Are you leading like a thermometer or a thermostat?

If you find yourself reacting to problems instead of setting the tone for your team, you might be acting like a thermometer. But with practice and the right mindset, you can become a thermostatic leader who sets the climate for your whole team or organization.

Learn more in this episode with guest Sheri Miller Holt, the author of Thermostatic Leadership: The Quiet Power of Creating Balance and Influence. Drawing on her years of experience in organizational development and leadership training, Sheri unpacks the true meaning of thermostatic leadership, plus shares tips manufacturing leaders can use to balance firmness with compassion, create shared accountability, and build stronger, more empathetic workplaces where people want to do their best.

2:20 - Leaders must decide whether they simply react like a thermometer or adjust and influence like a thermostat. 4:00 - Thermostatic leaders empathize, mobilize, and shift the energy in a room toward positive outcomes 6:50 - Real organizational change begins when leaders change their own behaviors and mindsets 8:30 - Leaders should remove barriers that prevent people from performing at their best 10:50 - The biggest obstacle to better leadership is simplicity — people think it has to be more complex than it really is 11:30 - Knowing your team personally builds trust and motivation 12:40 – Sheri's Dr. GRAK framework focuses on shared results, resources, accountability, and agreed-upon consequences 14:20 - Both leaders and their teams should share outcomes, both good and bad 16:30 - When people understand shared consequences, they self-manage and become more invested in team success 22:40 – Shift your "you" statements to "I" statements to avoid accusations and foster empathy 24:50 - Compassionate leadership doesn't weaken accountability — it deepens it. When people feel cared for, they perform better and take ownership

Connect with Sheri Holt Find her on LinkedIn and Facebook Buy her book

Change can be daunting, but learning how to effectively navigate uncertainty and discomfort is essential for leaders who want to grow their mindset, shift from panic to curiosity, and show up as their best selves for their team.

In this episode, take a deep dive into the psychology of change with Anne Bonney, a certified speaking professional, leadership expert, and TEDx speaker who specializes in helping leaders navigate change. She covers topics like how leaders can shift their mindset to thrive in uncertainty, how to manage the fear of the unknown, and why understanding the human brain's reaction to change is key to effective leadership.

2:10 – Our brains react to uncertainty by triggering fear in the amygdala, but we can contradict this by shifting our thinking into the prefrontal cortex 5:35 – To cultivate curiosity and self-awareness, leaders need to embrace discomfort and aversion 7:30 – Practice getting out of your comfort zone with small, low-risk actions 10:00 – In moments of stress or uncertainty, take a pause 12:45 – With trust-based leadership, you can attract and retain Gen Z talent 16:20 – Gen Z thinks differently than other generations, so you may need to shift your thinking to meet their needs 19:15 – In times of changes, leaders need to be self-aware 21:30 – You must model the behavior you want to see in your team

Connect with Anne Bonney Visit her website Listen to her podcast Listen to her Tedx Talk Connect on LinkedIn

If you want to change your results, you need to change your approach. These words of wisdom come from Maggie Harlow, the co-owner of Signarama Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky. With years of experience in the custom sign manufacturing industry, Maggie doesn't just talk about leadership—she lives it. She's also a keynote speaker and speaks on a range of topics, including visionary leadership, gratitude, and finding new approaches to problem-solving.

In this episode, Maggie shares more about her background in the sign industry and offers practical, transformative insights on what it really takes to balance quality, speed, and culture in a high-mix, low-volume environment.

3:06 – In high-stress environments, creativity and craftsmanship keep people engaged 6:08 – It is important to have communications between all departments 7:00 – When systemic issues occur, remember that it may be a focus issue, not a people problem 8:14 – Quality is the most important thing 9:17 – As a leader, if you want something to improve or change, you need to bring it to your team's attention 10:28 – When leadership is present on the shop floor, it shifts perception 11:41 – To get sales and production to truly collaborate, you may need a cultural shift 13:09 – To find healthy balances between departments, have honest conversations 14:35 – Focus on ownership, not blame 15:26 – When breakdowns occur, it's often because team members don't understand each other's realities 17:44 – Give your team space to try, fail, and grow within safe boundaries 20:00 – For honest problem-solving, assume everyone is doing their best

Connect with Maggie Harlow Find her on LinkedIn Visit her speaking website Learn more about Signarama Downtown

When your workplace includes baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z employees, it can seem impossible to keep everyone happy and fulfilled. In a multigenerational workplace, can you really create an environment where everyone feels supported, valued, and motivated?

It is possible—and in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, guest Michelle McCullough provides the insights and tools you need to drive engagement, trust, and emotional well-being across all generations. Michelle is a nationally recognized speaker, leadership expert, and workplace culture expert and has spent years researching how leaders can build more resilient, connected, and productive teams.

