Trust is the antidote to so many common issues that can occur on the manufacturing floor. But how can you build trust—both in yourself and with your team? Find out in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Justin Patton! Justin is a certified speaker professional and leadership presence expert, who challenges leaders to reimagine how they lead, love, and communicate. He’s also the author of Your Road to Yes: How to Build Trust in Yourself and With Others and the recently-released The High-Impact Manager: Your Blueprint for Bringing Out the Best in Your Team.

In this episode, Justin talks about the vital role trust plays in improving your leadership, empowering your team, and showing up as your best self, and shares why transparency, tact, and togetherness are the three key foundations you need to improve how you show up and built trust in your relationships.

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

4:03 – Trust is your biggest competitive advantage

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

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

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

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

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

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

16:21 – Trust is built in small moments

17:46 – Find the balance between oversharing and transparency

20:51 – Trust does not leave people second guessing

21:20 – Choose discomfort over resentment

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

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

Connect with Justin Patton

Visit his website

Learn more about his books

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

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

11:37 – Compassion is the competitive edge

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with Karin J. Lund

Visit her website

Thanks for Listening!

Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

When a mistake occurs on the plant floor, your mind might jump to one question: who caused this issue, and should I write them up for their mistake? But there’s a more productive approach you could be taking—and in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, guest Dr. Jake Mazulewicz breaks it all down!

With a background as a firefighter, EMT, and military paratrooper, Jake knows the challenges of high-hazard industries, and works with organizations to reduce errors and create safer, more reliable workplace environments. In this episode, Jake shares why you can’t procedularize everything, including the way you handle errors and accidents, and offers great insights and stories about how to use connection and curiosity to improve safety, address errors, and strengthen your organization.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15:36 – Tacit knowledge gets shared through conversations

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

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

21:58 – Debriefing also plays a central role

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

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

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

Connect with Jake Mazulewicz

Find him on Linkedin

Visit his website

In 2009, total engine loss forced US Airways Flight 1549 to make an emergency crash landing in New York City’s Hudson River—and thanks to the quick actions of the pilot, flight crew, and passengers, all 155 people on board made it safely off the plane. Now known as “the miracle on the Hudson,” this harrowing incident offers up important lessons on staying calm under pressure, coping with traumatic challenges, and making every moment count.

To learn more, let’s hear from a Flight 1549 survivor! Dave Sanderson is a nationally recognized leadership speaker and bestselling author, who draws from his inspirational story of survival to encourage others to do the right thing and find healthy ways to cope with their own struggles and adversity. In this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, Dave shares his own Miracle on the Hudson story, and offers powerful insights he learned from being the last passenger off Flight 1549!

2:18 – Dave shares his Flight 1549 story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with Dave Sanderson

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

Connect on LinkedIn to see new blog content

In many manufacturing organizations, company values can be seen in plaques on the walls, but don’t show up in the behavior and language used on the shop floor. How can we get core values off the walls and into action? Find out in this episode with guest Adam Hill!

Adam is the nine-figure CEO of a 4th generation family business, as well as a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and host of the top-rated podcast Flow Over Fear. Throughout his work, he helps leaders and other high achievers rise above fear and realize their ultimate potential in leadership and life. In this episode, Adam shares why core values are so important to organizations—and why holding tight to outdated ideals can cause restriction instead of growth, plus offers insights and lessons leaders can use to make sure their core values are showing up in their culture and behavior.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24:00 – Great results can arise from challenging conversations

Connect with Adam Hill

Visit his website

Listen to his Flow Over Fear podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16:25 – A positive team starts with positive leadership

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

20:23 – You need both love and accountability

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

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

Connect with Jon Gordon

Visit his website

Learn More about The Energy Bus and his other books

Read my previous book report on The Energy Bus

Connect on LinkedIn and social media

Hear Jon's podcast with Alan Mullally

“I’m great in my role and have valuable information to share . . . so why doesn’t anyone want to work with me?” If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, this podcast with guest Karine Leblanc is for you! Karine Leblanc is a bestselling author and international public speaker who uses her unique engineering background to help technical professionals bridge the bridge between technical brilliance and human connection. In this episode, Karine shares her personal story of discovering the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence,

4:10 – In any role, there is much more to do that simply learn the technical role of your job

5:00 – By having a mentor or someone else you trust in your organization, you can gain valuable feedback and insights

6:18 – To better yourself through feedback, you need to be ready to hear feedback and make it clear to your team that you’re open to listening to them

8:30 – When you work on yourself and improve your self-awareness, it can have a positive impact on all levels of your information, including your relationships with clients

9:45 – Emotional intelligence is not about being happy all the time, but learning to be self-aware of your own emotions and behaviors

10:42 – Through being intentional conversations with your team, you can still find productive outcomes and dynamics even when you’re not at your emotional best

11:51 – Have the courage to be vulnerable

15:05 – By being self-aware and intentional, you can learn your own behavioral signals and find the best ways to navigate challenging situations

16:18 – Using emotional intelligence, you can also learn other people’s behavioral signals and triggers, and find the best way to communicate with them

