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

When there’s a leadership shift in a manufacturing organization it leads to major change—and brings its own unique challenges like new team dynamics, cultural shifts, and general growing pains. With the right approach, a change in leadership can also lead to valuable opportunities for growth.

Just ask Joe Carrothers and Kristin Rivait from SWT Group. Joe is the president of SWT Group who moved from being the CFO to being the president of the organization, and Kristin is SWT Group’s HR director who worked closely with Joe during this unique leadership transition. In this story-filled episode, Joe and Kristin give a peek behind the scenes of SWT Group’s leadership transition. They give a honest look at both their success and struggles, offer insights on building trust and advocating for a stronger culture, and share why curiosity and patience are the keys to turning a leadership transition into an opportunity for transformative change.

1:07 – Some leaders struggle with being results-focused and being seen as unapproachable by teams
2:02 – During a time of transition, executive coaching can be a valuable tool
2:54 – How do you quantify the ROI of people-focused initiatives?
6:15 – If you want to grow and learn, you need to be willing to have tough respectful conversations
8:26 – Shift away from pre-formulated answers to truly listening and responding
11:17 – Patience and curiosity are key ingredients to a strong partnership
16:29 – When there is transparence and humility at the top of an organization, it contributes to a more accountable and open culture
18:00 – By being present on the floor as a leader you create a stronger sense of unity and collaboration
21:51 – It is important to be your authentic self and build true relationships with your team
28:13 – In times of leadership transition, practice patience and perseverance

Connect with Joe Carrothers and Kristin Rivait

Learn More about SWT Group

On the manufacturing floor, you have dozens of everyday opportunities for negotiation, from talking with a team member about an upcoming pay raise to trying to get a better deal from a supplier. In your everyday negotiations, what can you do to say less, get more, and make effective changes?

You need to master the art of negotiation—and in this episode, guest Fotini Iconomopoulos is here to share the tools you need to know. Fotini Iconomopoulos is a master communicator and negotiator based in Toronto. She’s also the author of Say Less Get More: Unconventional Negotiation Techniques to Get What You Want. In this episode, she shares more about the power of negotiation and share actionable insights for unlocking your negotiating greatness.

1:00 – Learning how to negotiate and communicate is an important skill for manufacturing leaders

3:20 – Negotiation plays a key role in many manufacturing scenarios, like working with suppliers and retailers

4:25 – Be mindful of negotiation opportunities in your everyday interactions

6:44 – Negotiation isn’t just about getting your own way, but about changing the thinking of another person

7:00 – To improve your negotiation skills, stay curious and ask questions

7:34 – When negotiation, think about your own emotions and the emotions of the other person

9:19 – Practice striking the balance between logic and emotions in your negotiations

15:12 – Use language that aids cooperation and mutual benefit

18:54 – Opening with an extreme can set you up for a success negotiation, but be sure to consider the ethics involved

21:37 – People are often motivated more by what they might lose, rather than what they stand to gain

22:22 – Silence can also be a powerful tool in negotiations

Connect with Fotini Iconomopoulos

Vist her website

Learn more about Say Less, Get More

Read my book report