In this episode, Michelle shares key insights from her latest research, including how trust, support, and human connection can radically transform retention and performance on the shop floor. This episode will challenge you to think differently about what your team really needs.

2:50 – Emotional intelligence is especially important in a high-pressure industry like manufacturing 4:10 – Gen Z crave connection, purpose, and mental well-being in the workplace 6:30 – Older generations tend to prioritize stability, while younger generations want social connection 8:00 – When employees understand the impact of their work, they feel more connected and motivated 9:50 – Show an interest in your team member's lives outside of work 11:00 – Understand that different generations have different motivations 21:00 – Team building exercises can improve cohesion and morale 23:10 – Happiness and resilience training can improve mental health and team connection 24:15 – You should also understanding gender gaps in the workplace 27:50 - When trust is broken, it can be rebuilt through intentional actions like growth, vulnerability, and transparent communication. 29:00 - Employees are more likely to stay and be engaged when they feel supported and understood by their leaders.

Connect with Michelle McCullough Visit her website Follow @SpeakMichelle on social media

When you're dealing with a disengaged team or low morale on the manufacturing floor, a motivation team might sound like a myth. But with the right mindset and workplace environment, you can improve morale, performance, and engagement.

Learn more on the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast with guest Jim Pancero! Jim is a legendary sales and leadership coach and has over 40 years of experience working with manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution teams. In this episode, he shares insights on what truly motivates teams, touching on subjects like positive communication, building engagement, and more. If you're a leader looking to boost motivation, reduce negativity, and create a culture where people want to show up and give their best, you won't want to miss out on Jim's invaluable advice.

1:43 – You can't always motivate people, but you can create an environment for self-motivation 3:30 – Build self-worth, recognize contributions, and create a culture where people are comfortable to engage 6:23 – Offering meaningful benefits can drive retention and a sense of belonging 8:15 – The balance between positive and negative feedback directly influences motivation 12:27 – When you focus on problems rather than solutions, it hurts motivation 14:48 – Through positive affirmations, you shift the tone and drive a positive environment 18:03 – Immersive onboarding helps new team members foster connection and builds empathy across teams 19:32 – Be curious and separate system issues from personal blame in your daily plant operations

Connect with Jim Pancero Connect on LinkedIn Visit his websites at https://pancero.com/ or https://www.advancedsalesuniversity.com/ Find his videos on YouTube

Do you want drive results, retain your team, and create a culture where people show up and stick around? Then it's time to embrace the art of powerful questions! Through curious questions and intentional conversations, you can change the way people think and work.

Learn more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Chad Littlefield, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and the creator of We! Connect cards, which help leaders ask powerful questions and cultivate deeper conversations. Chad shares stories that highlight the power of questions, unpacks the struggles many leaders face when it comes to genuine dialogue, and offers actionable tips for using curiosity and intention to engage your team. If you're ready to learn how to drive better results, ask stronger questions, and build a workplace where people want to stay and grow, you won't want to miss this conversation.

1:02 – In manufacturing, we often struggle with creating genuine conversations 2:18 – Intentional plays a critical role in building safe conversations 4:17 – When initiative is met with gratitude, it can lead to long-term loyalty and promotion 8:14 – Expressing intentions directly creates clarity and stronger connections 14:40 – People want to work, they just don't want to work for someone who doesn't care about them 16:35 – Leadership at the top influencers your entire organization 17:59 – Ask the second question to take a conversation to a deeper level 21:20 – Use open-ended questions to deepen reflection and learning

Connect with Chad Littlefield Watch his videos on YouTube Visit his website and find free resources

Are you ready to handle a crisis at your manufacturing plant? Find out in this episode, which is all about crisis communication and how to lead under pressure.

This episode's guest in Angela Billings, a seasoned strategic communication with over 20 years of experience in the Air Force—including during September 11th, when she was stationed at the Pentagon. She is also the author of Command the Crisis: Navigate Chaos with Battle-Tested Public Relations and Communication Strategies. Angela shares gripping stories from her career and firsthand experience at the Pentagon, plus offers practical lessons for proactive crisis planning, from establishing clear communications to empowering your team members. Whether you're on the shop floor or in the C-suite, this is your chance to learn the skills you need to confidently navigate a crisis.