18:12 – If you’re stuck, all you need is a fresh perspective

19:09 – To find new perspectives and feedback, take a pause and zoom out

21:23 – Through simple and honest dialogue, you can improve safety and find more productive results

22:37 – When you combine technical skills with human skills, magic happens

Connect with Karine Leblanc

Visit her website

Connect on LinkedIn

There’s a four-letter word you should avoid on the manufacturing floor . . . and it’s not the one you think! In this episode, hear from guest Shawn Rhodes on why hope is the four-letter word you should remove from your processes. With a background as a war correspondent, Shawn knows firsthand how environments can quickly change, and now serves as a speaker, author, and international expert helping others learn how to pivot when change enters their plans. In this episode, Shawn discusses why hope shouldn’t be part of your strategy on the manufacturing floor, and pulls from his unique background to share actionable ways to replace hope in your organization and operations.

2:58 – If you rely on hope and wait for your environment to change, it can spell failure

3:15 – Identify where you’re using hope in your plans, then replace it with something else

5:08 – As a leader, replacing hope starts with changing your mindset

6:03 – To replace hope, identify areas where issues could occur, then work to address the issues

8:50 – By making small changes, you can eliminate bigger issues and free up more time and resources for yourself and your team

11:18 – By changing your mindset to remove hope, you will also create a positive standard for your team and organization

13:51 – Take time to monitor your environment and assesses what is and isn’t working

15:07 – Set objectives and figure out what you need to do to reach them

18:40 – As a leader, your biggest concern should be living up to your potential and fully showing up in how you serve

21:05 – Replace hope with systems and processes

21:53 – Take ownership and think about what you could do differently as a leader and how you can put those changes into action

25:16 – Have the courage to take a pause or briefly shut down operations, and it will save major time and stress down the line

27:30 – If you put in the work to replace hope and improve your leadership, success will find you

Connect with Shawn Rhodes

Find him on LinkedIn

Learn more about Shawn’s book Pivot Point

Do you want to improve relationships at your organization and change the way you show up for your team? It all starts with self-awareness . . . and in this episode, guest Zovig Garboushian is here to show you the tips you need to become a self-awareness champion!

With years of experience in brand marketing, management consulting, and leadership development, Zovig now puts her passion and experience to use at Boldness Ablaze, a boutique professional firm that helps leaders overcome personal limitations and find authentic success. In this episode, Zovig delves into the important topic of self-awareness and shares her favorite tips on how leaders can use skills like curiosity and compassion to grow their self-awareness, form healthier connections, and find the life they want to have.

2:30 – Self-awareness is the key to having the kind of life you want to have

2:50 – It is also about the ongoing and evolving relationship you have with yourself

7:20 – Through self-awareness, you develop the ability to notice and change when something in your life feels incongruent with what you want for yourself

8:40 – The more we connect to ourselves, the more we behave in our natural ways

9:12 – Our essence is our unique way of showing up and adding value to the world

11:24 – Self-awareness also requires you to attend to yourself and practice self-care

13:25 – One way to practice self-awareness is to take small moments throughout your day to pause and reflect on how you want to show up

16:43 – Another self-awareness tip is to observe yourself, your behavior, and your interactions and reactions

18:40 – By staying self-aware and reflecting on your own behavior, you can improve your relationships with others in your organization

19:48 – Showing up with self-awareness takes courage

20:18 – Everything we do for others begins with ourselves

20:35 – Self-awareness includes curiosity, compassion, and acceptance for ourselves

22:05 – You’re never going to treat someone else better than how you treat yourself

24:26 – You deserve to take time for yourself

Connect with Zovig Garboushian

Visit her website

Email [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn

What are the 3 P’s of success? Grab a cup of your favorite tea and find out in this episode with Tonia Jahshan! Tonia is the founder of Canadian loose leaf tea company Sipology, which skyrocketed to great levels of success after Tonia pitched her business on Dragons’ Den, the Canadian version of Shark Tank. Today, Sipology is one of the fastest growing companies in North America, and Tonia is one of the top entrepreneurs in Canada.

In this episode, Tonia gives a behind-the-scenes look at her experience on Dragons’ Den and shares why passion, purpose, and perseverance are the three ingredients you need to find your own great success.

2:18 – Tonia shares stories from her experience on Dragons’ Den

8:49 – When pitching a new idea, do your homework and know your audience

9:18 – Be transparent and show you truly care about your product or process

10:18 – Strong and long-lasting partnerships often start with a personal connection

12:04 – To drive change, you have to show up with passion

12:27 – The three P’s of success are passion, purpose, and perseverance

13:26 – If you’re not showing up with passion, others in your organization will feel it as well

16:24 – By setting boundaries and taking care of your own mental health, you can improve your mindset and how you positively show up for your team

18:52 – On the journey to success, you’re not alone and it’s okay to rely on your team and others in your life and organization

19:28 – If you’re not passionate about w hat you’re doing or feel like you’re lost your purpose, reconsider and rework

Connect with Tonia Jahshan

Learn more about Sipology

Connect with Tonia on Instagram or LinkedIn

Visit Tonia’s website