In this episode of the Manufacturers' Network Podcast, Glenn Akramoff sheds light on the need for more accountability, fairness, and consistency in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of assessing and improving workplace culture, structure, systems, and processes. He shares examples and practical insights on creating human-centered workplace cultures in the manufacturing industry. The conversation touches on strategies for fostering a winning team, the impact of generational diversity in the workplace, purpose-driven leadership, and the significance of putting humans at the center of every organization. The hosts emphasize the importance of recognizing signs of a dysfunctional environment and share personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate key points.

Lessons Learned:

1. Accountability, fairness, and consistency are essential elements of a positive workplace culture.

2. Leaders must actively assess and improve workplace culture, structure, and processes to create a cohesive and motivated team.

3. Recognizing the impact of generational diversity in the workplace is crucial for adapting leadership and motivation strategies.

4. Purpose-driven leadership and human-centered cultures positively influence decision-making, product quality, customer experience, and overall organizational success.

5. Recognizing signs of a dysfunctional environment, such as high turnover and communication issues, is crucial for addressing workplace culture and building strong relationships in the organization.

Key Themes:

- Creating a human-centered workplace culture

- Strategies for fostering a winning team

- Generational diversity in the workplace

- Purpose-driven leadership

- Importance of personal growth and support for leaders

- Recognizing signs of a dysfunctional environment

In this episode of the Manufacturers' Network Podcast, Tom Geraghty shares his journey from a diverse background in technology, healthcare, aviation, and government to becoming a passionate advocate for creating high-performing teams through psychological safety.

- The concept of psychological safety is about creating an environment where individuals feel safe to speak up, share concerns, and make mistakes without fear of retribution.

- Tom emphasizes the universal applicability of psychological safety across different domains, such as aviation, healthcare, tech, and manufacturing, highlighting the fundamental human dynamics underlying it.

Lesson Learned:

- The importance of creating conditions in which people and teams can thrive, recognizing that high-performing teams require a foundation of psychological safety.

- The impact of disruptive events such as the Tenerife air disaster and the Challenger disaster on the development and implementation of safety programs, promoting the critical role of psychological safety in safety-critical domains.

Fun Facts:

- Tom shares examples of how organizations use creative approaches such as "failure walls" and "f-up Fridays" to normalize failure, encourage candid discussions, and promote a culture of psychological safety.

- Reframing work as experiments and learning opportunities, rather than merely delivering a product, highlights the process-oriented nature of work and the potential for continuous improvement through psychological safety.

Key Takeaways:

- The need for leaders to model the behavior of psychological safety, prioritize learning from failures, and create mechanisms for open communication and feedback.

- The potential for psychological safety to drive improvements not only in safety and quality but also in employee retention, inclusivity, and diversity.

- The reassurance that there is no limit to psychological safety, and it is essential to address underlying problematic beliefs or attitudes that may surface in a safe environment.

Overall, the episode provides a compelling perspective on the transformative power of psychological safety and its potential to foster safe and innovative work environments in manufacturing and other industries.

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network podcast, host Lisa Ryan interviews Scott Mackenzie, managing partner and founder of Industrial Talk Media. Scott is a passionate industry educator who shares his journey into the industrial sector and discusses his role in shaping the future of manufacturing and construction industries through technological advancements.

Scott Mackenzie is the founder of a successful maintenance company, but he realized that he needed to find new opportunities to open doors for his business. After brainstorming and noodling on ideas, he recognized that maintenance wasn't a high passion topic for people. However, during a drive back from a client, he was listening to a podcast and had a lightbulb moment. This led him to pivot his business focus and pursue new opportunities and pathways for growth.

Key Themes and Lessons Learned:

- Scott's background in maintenance and the realization that nobody wanted to talk about maintenance led him to the idea of starting a podcast.

- He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning to keep up with the rapidly changing industrial landscape and adapt to technological advancements.

- The significance of partnerships and collaboration in navigating the fast-paced changes in industry, and the pivotal role of people in driving future innovations and solutions.

- The critical need for industrial leaders to step out of their comfort zones and embrace marketing and storytelling to attract younger generations and showcase the value of working in the industry.

- Scott's memorable podcast conversations with industry professionals who have pioneered terms like "use case," "digital twin," and innovations in augmented reality, offering a deeper understanding of technological advancements in the industrial sector.

Fun Facts and Actionable Ideas:

- Scott shares his discovery channel dream of sharing knowledge and expertise with the industrial community through his learning management system, offering practical courses on topics like Google Ads and marketing strategies.

- He encourages industry professionals to embrace digital transformation and online learning portals to stay informed about latest industry trends and advancements.

- Scott's practical approach resonates with his personal experience and learning, making his marketing superpower a valuable resource for manufacturers as they navigate through the evolving landscape of industry marketing and sales.

These show notes capture Scott Mackenzie's insights on technological advancements, future challenges, and the importance of continuous learning and collaboration within the industrial sector, providing actionable ideas for industry professionals to embrace and adapt to changes in the industry landscape.

Key words: industrial talk, industrial media, manufacturing, construction, industry educator, technology, innovation, automation, maintenance, podcast, trailblazers, out of the box thinkers, future of manufacturing, digital twin, augmented reality, learning management system, marketing, sales, education, collaboration, innovation, leadership, maintenance company, supply chain management, human element, industrial workforce, leadership, digital transformation, industrial processes, industrial sector