Mindfulness Manufacturing

What does a Taco Bell drive-thru have to do with manufacturing? Fast-food and manufacturing have more in common than you might think—and in her newest book Lessons from the Drive-Thru: Real Life Wisdom for Frontline Leaders, former Taco Bell general manager Monica Rothergy shares real-life stories to help leaders lead with ease, authenticity, and vulnerability, whether they’re working in a drive-thru or a manufacturing plant.

Monica recently came by the Mindfulness Manufacturing to talk more about her book and the career path that took her from a Taco Bell general manager to the first female chief operating officer and first LGBT executive for KFC US. In this episode, Monica also shares valuable insights for other frontlines leaders, including strategies for bringing more curiosity and vulnerability to leadership roles.

2:00 – Frontlines leaders often feel the need to jump in and fix problems themselves, rather than letting their team figure it out

4:00 – Shift your mindset to emphasize coaching and supporting, not micromanaging

7:00 – Practice servant leadership through supporting and recognizing your team

13:00 – Instead of just providing instructions, look for ways to observe and provide feedback

15:00 – When problems occur, have deep and curious conversations to find the root of the issue

19:00 – Training is often seen as the problem, but a lack of support can also lead to performance issues

22:00 – All employees are unique and have different standards, so be curious to find out the kind of support and recognition they need

Connect with Monica Rothgery

Buy her book

Visit her website

In manufacturing, there’s a big link between productivity and mindfulness—and shifting to a more mindful approach just might be the key you need to unlock your team’s productivity, decreasing burnout, and creating a happier workplace for all.

Find out more in this episode with guest Sarah Ohanesian! Sarah is a professional keynote speaker and productivity consultant on a mission to fight burnout and increase happiness at work. She works with busy professionals who are career-driven but face work-life imbalance, stress, and overwhelm. In this episode, Sarah draws on her own experiences and background to discuss the link between productivity and mindfulness in manufacturing, plus offers actionable tips for intentional time management, combating burnout, and more!

2:36 – There is a difference between busyness and productivity

4:20 – You can improve your productivity with practices like setting daily intentions or saving time for end-of-day reflection and planning

12:10 – Follow Sarah’s COAT framework to clarify, organize, act, and take time

17:10 – To save time and be more productive, figure out which tasks are the most important and set clear priorities

18:32 – If you have a to-do list, keep it in a single, trusted location

18:40 – Be intentional with your schedule and time and don’t be afraid to say no to requests

21:14 – Allowing time to rest plays a key role in creating sustainable, long-term productivity

Connect with Sarah Ohanesian

Visit her website

Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

There’s power in your people—and if you learn to harness it, it can transform your organization! Learn more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Hugh Hornsby, the vice president of Everflow Supplies. With a long career and a remarkable track record of turning around struggling businesses—and his own unique journey of surviving a life-changing head injury—Hugh has great stories and insights. In his episode, he shares more about the success of Everflow and his personal journey, and gives insights leaders can use to transform their hiring process, practice everyday gratitude, and find their team’s hidden gifts.

2:27 – Everyone has a unique gift, which you can find by overcoming labels and looking for their personal potential

5:52 – Reframe the way you see others and yourself

6:25 – With a more progressive mindset, you can find more potential in both others and yourself

11:21 – If you invest in your team, they’ll invest in your organization

14:13 – Hire for personality and to find the right cultural fit, not just because someone has a strong resume

15:35 – The hiring process should be curious, not transactional and restrictive 

19:30 – Overcome your terror barrier

24:47 – Every day, find time for a gratitude check

27:00 – To transform your team, start by looking at the story you tell yourself

Connect with Hugh Hornsby

Learn more about Everflow Supplies

Connect on LinkedIn

Read my book review of Think and Grow Rich  

What’s the secret to retaining your team members and creating an organization where people love to work? DigiKey, an electronic component manufacturing organization in Thief River Falls, Minnesota has it all figured out—and Shane Zutz, DigiKey’s vice president of human resources, is here to share the stories and insights behind DigiKey’s success!

In this episode, Shane shares stories highlighting the importance of curiosity, empathy, and leadership presence, and offers simple-yet-powerful strategies manufacturing leaders can put into action to build trust, accountability, and stronger connections at their own plant.

5:12 – Building a better organization starts with being present and making personal connections

8:13 – If your organization is in a small community, making personal connections is extremely important

9:00 – To find curious ways to engage your team, one strategy is to create a list of questions to ask

13:30 - With a strong foundation, you’ll be better equipped to tackle challenges or crises

15:11 - There is a lot of value in simple gestures, like greeting your team in the morning

18:12 - Personalization goes a long way

22:41 Show care and concern for your team members

Connect with Shane Zutz

Learn more about Digikey

Connect with Shane on LinkedIn and reach out to get added 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.

Are your team members “houseplants” or “trees?” It might sound like a strange question, but knowing the answer is the key to retaining your best employees, strengthening your team, and transforming your organization.

In this episode, learn about identifying—and nurturing—your houseplant and tree team members, plus hear other great insights on improving retention, communicating with your team, and showing up as a more emotionally intelligent leader with guest Cara Silletto. Cara is the founder, president, and chief retention office of Magnet Culture, a partner in helping organizations reduce turnover and create cultures where teams succeed and thrive.

