Culture + Engagement for Frontline Supervisors: Weaving Appreciation into Daily Interactions to Boost Morale and Team Performance with Lisa Johnson #82
Release Date: 01/11/2023
Resilience for Frontline Supervisors: Building High Agency to Navigate Adversity and Improve Team Performance with Vickie Lanthier #165
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! In this episode, Vickie Lanthier — author of High Agency Human: Navigate Adversity and Live Big and former military leader with four deployments — shares practical strategies for building personal agency in high-pressure environments like manufacturing. Drawing from...
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Defining Manufacturing Greatness: Help Me Choose the Subtitle #164
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! In manufacturing, most leaders don’t struggle because they lack technical knowledge. They struggle because they’re not connecting with their teams. When skill gaps widen, labor shortages grow, and hiring challenges persist, it’s rarely an operations problem. It’s...
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Manufacturing Leadership Development for Plant Managers: Driving Continuous Improvement Through Curiosity on the Shop Floor with Bruce Mayhew #163
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! In this episode, Bruce Mayhew, corporate trainer, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and trust building for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. You’ll...
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Employee Engagement in Manufacturing for Plant Managers: Designing Time for Frontline Connection with Brian Herriot #162
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! In this episode, Brian Herriot shares insights on manufacturing leadership, productivity, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Brian brings a practical, human-centered approach to help manufacturing...
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Employee Retention in Manufacturing for Frontline Supervisors: How Structure, Curiosity, and Accountability Build Strong Teams with Ken Handsaeme #161
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! How do you turn a one-machine operation into a thriving business? Find out in this episode with Ken Handsaeme, founder of On Time Precision. Ken’s unique journey started as a machinist, but when he decided he wanted a better retirement plan, he started his own business,...
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Employee Retention in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Reducing Uncertainty to Build Engaged Teams with Falisha Karpati #160
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! In manufacturing plants, the same leadership action can motivate one employee and overwhelm another. Why? It comes down to brain science, communication skills, and how leaders show up under pressure. In this episode, guest Falisha Karpati shares insights on manufacturing...
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Leadership Effectiveness in Manufacturing for Plant Managers: Closing the Showing Up Gap to Increase Influence with Susan M. Barber #159
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! In manufacturing, it often feels like nothing matters more than performance. Leaders are told to hit their targets, keep the line running, and solve problems as quickly as possible. But performance alone rarely drives real career growth. If you want to advance in manufacturing...
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Employee Retention in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Building Purpose, Optimism, and Stronger Relationships with Kathy Miller #158
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! Welcome back to Kathy Miller, Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame member and former leader at General Motors, Delphi, and Rolls-Royce. She is the author of MORE Is Better, which provides practical frameworks for frontline plant leaders. In this episode, Kathy shares insights on...
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Manufacturing Team Performance for Operation Managers: Driving Better Outcomes Through Deeper Conversations with Reggie Davis #157
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! 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 real leadership growth often starts with leaning into discomfort. In this episode, Reggie Davis, founder of UpLift...
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Accountability and Teamwork in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Leading with the Thermostat Mindset with Sheri Holt #156
Manufacturing Greatness
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 and to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter. Now, let’s jump in! 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 may be acting like a thermometer. With the right mindset, you can become a thermostatic leader who creates stability, clarity, and accountability on...
info_outlineWelcome 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!
Showing appreciation is one of the most powerful ways manufacturing leaders can strengthen engagement, trust, and productivity.
In this episode, Lisa Johnson, global human resources professional and founder of HR Know How LLC, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and workforce retention for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.
Lisa explains how communication skills, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership help leaders show genuine appreciation while strengthening trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, difficult conversations, and growth mindset that support productivity and create manufacturing cultures where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to perform.
1:13 – The strongest managers and leaders have a consistent practice for showing appreciation
1:40 – Showing consistent appreciation has many benefits, including increased morale and employees who are willing to go the extra mile
4:10 – While general positive feedback is often well-received, it is even better to offer specific positive feedback to individual employees
7:00 – Appreciation shouldn’t be scheduled! Rather, you should weave it into your day-to-day interactions
8:15 – How you manage and organize you appreciation depends on your leadership style. One tip is to leave voice notes for yourself in your phone, so you can go back later and remember exactly what you wanted to say to your team member
11:58 – Giving appreciation can mean the difference between an average employee and an inspired employee who comes in feeling excited to work and ready to give it their all
14:37 – As a leader, you need to practice discipline to figure out the best feedback and appreciation practices
18:39 – Documentation matters. If you observe someone’s good behavior but later forget to say something, it won’t make a difference.
20:30 – Good appreciation practices can trickle-up to positively impact your whole organization
23:23 – Is there such a thing as too much appreciation?
24:00 – When showing appreciation, don’t forget to be transparent and specific
Connect with Lisa Johnson