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!

Do your days start with positive intentions but end without meaningful progress? Many manufacturing leaders struggle with intentionality while juggling productivity demands and daily challenges.

In this episode, Jon Giganti, speaker, tech executive, and USA Today bestselling author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, growth mindset, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Jon explains how self awareness, agency, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills, trust building, and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to improve focus, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where intentional leadership drives productivity, engagement, and stronger results.

6:33 – To accomplish something, you need to show up, serve, and add value

7:08 – Intention is finding out what your priorities are, then living into it as much as possible

7:58 – Every day is a new day with opportunities to be intentional and make an impact

9:28 – In order to serve others, you have to serve yourself first by establishing a routine and setting yourself up for success

10:48 – To find sustainable results, you need to have self-awareness and self-intention

13:13 – You need to put yourself in the right position for success

14:08 – Your energy levels are not the same throughout the day, so being intentional about your time is important

15:44 – Journaling or writing down affirmations is one way to practice intentionality

16:34 – You should also set a core foundation yourself by working on your own standards and beliefs

18:30 – To accomplish what you want to accomplish, show up, and form habits

21:07 – If you want to be more intentional about how you lead or connect with others, start with curiosity, connection, and bridging disconnects

23:29 – To serve others on your team, act as a safe place to connect

24:00 – To get stronger results or find out what is driving a performance issue, stay curious and find ways to connect with your teams

24:39 – Trust also plays a large role in building connections and finding results

25:23 – Along with self-awareness, you also need agency and the ability to take ownership of your past, present, and future

Tune in next episode to learn more about intentionality with Jon Giganti!

Connect with Jon Giganti

Visit his website, where you can learn about his speaking, podcasts, and With Intention course

Check out my book report of With Intention, then get your own copy

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!

Strong relationships drive curiosity, connection, and performance on the manufacturing floor.

In this episode, Corban David Jenai, entrepreneur and Chief Hope Officer at HopeGuide, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, trust building, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Corban explains how vulnerability, intentionality, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, growth mindset, and feedback delivery that support workforce retention and create manufacturing cultures where people feel seen, valued, and motivated to perform.

3:14 – Talking about ourselves and real aspects of our lives is a way to kick off strong connections

4:00 – Vulnerability is a path to connection

4:23 – By listening and getting to know others on your team, you build a sense of trust, which in turn leads to greater results on performance, quality, safety, and more

5:03 – To show others that you care, you have to actually care

6:36 – To build connections, think about what is important to you, and work with the assumption that others might have feelings similar to yours

8:23 – While modern society gives us the chance to connect with many people, we don't always have the time or capacity to form meaningful connections with every person we encounter

10:15 – By connecting with smaller groups, we have the chance to be a witness to others, and they can be a witness to hear, see, and feel us as we are

11:06 – By investing in others at a deeper level, you can improve productivity and results

12:56 – Being vulnerable and open with your team allows them to see your humanity as a leader

14:38 – By looking at someone and actually seeing them, you can make a major difference, even if you don't have a solution to their problems

16:51 – When people feel seen and heard, they are more likely to show up for you and your organization

20:06 – Even small moments of connection, like making eye contact, go a long way when forming connections

25:54 – Being a witness can help you show up better in all your relationships

Connect with Corban David Janai

Find Corban online at his website

Learn More About HopeGuide 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!

To make better decisions and improve engagement across manufacturing teams, leaders need diversity of thought and authentic leadership.

In this episode, Kathy Miller, former manufacturing executive at General Motors, Delphi Automotive Systems, and Rolls Royce, and Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, workplace culture, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Kathy draws from her experience as a woman in manufacturing to explain how communication skills, trust building, and growth mindset help leaders create stronger connections and better results. You will learn practical strategies to improve collaboration, support workforce retention, and build manufacturing cultures where people feel empowered, valued, and motivated to perform.