1:00 – In any field, you need to anticipate crisis and be prepared to manage and own them 6:46 – Having a chain of command and clear communication channels are crucial for effective crisis management 9:12 –The proactive connection of supervisory teams is essential to crisis management 10:14 – To prepare, do tabletop exercises to act out likely and worst-case scenarios 12:04 – All employees should act as ambassadors for their organization 15:05 – Media training can be a strong tool for employees at all levels, not just executives 16:03 – To safeguard your brand, own your stories 17:32 – Even everyday issues need transparent communications 19:30 – Consider the role of public communications channels 21:21 – Apply the same urgency to communications that you do to everyday production challenges on the floor

Connect with Angela Billings Visit her website Learn more about Command the Crisis Find her on LinkedIn

In modern manufacturing, many employees want more than just a paycheck—to truly feel engaged and show up as their best selves at work, they need to feel like they're part of something bigger. This means that if you really want to build momentum, drive greater results, and find higher employee retention rates, you need to transform the way you interact with your team.

How do you do this? It all starts with curiosity and storytelling! I recently spoke with a storytelling expert: David Sermersheim, a seasoned team leader, public speaker, and the founder of Celebrate Audio, a podcasting service that allows people to share their own unique stories. In this episode, David shares his philosophy for why storytelling and curiosity leads to stronger teams, plus gives actionable insights leaders can use to empower their teams and make stories a central part of their leadership.

1:33 – Through personal and professional commitment, you can transfer customer-focused strategies to employee-focused leadership 2:51 – Autonomy plays a key role in employee retention rates 6:22 – There are many creative ways to connect with remote team members, like starting a podcast 7:35 – During new hire orientations, embed core company values and the "why" behind your organization 10:35 – Employees need to connect with something beyond just your mission statement 11:51 – Make sure your job postings reflect your organization's value and purposes 13:18 – Connect orientation, behaviors, and metrics to your organization's core values 13:53 – Quarterly reviews and structured feedback sessions can improve job satisfaction 18:20 360-degree feedback is important for self-awareness and leadership 22:02 – Be genuinely interested in the people you lead and take the time to understand everyone's unique story

Connect with David Semersheim Learn more about Celebrate Audio Email David at [email protected]

Are you tapping into your team's full potential?

As the manufacturing industry continues to grow, many leaders find themselves searching for ways to engage their teams, drive productivity, and create a culture where everyone shows up ready to reach their full potential. In this episode, learn more with Christopher Santomassimo, a lawyer and founding partner of Outside General Counsel (OGC) Solutions. With OGC Solutions, Chris assists companies with a wide range of legal and business issues, from employment claims to compliance counseling.

With over 30 years of legal experience, Chris has many great lessons and insights for handling personnel issues, fostering accountability, and unlocking the untapped potential of your current workforce. In this episode, he shares how leaders can use transparent accountability to engage their teams and unlock the potential of their current workforce, even in an ever-changing industry like manufacturing.

2:30 – When companies hold people accountable in a transparent and uplifting way, they tend to see higher engagement and productivity 2:58 – Accountability is about building trust and team spirit through setting clear goals and expectations 7:10 – By listening to employees and celebrating their contributions, you can boost morale and retention 11:52 – Transparency fosters ownership and reduces negative incidents, like HR issues 14:47 – When employees feel like they're part of a team, it drives productivity and lessens workplace conflicts 16:37 – Accountability is about coaching and support, not penalization 19:40 – For long-term improvement, you need consistent practices at all levels of your organization

Connect with Christopher Santomassimo Listen to his Podcast Connect on LinkedIn Learn More About OGC Solutions

In manufacturing, we're all about meeting goals, staying productive, and keeping up with new and ever-changing technology and machinery. If you're a busy manufacturing leader, it might feel impossible to balance your goals and your role in your plant with setting boundaries, prioritizing your energy, and avoiding burn-out.

But there is a way to create a sustainable path toward your goals—and you can find out more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Kathy Oneto. Kathy is a consultant, advisor, facilitator, and executive coach, who shares powerful lessons on how professionals can avoid burn-out, align their ambitions, and design sustainable paths toward success. She's also the author of Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. In this episode, Kathy talks more about her book and shares actionable strategies for managing the intense pressures of manufacturing, establishing personal boundaries, maintaining energy, and finding real meaning at work.

2:43 – With the rise of modern technology, we often feel like we have to be "on" all the time, which leads to overload 4:08 – Humans can't operate like machines 7:52 – In manufacturing, pressures like hitting targets and dealing with setbacks can quickly became unsustainable 8:36 – To find sustainability and align your ambitions, you need to make the right choices for yourself 10:00 – Just like machines, manufacturing leaders also need regular, preventative maintenance 16:06 – Language plays a key role in helping people clarify what really matters to them 17:09 Practice micro-reflections and intentional focus 19:49 – Learn to move beyond the stigma of taking breaks and allowing time for recovery

Connect with Kathy Oneto

Connect on LinkedIn Visit her website and sign up for Kathy's newsletter Tune in to her podcast