong discipline, you'll find more freedom

25:31 – In most situations, errors are signals, not defects

27:07 – When an error occurs, be curious and find the deeper cause of the problem

Connect with Jake Mazulewicz

Find him on Linkedin

Visit his website

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

When crisis hits, manufacturing leaders must stay calm, communicate clearly, and guide their teams through uncertainty.

In this episode, Dave Sanderson, Flight 1549 survivor, bestselling author, and leadership speaker, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, resilience, and communication skills for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Drawing from his Miracle on the Hudson experience, Dave explains how trust building, growth mindset, and authentic leadership help leaders navigate adversity. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, accountability, and employee engagement that strengthen safety culture, improve productivity, and support workforce retention during high pressure situations.

2:18 – Dave shares his Flight 1549 story

8:11 – In times of conflict, whether it's a plane crash or issue on the manufacturing floor, calmness and confidence play key roles

9:05 – To get through challenging situations, you need to manage your own mindset

10:05 – You don't need to know everything to handle a crisis, but you have to be able to lead yourself first

11:09 – Every moment in your life happens for a reason

13:38 – How to react to and cope with a challenging situation depends on the meaning you attach to it

14:22 – By reframing the meaning you attach to a situation, you can find healthy and productive ways to react and grow

15:33 – Everyone assigns different meanings to different challenges, so it's important to approach others with curiosity instead of judgement

17:56 – To truly understand others, you need be curious and have authentic interactions

21:52 – To feel included in an organization's mission, people need and want certainty, variety, connection, significance, growth, and the ability to contribute

24:48 – As a leader, it's up to you to find creative solutions and create opportunity from challenges

28:57 – If you get casual, it can lead to safety issues, accidents, and other serious problems for your organization

Connect with Dave Sanderson

Check out his website and download a free copy of his Moments Matter Magazine

Connect on LinkedIn to see new blog content

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

In many manufacturing organizations, core values live on wall plaques but never show up in daily leadership behavior. Turning values into action is key to building trust, engagement, and real results on the shop floor.

In this episode, Adam Hill, CEO, keynote speaker, and bestselling author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, authentic leadership, and workplace culture for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Adam explains how communication skills, accountability, and growth mindset help leaders bring values to life. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen employee engagement, align behaviors with expectations, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel connected, motivated, and committed to shared success.

4:13 – Core values should serve as a driving force, but can sometimes become restrictive

6:26 – In some cases, holding onto an old or legacy core value can actually hold back your organization

8:15 – If your organization is struggling or plateaued, look toward your core values and address what ideals need to stay and which ones can be changed or removed

9:24 – Culture and strategy are very similar, but can't be treated as the same

10:51 – As culture shifts, you might have to shift your behavior while still staying true to your core values

13:06 – If you want change, you need to create a culture where people feel empowered to speak up

14:19 – If people in your organization don't feel comfortable speaking up, it can lead to unsafe environments

16:29 – Healthy conflict is often necessary when discussing which core values to keep or get rid of, especially in family or legacy companies

21:50 – The strongest core values are the ones that can grow and evolve with your organization

24:00 – Great results can arise from challenging conversations

Connect with Adam Hill

Visit his website

Listen to his Flow Over Fear podcast

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor's monthly newsletter.

Now, let's jump in!

If you want to improve safety, quality, productivity, and results, the first step is looking toward improving connection. With more mindfulness and connection, your entire organization can thrive—and in this episode, guest Jon Gordon is here to show you exactly how you can improve connection and fight disconnect in your organization!

Jon is one of the top three leadership speakers in the world, and his talks on mindset and leadership have inspired hundreds of individuals and organizations. He is also the bestselling author of 28 books, including one of my favorites, The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy. In this episode, Jon delves deeper into some of the insights in The Energy Bus to share how leaders can use positivity and connection to improve results and combat difficult situations.

3:31 – You are always going to have to deal with negative people, or energy vampires, but overcoming them is a key part of your journey to connection

4:40 – Every negative person is a test for you to find your own power and resiliency

6:40 – We are meant to be connected, which is why disconnect and isolation leads to anxiety and other mental health issues

7:55 – The more united and connected you are, the stronger you'll be as a team

10:10 – If you only focus on the results instead of the process, it can lead to disconnect and other negative outcomes

11:15 – Feed yourself with words of positivity and encouragement instead of listening to negative self-talk

12:30 – Understand the wound behind your negative thoughts, so you can find a way to speak truth to them

13:49 – By embracing opportunities to heal and grow, you become a stronger leader for your team

16:25 – A positive team starts with positive leadership

18:03 – Understanding the dynamics of your team can help you find ways to improve connection

20:23 – You need both love and accountability

22:48 – There will always been the need for difficult conversations, so find a way to deal with them and make them less difficult for you and your team

24:49 – You can't be thankful and stressed at the same time

Connect with Jon Gordon

Visit his website

Learn More about The Energy Bus and his other books

Read my previous book report on The Energy Bus

Connect on LinkedIn and social media

Hear Jon's podcast with Alan Mullally