3:29 – Steel Toes and Stilettos is inspired by the different roles women play to be both their authentic, feminine selves and hold their own on a shop floor

4:21 – A successful journey in manufacturing requires soft skills, which can be harder to develop than people realize

5:19 – To make a significant cultural transformation stick in your organization, you need to make it feel like it belongs to the employees, and make them feel it with their hands and the hearts

8:23 – To get more women and their perspectives into manufacturing roles, it's important to get women into manufacturing roles at a young age

9:12 – Inclusive environments get better business results

9:35 – Every person in your organization has a heart, a brain, and a set of hands, and you have to tap into all three

11:00 – By giving others an opportunity to contribute, you can find new and better results

13:50 – Kathy's equation for successfully improving plants involves relationships, realities, results, and authenticity

14:45 – Every single relationship matters

16:37 – Face your realities and work on what's in your control

17:27 – Focus on where you are and you'll find results

18:09 – If you're a man in manufacturing, work to amplify female voices

19:05 – Women in manufacturing can also advocate for their authentic selves

Connect with Kathy Miller

Connect with Kathy on Linkedin

Learn more from Kathy and her coauthor Shannon Karels on their website

Buy Steel Toes and Stilettos

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!

Are you winning? It is one of the most important questions manufacturing leaders can ask when it comes to safety, quality, and productivity.

In this episode, Eric Berdan, business optimization leader at Nestle North America with years of factory leadership experience, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Eric explains how strategic thinking, accountability, and communication skills help leaders motivate teams and drive measurable results. You will learn practical strategies for workforce retention, growth mindset, and daily performance improvement that support continuous improvement and create manufacturing cultures where teams focus on winning the day.

3:28 – Every person in your organization has a different definition of what it means to win

3:55 – By engaging your team in their daily activities and their goals, you'll find stronger overall success

6:11 – You don't have to be perfect, but you still need to win and set up a winning streak for yourself

7:19 – To achieve results, you need to break your paradigms, be willing to push through challenges, and find ways to motivate others

8:56 – Momentum always plays a key role

10:28 – Let you team work within their own frameworks and set goals that are attainable for them

14:10 – You can't expect everyone to share your goals or reach the same expectations you personally set for yourself

17:54 – By being intentional about how you start your day, you can set yourself up for wins

22:23 – Sometimes, a strong winning streak can actually hurt productivity

24:59 – Understanding how you're doing at work requires many different senses

27:38 – Discretionary effort adds to win and productivity

28:19 – The key to success is tapping into emotion and getting your team emotionally connected to a goal

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!

"What else can I do to help?" That simple question can transform how manufacturing leaders build influence and strengthen their teams.

In this episode, Susan Baier, founder and president of Audience Audit, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, strategic thinking, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Susan explains how communication skills, authentic leadership, and growth mindset help leaders become relentlessly helpful while strengthening trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to improve feedback delivery, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where service, connection, and productivity drive measurable results.

2:08 – To be relentlessly helpful, ask other what else you can do to help them and think about what you can do to help the others around you or in your organization

3:44 – Shift your mindset to think about the ways you can have an impact on others

3:54 – We all know things that someone else doesn't know

8:15 – The people with the greatest experiences and the most unique perspectives are often not sharing their information

8:40 – Being generous reaps huge rewards and builds goodwill

10:37 – Being relentlessly helpful can also be a way to break out of your own routine and make yourself feel better about your own role

12:36 – Some days may have more opportunities to be helpful than others, but there are always small gestures you can make or questions you can ask to support others

14:34 – Both overconfidence and a lack of confidence can impact the ability to be relentlessly helpful

14:54 – Organizations, not just individuals, can embrace a culture of relentless helpfulness

18:39 – Learning on the job is a critical component of advancement

19:45 – To understand what is helpful for others, you need to listen and communicate

20:33 – As you shift your mindset, you'll grow your listening skills and find more way to be helpful

22:18 – We often dismiss our own knowledge and forget to think about how our knowledge can be important to someone else, even in a small way

23:34 – Just being open and available for conversation can help others

Connect with Susan Baier

Audience Audit website

Contact Susan

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!

Have you ever wanted to write a book or strengthen how you communicate ideas to your team? Storytelling is a powerful leadership skill that helps manufacturing leaders engage people and drive results.

In this episode, AJ Harper, publishing strategist and author of Write a Must Read, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

AJ explains how authentic leadership, growth mindset, and strategic thinking help leaders tell better stories, improve feedback delivery, and build trust. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen influence, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where clear communication inspires accountability, productivity, and connection.

