When you’re dealing with a disengaged team or low morale on the manufacturing floor, a motivation team might sound like a myth. But with the right mindset and workplace environment, you can improve morale, performance, and engagement.

Learn more on the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast with guest Jim Pancero! Jim is a legendary sales and leadership coach and has over 40 years of experience working with manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution teams. In this episode, he shares insights on what truly motivates teams, touching on subjects like positive communication, building engagement, and more. If you’re a leader looking to boost motivation, reduce negativity, and create a culture where people want to show up and give their best, you won’t want to miss out on Jim’s invaluable advice.

1:43 – You can’t always motivate people, but you can create an environment for self-motivation
3:30 – Build self-worth, recognize contributions, and create a culture where people are comfortable to engage
6:23 – Offering meaningful benefits can drive retention and a sense of belonging
8:15 – The balance between positive and negative feedback directly influences motivation
12:27 – When you focus on problems rather than solutions, it hurts motivation
14:48 – Through positive affirmations, you shift the tone and drive a positive environment
18:03 – Immersive onboarding helps new team members foster connection and builds empathy across teams
19:32 – Be curious and separate system issues from personal blame in your daily plant operations

Connect with Jim Pancero
Connect on LinkedIn
Visit his websites at https://pancero.com/ or https://www.advancedsalesuniversity.com/
Find his videos on YouTube

Do you want drive results, retain your team, and create a culture where people show up and stick around? Then it’s time to embrace the art of powerful questions! Through curious questions and intentional conversations, you can change the way people think and work.

Learn more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Chad Littlefield, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and the creator of We! Connect cards, which help leaders ask powerful questions and cultivate deeper conversations. Chad shares stories that highlight the power of questions, unpacks the struggles many leaders face when it comes to genuine dialogue, and offers actionable tips for using curiosity and intention to engage your team. If you’re ready to learn how to drive better results, ask stronger questions, and build a workplace where people want to stay and grow, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

1:02 – In manufacturing, we often struggle with creating genuine conversations
2:18 – Intentional plays a critical role in building safe conversations
4:17 – When initiative is met with gratitude, it can lead to long-term loyalty and promotion
8:14 – Expressing intentions directly creates clarity and stronger connections
14:40 – People want to work, they just don’t want to work for someone who doesn’t care about them
16:35 – Leadership at the top influencers your entire organization
17:59 – Ask the second question to take a conversation to a deeper level
21:20 – Use open-ended questions to deepen reflection and learning

Connect with Chad Littlefield
Watch his videos on YouTube
Visit his website and find free resources

Are you ready to handle a crisis at your manufacturing plant? Find out in this episode, which is all about crisis communication and how to lead under pressure.

This episode’s guest in Angela Billings, a seasoned strategic communication with over 20 years of experience in the Air Force—including during September 11th, when she was stationed at the Pentagon. She is also the author of Command the Crisis: Navigate Chaos with Battle-Tested Public Relations and Communication Strategies. Angela shares gripping stories from her career and firsthand experience at the Pentagon, plus offers practical lessons for proactive crisis planning, from establishing clear communications to empowering your team members. Whether you’re on the shop floor or in the C-suite, this is your chance to learn the skills you need to confidently navigate a crisis.

1:00 – In any field, you need to anticipate crisis and be prepared to manage and own them
6:46 – Having a chain of command and clear communication channels are crucial for effective crisis management
9:12 –The proactive connection of supervisory teams is essential to crisis management
10:14 – To prepare, do tabletop exercises to act out likely and worst-case scenarios
12:04 – All employees should act as ambassadors for their organization
15:05 – Media training can be a strong tool for employees at all levels, not just executives
16:03 – To safeguard your brand, own your stories
17:32 – Even everyday issues need transparent communications
19:30 – Consider the role of public communications channels
21:21 – Apply the same urgency to communications that you do to everyday production challenges on the floor

Connect with Angela Billings
Visit her website
Learn more about Command the Crisis
Find her on LinkedIn