In manufacturing, it often feels like there's nothing more importance than performance. If they want to move up in their career, leaders are told to hit their targets, keep the line running, and solve problems as quickly as possible. But in reality, performance alone rarely drives real career growth. If you want to actually grow in your manufacturing career, it's time to put more emphasis on visibility, curiosity, and building stronger relationships.

Learn more in this episode with guest Susan M. Barber, a former Fortune 500 leader with over 25 years of experience at Kraft Heinz. She's also the author of The Visibility Factor: Break Through Your Fears, Stand in Your Own Power, and Become the Authentic Leader You Were Meant To Be, which helps leaders build authentic visibility, overcome imposter syndrome, and close the gap between performance and recognition. In this episode, she gives a behind-the-scenes look at some of the key lessons from The Visibility Factor, plus shares stories and insights manufacturing leaders can use to grow their careers.

1:40 – Performance matters in manufacturing, but career growth depends on more than just shop floor results
5:15 – Voice matters in leadership meetings
7:10 – Thoughtful questions are a powerful way for manufacturing leaders to build credibility and influence
10:45 – Louder voices often gain exposure over quiet high performers
12:55 - Leaders must go beyond their job descriptions to demonstrate readiness for the next level in manufacturing
15:05 - Trust, relationships, and visibility all play a role in how promotion decisions are made
16:55 - Ask for what you want and "do the job to get the job" before the title arrives
19:05 - The 10–30–60 framework highlights how performance, image, and exposure drive career success
22:45 – Psychological safety, authenticity, and confidence are key factors in leadership visibility
25:40 – By reflecting on past visibility successes and missed opportunities, leaders can understand what holds them back

Connect with Susan M. Barber

Visit her website
Connect on LinkedIn
Find her on Instagram and YouTube

Welcome back to previous guest Kathy Miller! Kathy is a member of the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame and has held leadership roles at General Motors, Delphi, and Rolls-Royce. She is also the co-author of Steel Toes and Stilettos and the author of a new book, MORE Is Better, which introduces practical frameworks for frontline plant leaders. She's an expert in blending academic research with real-word stories, and it's always great to hear her insights!

In this episode, Kathy draws on both her manufacturing experience and her master's degree in applied positive psychology to discuss the pressure and demands faced by modern manufacturing leaders. She also shares practical tools and frameworks today's leaders can use in their own plants to strengthen culture, boost engagement, and drive operational excellence without adding any extra layers of complexity.

1:22 – Representation and diversity strengthens manufacturing culture
3:02 – Positive psychology research is a valuable tool for frontline supervisors, plant managers, and shop floor leadership teams
5:03 – Strengthen manufacturing relationships through creative safety leadership and by supporting accountability without blame
7:22 – Authenticity improves team engagement and manufacturing retention, especially in high-stress environments
08:20 - Transitioning teams from command-and-control to inclusive lean leadership is essential for creating a continuous improvement culture
12:36 - Helping employees find meaning boosts employee engagement and manufacturing retention.
15:56 – Putting curiosity over compliances helps leaders avoid punitive approaches and improves performance conversations on the floor
21:15 – Creating psychological safety encourages employees to speak up early, which fuels continuous improvement culture and operational excellence
22:56 - Finding a balance between realistic optimism and toxic positivity is essential for credible manufacturing communication and decision-making
24:41 – Relationships are the core foundation of manufacturing teamwork
26:22 – Your mindset shapes manufacturing relationships and every interaction on the plant floor
28:37 – Active listening is one of the most effective tools for better coaching in manufacturing.

Connect with Kathy Miller
Visit her website and check out the MORE Mentor resources
Connect on LinkedIn
Buy MORE Is Better
Listen to her previous podcast episode

Strong manufacturing leadership isn't just about process improvement or hitting production targets. It's about how we show up for people on the shop floor—and if you're ready to transform your leadership and change how you show up for your team, the first step is leaning into discomfort.

Learn more with guest Reggie Davis, the founder of UpLift Coaching and Consulting and the author of Better Together: Embracing the Discomfort of Difference. With over two decades of leadership experience, Reggie helps people navigate the hard-but-necessary conversations they need to forge lasting connections and drive deeper change. In this episode, Reggie explores how leaning into tough conversations can strengthen manufacturing culture, team engagement, and employee retention. He also shares practical insights on coaching in manufacturing, building psychological safety, and developing stronger frontline leadership habits that drive both performance and trust.

From plant managers to supervisors, anyone responsible for production leadership or safety culture will take away new ways to improve communication, foster accountability, and create a more connected workplace where better people create better parts.

1:15 – Inclusive leadership and authentic communication improves teamwork, safety, and innovation
3:21 – Discomfort can be a valuable tool for growth
4:33 – Better people create better parts
5:19 – Great leaders focus on results and relationships
6:22 – When you welcome diverse perspectives, you drive teamwork and improve your processes
8:09 – For better conversations, replace "why" with "tell me more."
13:50 – Be aware of how everyday language impacts morale and inclusion on the plant floor
17:30 – Invest in your people through coaching, frontline leadership, and communication training
19:31 – Stay focused on growth, even when the path is uncomfortable
20:40 – Conversations and self-awareness are key to sustainable manufacturing innovation
22:06 – To drive continuous improvement culture, lead with humility and openness
26:39 – Always remember the human side of manufacturing excellence to build trust, reduce turnover, and create a stronger sense of belonging across teams

Connect with Reggie Davis
More about UpLift Coaching and Consulting
Buy his book

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