In manufacturing, many leaders try to use the same tools to address different problems. But just like a hammer won’t work for all projects around your house, your routine leadership approach might not work for all your team members. This means you need to go “beyond the hammer” and find ways to have deeper interactions with your team.

The hammer analogy comes from Beyond the Hammer: A Fresh Approach to Leadership, Culture, and Building High Performance Teams by Brian Gottleib. In this episode, Brian shares more about the lessons and insights in Beyond the Hammer, plus offers actionable insights manufacturing leaders can use to grow their relationships, create deeper connections, and improve culture in their organizations, from the top to the shop floor.

1:18 – Beyond the Hammer is an approachable, actionable book which uses a parable format to make a positive impact on leaders
2:38 – A leader’s mood and presence directly shapes their team’s culture and performance
3:34 – As a leader, be aware of the tone you’re getting for the rest of your team
6:24 – The ceiling of a business is limited by the ceiling of the people
8:56 – For true growth to occur, you need to focus on relationships and understanding how each team member’s work connects to a larger goal
12:10 – Be honest about your priorities and save time for self-growth and reflection
17:13 – To form relationships, your one-on-one conversations need to be deep and intentional
18:33 – Make your employees feel valued and they’ll be less likely to leave your organization
22:14 – While performance can be copied, culture cannot
24:05 – When teams believe in themselves and each other, it creates a stronger and more positive culture

Connect with Brian Gottleib
Visit his website
Connect on LinkedIn
Buy Beyond the Hammer – Brian recommends checking out the audiobook for a more personal connection
Read my book report on Beyond the Hammer