Productivity for Operations Managers: Using Economic Perspective to Improve Decision-Making and Team Performance with Jim Ray #51

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter.

Now, let’s jump in!

In this episode, Jim joins the podcast to talk manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and growth mindset for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Jim helped get Mindfulness Manufacturing up and running as a professional podcast, saving days of frustration and time. We also talk small business strategy, accountability, and why having the right support systems in place matters for productivity, clarity, and long term success. If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership presence and simplify how you show up in your business, this conversation delivers.

1:33 - When you look at the economy you have inflation rising, issues with supply chain, it will take a long time to work its way out.

1:51 – People are getting a little nervous, I think that it is at the business level but also at the household level and you can bring it into the office.

3:19 – One of the things that is going to enable any business to succeed is their ability to communicate effectively, it will always come down to that.

3:40 – True leader need to be super cognizant even more than you have been. About what you say and what you hear, because there is going to be a lot of questions and people are nervous.

5:06 – It’s ok to raise your hand and say I don’t have all the answers right now, but the authenticity, honesty, and integrity that you back it up with will carry the day and help sooth people’s nerves.

5:33 - Leaders need to be cognizant to allow people to voice their concerns.

6:07 – The one thing that is going to enable a company regardless of the balance sheet, or the economy is the people. The people in the business are what will make it win or lose.

12:54- What worked in the past I don’t believe will work in the next 12 months.

14:28 – Allow people to arrive to the answer and they will have a stake in it.

17:12 - It’s ok to be nervous and scared about things, it’s ok to have those feeling it’s what you do with those feeling that will determine your success or failure.

17:53 – Cultivating advisers outside your normal channels will make all the difference, especially when things get more difficult.

22:22- Making sure your team is diverse is a strength, and the smart companies are the ones that are cognizant of that and are working towards those goals.