2:49 – Some team members are trees, who stay with your company for a long time, while others are houseplants who needs more attention and support

3:23 – To retain your team members, understand the differences between your tree and houseplant employees

5:46 – With a diverse team, you need to approach different team members based on their different needs

8:10 – When you treat employees well, they are more likely to stay with your company

10:14 – Retaining your team members and providing support means adapting as a leader

12:47 – To retain employees, put a stronger emphasis on training, mentoring, and supporting your new hires from their first day

16:39 – Younger team members are more likely to bring their whole selves to work

24:02 – Leaders and managers should use continuous learning to improve their skills and gain a stronger understanding of their roles

25:47 – With a diverse team, you can’t use the same rewards and recognitions for all employees

26:53 – To understand your team better, practice curiosity and active listening

Connect with Cara Silletto

Connect on LinkedIn

Learn more about Magnet Culture

Find special resources from Magnet Vault

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.

We all love giving advice! But when advice is your default as a leader, you can fall into an “advice trap” that actually crushes curiosity, creates disconnect, and prevents your team from finding productive outcomes.

Bestselling author Michael Bungay Stanier (MBS) tackles this subject in his newest book The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious & Change the Way You Lead Forever. In this episode, MBS shares some of the key lessons from the advice trap and his other books, including lessons and insights leaders can use to change their mindset, grow their curiosity, and create great new habits for building curiosity.

2:17 – With more curiosity, you can engage your people, boost morale and retention, and create a thriving organization

3:31 – Slow down in your rush to provide immediate advice

4:16 – As a leader, shift away from making advice your default response

5:13 – With curiosity, you can become a more strategic leader

6:11 – Defaulting to giving advice is often an ingrained habit

6:48 – When you start being more curious, you let others shine

7:17 – Curiosity can also strengthen your relationship with your family and others outside of work

8:40 – Forming new curiosity habits can take time and practice

9:47 - If you always give answers and advice, your team can become over-dependent, more disconnected, and less productive

10:48 – Through more curiosity, you and your team can find the purpose of your work

12:22 – While practicing curiosity and other new skills, approach it with patience and grace for yourself

13:28 – Be specific and deliberate in building your coaching habit

14:13 – Your team are your allies

15:19 – Instead of answering right away, stay in a place of curiosity a little bit longer

16:53 – Ask curious questions to find the root cause of issues within your team

18:48 – Asking questions can be more effective than giving advice

20: 11 – Your job isn’t to come up with the best answer, but to help your team come up with the right answer

21:42 – To practice curiosity, pay attention to your body language

Connect with Michael Bungay Stanier

Visit his website and download chapter one of The Coaching Habit

Learn more about Box of Crayons

Read my book reports of The Coaching Habit

What goes into launching a brand-new manufacturing plant? A successful greenfield site is about more than finding the right space or getting the right equipment—you also have to pay attention to the people you’re hiring and the tone you’re setting as a leader.

In this episode, take a journey through the steps of a greenfield site with Daniel Knecht! Dan is the solar project director for NSG Group, one of the world’s largest glass manufacturers. In his role, he focuses on strategic projects to support the renewal energy market. In this story-filled episode, Dan talks about his unique experiences of launching a new plant for NSG, and shares insight other manufacturing leaders can use to build and support their teams, improve their behavior, and bring transformative change to their organization.

4:04 – While manufacturing requires many technical skills, it’s still all about people and connection

4:55 – If you’re a technically minded person, you might need to shift your behavior to form stronger connections and learn to lead through others

5:22 – At a new plant, choosing and building a new team is an important part of the process

6:13 – As a leader, you want to hire a team who can respectfully challenge you, not just people who think exactly like you

7:27 – Changing how you show up for your team starts with authenticity and vulnerability  

9:45 – Show up for your team with action, not just words

10:23 – Even with a large team, you can form great connections through intention and curiosity

12:54 – At a new plant, it’s imperative to set the right tone

14:38 – Manage your emotions and use patience to navigate challenges and connect with your team

19:09 – How you show up in a moment of adversity says a lot about you as a leader

20:05 – You lead how you’re led, so be aware of behaviors you might have picked up from others

20:40 – Take responsibility for your role as a leader in your organization

21:53 – Hire the right people and invest in them

23:20 – You can’t successfully address every issue your team brings to you, but you can approach the issue with an open mind

24:14 – To get a better understanding of the pulse of your floor, create a safe space for your team

Connect with Daniel Knecht

Find him on LinkedIn

Learn more about NSG

In manufacturing, retention and recruitment are two of the biggest challenges. To attract great talent and keep your best team members, you need to set yourself apart from the competition—and you can start by improving your response times!

In this episode, join guest Jay Baer for a deep-dive into the tools and procedures you need to improve efficiency, strengthen your communications, and bridge the “uncertainty gap” in your organization.

Jay Baer is a researcher and advisor specializing in business growth and customer experience. He’s also a seventh-generation entrepreneur, the author of seven bestselling books, the creator of six multi-million dollar companies, and a popular tequila influencer and educator.

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.

Results matters! Whether you’re looking at safety, quality, or productivity, you and your team want to know how you’re performing. But when it comes to people, it can be difficult to measure your return on investment.

In this episode, guest Martin Low walks us through the best strategies for measuring your team, plus shares great insights on why people matter most in your organization. Martin is the founder and CEO of On Plane Consulting, where he helps organizations transform and improve by building and leveraging their people capabilities. He also has over 20 years of human resources experiences at companies like Amazon and Blue Apron, and brings great insights on how to measure your team, clarify your processes, and create a culture where everyone shows up at their best.

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]

Stories resonate with people, which makes them a valuable tool for sharing information, seeking new outcomes and connecting with your team. So let’s bring more storytelling to the manufacturing floor!

In this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, meet guest Trevor Perry. Trevor is an award-winning speaker, author, and perspective-changer, who uses his unique perspectives and love of storytelling to help others find their own light and improve their influence in the world. In this episode, Trevor shares his journey of finding his storytelling passion, and discusses why leaders should learn and practice storytelling skills.

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.