1:03 – In a previous episode with Michael Port, we talked about speaking and growing your speaking skills to improve your impact in your organization.

2:39 – As a ghostwriter for bestselling books, AJ gained the experiences and insights she now uses to help others craft must-read books

5:01 – Like manufacturing, crafting a good book means developing strong systems and processes

5:30 – By having a strong and repeatable system, you can overcome challenges like self-doubt or your inner critic

6:28 – A key point of strong storytelling is remembering details

6:48 – To remember details you want to write down or share with your team, write them down in your phone or even record them for later

8:33 – Even if you have a very busy schedule, you can still find times in your day to write

9:17 – Writing doesn't have to be daily and you don't have to write a ton of words every day, as long as you find time to write on a regular basis that works for you and your schedule

10:42 – Other people may have already written ideas similar to yours, but the world still hasn't heard it in your unique voice

11:43 – To connect with your audience, you need to put your reader first

13:35 – By using the reader first concept, you can also find better ways to connect and communicate with your team

14:50 – Even by just acknowledging an existing problem or condition, you can still motivate and support your team or audience

16:37 – Think about the hearts and minds of your audience and demographic

19:12 – Having a script is a way to prepare yourself before speaking, even if it's just a few key points

20:42 – Instead of only focusing on your own objective, think about how you want to make others feel

21:35 – Don't expect to be great at first

Connect with AJ Harper

Visit her website, where you can sign up for her newsletter with more writing tips

Learn more in my review of Write a Must-Read

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!

What do manufacturing leaders have in common with performers? More than you think. Leadership on the shop floor requires presence, communication skills, and the ability to influence outcomes.

In this episode, Michael Port, bestselling author and founder of Heroic Public Speaking, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Michael explains how authentic leadership, feedback delivery, and growth mindset improve influence and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, trust building, and persuasive communication that support workforce retention, increase productivity, and help leaders motivate teams with clarity and confidence.

3:30 – Putting on a performance doesn't necessarily mean showcasing a fake version of yourself, and performances can still be intentional and mindful

5:02: To change what other people do, consider what you make them think and how you make them feel

5:30 – You need to earn the privilege of influencing how others think

8:11 – To be a person who others want to help, you need to create value for them

10:48 – Success is not just about numbers and goalposts, but about growing every single member of your team

12:05 – To build a long-term, sustainable organization, it always comes back to being intentional and thinking about how your team feels and how you make them feel through your leadership and behavior

15:28 – As a leader or manager, you need to be careful and deliberate about what you say on a everyday basis, and think about how others might interpret your words

17:14 – Before starting a conversation, especially in a time of conflict, think about how the other person might react to your words, and what you can say to start an engaging dialogue without them feeling attacked or defensive

18:40 – To increase productivity and create a healthier workplace culture, you need to make your team feel like they're in a safe environment

21:11 – You want to present you team with something that can get excited about, and show them something of value they'll get out of it

22:41 – Along with showing your team members what they'll get from your initiative, you also have to highlight the consequences of not doing it

23:59 – Most people don't really hear you until you're sick of saying the point you want me to hear

25:21 – To be a person who others want to help, you have to show others you can both make and fulfil commitments

29:55 – If you always shut down other's ideas, they will eventually learn to stop coming to you

30:27 – To have productive conversations, you need to keep them moving

Connect with Michael Port

Heroic Public Speaking website

Heroic Public Speaking Substack

Follow @HeroicPublicSpeaking on social media

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!

First impressions matter on the manufacturing floor, and appearance plays a bigger role in leadership presence than many realize.

In this episode, Morgan Wider, personal style expert, speaker, and founder of Wider Style, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and authentic leadership for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Morgan explains how confidence, emotional intelligence, and intentional presentation support trust building and employee engagement. You will learn practical strategies to strengthen leadership presence, improve feedback delivery, and show up with clarity in male dominated manufacturing environments while supporting productivity, workforce retention, and professional growth.

