Leadership + Engagement for Frontline Supervisors: Fueling Great Conversations to Build Trust and Improve Team Performance with Phil M. Jones #79

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Now, let’s jump in!

Have you ever left a conversation on the manufacturing floor feeling misunderstood or frustrated by repeated requests that never seem to stick? Your words may be the missing link.

In this episode, Phil M. Jones, influence expert and author of Exactly What to Say, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Phil explains how intentional language, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for feedback delivery, difficult conversations, and growth mindset that improve productivity, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where conversations drive action and results.

3:00 – Leaders are often asked questions from their team, customer base, and others. As a leader, it’s not always your job to provide an answer. Instead, what you often need to do is add an increased layer of clarity.

4:30 – “Help me understand” is a very powerful phase. Example: instead of saying “why haven’t you done this safety check?” ask “help me understand why you believe it’s important that we need to do a safety check.”

5:30 – Don’t default to “tell” mode. Be curious and think about the best ways to serve your community and solve the problem.

6:30 – Questions are usually a strong way to start productive conversations.

8:00 – In great conversations, intentionality is key. This is important in all industries and even relationships outside work, like with your partner or children.

9:30 – Conversations should be fueled from a position of curiosity.

10:00 – If you don’t understanding someone’s context, your content is not going to get through to them. Take time to earn someone else’s context before you add more noise!

10:30 – To find someone’s context, try questions like “when was the last time . . .” or “how do you think it made us feel?”

11:11 – If you’ve told someone to do something multiple times and they’re still not getting it, the problem might actually be YOU and your communication

12:30 – Don’t focus on what you need to say. Ask yourself what the other person needs to hear to understand what you’re saying.

13:03 – “I’m guessing you haven’t got around to it . . .” is another impactful conversations starter that sets you up for productive dialogue and finding solutions.

13:30 – Let others “own” the solution.

13:37 – You don’t want an answer—you want things to get done!

16:45 – Even if you think you’re able to think quickly, time some extra time to think about what you need instead of just blurting out the first thoughts that come to mind

19:05 – People do things for their own reasons, not for yours

19:45 – Questions start conversations, conversations become relationships, relationships create opportunities, and from new opportunities you can drive new actions

22:45 – When you need to get someone’s attention, assume everyone is always busy and be dirct and intentional with your request

26:15 – Using the right words is important when communications by email, too. Don’t put too many questions into one email and be sure you give the other person something to respond to.

Connect with Phil M. Jones:

Website

Find additional resources at ExactlyWhatToSay.com

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