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Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0
Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0 episodes
- Positive Leadership in Manufacturing: A New Thinking Model to Improve Focus, Engagement, and Results with Paul Jenkins #105
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!
Just think positive. We have all heard that phrase, but in manufacturing environments filled with pressure and challenges, positivity can feel out of reach.
In this episode, Dr. Paul Jenkins, psychologist, author, and positivity expert, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, growth mindset, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.
Dr. Paul explains how emotional intelligence, communication skills, and authentic leadership help leaders shift perspective, strengthen trust building, and improve accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, resilience, and feedback delivery that support workforce retention, increase productivity, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel empowered, focused, and motivated to perform.
2:39 – Positive thinking is more than a trite motivational phase
4:35 – The equipment of your mind is amazing at what it's intended to do
5:55 – Your brain's job is to keep things really efficient
6:44 – Metacognition is thinking on a higher level, or thinking about thinking
7:06 – Metacognition creates a space where choice exists
9:19 – You are constantly judging and evaluating, so you brain can work to keep you safe and to prove you right
13:59 – You can't always get rid of a negative situation, but you can find a sense of relief and gratitude by comparing it to something worse
17:59 – If you assume something is bad or has no upsides, your brain will work to prove you right
18:40 – You can't tell others to just be more positive, and others can't do the same for you
20:03 – Toxic positivity is when you ignore the difficulty and act like everything is okay
22:37 – Creation mode is all about what is to be and what doesn't exist yet
23:34 – When you imagine that worse things are coming, it leads to anxiety
25:15 – What we imagine is our brain's blueprint for moving forward, even if what actually happens doesn't perfectly match what you envisioned
27:25 – The two stages of thinking are evaluation and creation
28:48 – As a leader, you can help others create their own positive visions
30:01 – Come to peace with how things are, then work to upgrade your situation
Connect with Dr. Paul Jenkins
Visit his website
Get your free positivity model here
33 min - Intentional Leadership in Manufacturing for Site Managers: Turning Purpose into Daily Action with Jon Giganti #104
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 missed part one with Jon Giganti, be sure to listen to Episode 103 before diving into this conversation.
In this episode, Jon Giganti, speaker, tech executive, and USA Today bestselling author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, intentionality, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.
Jon explains how agency, awareness, and authentic leadership strengthen communication skills, trust building, and accountability. You will learn practical strategies to support growth mindset, improve workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where leaders build stronger connections, drive productivity, and deliver meaningful results.
1:29 – Schedule white space or margins into your day to avoid overbooking yourself
3:29 – Quiet moments in your schedule give you a chance to rest your brain, body, and soul
8:06 – Setting aside time in your schedule is a way to invest in yourself and your future\
10:00 – Scheduling margins also gives you time to form more productive connections within your organization
13:27 – When you have a lack of connection, you have a lack of engagement
13:40 – Let others see your authenticity
14:22 – By building trust and serving as your authentic self, you can work toward stronger results with your team
15:57 – You need self-awareness to find the best ways to improve and serve
17:27 – Get below the surface to know yourself, including your identities, beliefs, and values
20:20 – If you don't deal with what's in your head, it will impact your heart
22:26 – By building relationships, you can impact others and drive change
25:45 – Vulnerability is a superpower
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
29 min - Leadership Clarity in Manufacturing for Manufacturing Managers: Setting Direction Through Intentional Action with Jon Giganti #103
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
29 min - Workplace Recognition in Manufacturing for Plant Directors: Why Being Seen and Seeing Others Builds Stronger Teams with Corban David Jenai #102
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
28 min - Authentic Leadership in Manufacturing for Manufacturing Supervisors: Turning Relationships into Real Results with Kathy Miller #101
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
24 min - Manufacturing Team Performance: Winning the Day Through Daily Leadership Habits with Eric Berdan #100
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
31 min - Culture + Trust for HR Leaders: Being Relentlessly Helpful to Strengthen Relationships and Drive Engagement with Susan Baier #99
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
28 min - eadership + Productivity for Manufacturing Leaders: Writing a Must-Read to Clarify Your Message and Expand Your Influence with AJ Harper #98
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
26 min - Leadership Communication in Manufacturing for Training Managers: Using "Yes, And" to Improve Engagement and Team Performance with Michael Port #97
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
35 min - Authentic Leadership Presence in Manufacturing for Department Heads: Dressing with Confidence to Strengthen Credibility with Morgan Wider #96
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
31 min
About Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0
From the publisher's feed
Whether you're a plant manager, operations manager, or frontline supervisor, you'll discover practical strategies for lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. We cover critical topics like workforce development, employee retention, safety culture, and change management—helping you navigate challenges like labor shortages, skills gaps, and the evolving manufacturing landscape including Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing.
Trevor Blondeel invites guests from the manufacturing industry (and beyond!) to have candid discussions about leadership and share stories from a place of experience, transparency, and authenticity. You'll find new ways to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have acheiving greater retention, productivity, and profits.