2:42 – You only have seven seconds to make a strong first impression, and your appearance is typically one of first elements others notice about you

4:03 – By dressing as your authentic self, you also encourage your team to be themselves and show up in their own authentic ways

5:18 – Even if your role requires a uniform, there are still ways to show your own authentic personality and style, like through hair or makeup choices

6:20 – In male-dominated industries like manufacturing, women may feel like they need to blend in with their fashion choices, but this can also keep them from showing up as their most authentic selves

9:12 – In your clothing and appearance, you need to be both authentic and appropriate

10:33 – Make style choices that honor who you are and truly present who you are in the best way possible

11:33 – By being mindful of factors like your body type, age, strengths, and weakness, you can dress in a way that's both appropriate for your role and honors who you are as an individual

12:24 – When you're comfortable and happy with how you look, it improves your productivity and morale, plus makes you feel better and more confident

13:23 – By putting effort into your appearance, you can get yourself into the mindset you need

14:39 – Different audiences and occasions can mean different style choices

18:40 – If you don't put in the effort, it can affect how others perceive you and how you show up

25:30 – As a leader, think about what you can do to create a space than honors diversity

26:58 – If find yourself in a space or role where you can't be your authentic self, it might be time to consider if it's the right space for you

Connect with Morgan Wider

Website

More on her book, The Worthy Wardrobe

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!

On the manufacturing floor, you may not see magic tricks, but there are daily opportunities to create meaningful moments that improve engagement, morale, and performance.

In this episode, Jon Petz, entrepreneur, speaker, bestselling author, and magician, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and workplace culture for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Jon explains how intentionality, creativity, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills, trust building, and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to boost productivity, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing environments where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to perform.

3:11 – In the workplace, magic is all about creating moments that make your team feel valued, support, and like they're part of something special

4:24 – To create magic, be intentional, lean into organic moments, and create moments of surprise

5:15 – Don't overlook the simple moments

6:31 – Magical moments play a big role in improving productivity and efficiency

10:58 – Purpose drives passion and helps your team find ways to truly engage instead of just getting up in their role

12:39 – You can't always plan for moments of magic, but you can think about what your team needs to feel empowered and supported

15:05 – Deeper conversations drive results and solutions

16:06 – Take a genuine care in your team member's outside of their role in your organization

17:17 – Jon's book recommendation – Work Plus Love by Marcus Buckingham

18:01 – Take steps to truly appreciate and recognize your team

20:45 – You also need to pay attention to other's mindsets and see what they need to feel valued or encouraged

21:36 – With title comes authority, but title does not always come with leadership

Connect with Jon Petz

Website

Buy Significance in Simple Moments, now available in paperback

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!

Why does communication break down and lead to conflict on the manufacturing floor? And how can leaders use emotional intelligence to improve engagement, trust, and productivity?

In this episode, Dr. Irvine Nugent, author and emotional intelligence expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Drawing from his experience growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, Dr. Irvine explains how self awareness, active listening, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and growth mindset that help reduce conflict, improve workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel respected, connected, and motivated to perform.

1:57 – How we present our emotions has a big impact on how we forge relationships, avoid conflict, and find more productive outcomes

5:04 – Before you can lead others, you need to lead yourself

6:59 – One tip for increasing your self-awareness is to take a one-minute pause before entering a room and give yourself time to process your emotions and get rid of any emotions you don't want to bring into the room

7:57 – You can't always make your emotions disappear, but you can manage and acknowledge them

8:16 – If you don't give people the information they need, they'll fill in the gaps themselves and are more likely to jump to conclusions about your emotions and behavior

9:43 – Emotions are contagious

11:32 – By taking the time to have quality interactions, you can find better outcomes and change the way you show up for your team

14:54 – Leaders need to know the truth, and that truth becomes data

17:57 – On a strong team, everyone holds each other accountable

19:17 – Anger, fear, disgust, contempt, surprise, happiness, and sadness are the seven universal emotions

20:20 – By learning to recognize facial expression and body language, you can understand when you need to ask more questions or start a deeper dialogue

25:15 – Even in times of violence and conflict, there are always reminders of humanity's resilience and potential

Connect with Dr. Irvine Nugent

Website

YouTube

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