80 Right Time, Right Place, Right Mindset: The Serendipity Mindset with Noah Graff
Release Date: 12/14/2022
141 Negotiation Strategies for the Manufacturing Floor with Fotini Iconomopoulos
Mindfulness Manufacturing
On the manufacturing floor, you have dozens of everyday opportunities for negotiation, from talking with a team member about an upcoming pay raise to trying to get a better deal from a supplier. In your everyday negotiations, what can you do to say less, get more, and make effective changes? You need to master the art of negotiation—and in this episode, guest Fotini Iconomopoulos is here to share the tools you need to know. Fotini Iconomopoulos is a master communicator and negotiator based in Toronto. She’s also the author of In this episode, she shares more about the power of...
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140 De-Escalation and Conflict Prevention: Keys to Manufacturing Safety with Carol Cambridge
Mindfulness Manufacturing
When your manufacturing organization is experiencing a crisis, the last thing you want to do is add more oil to the fire! But in a technical industry like manufacturing, many people don’t have the skills they need to safely and effectively address a dangerous situation, like how to de-escalate a conflict or communicate a safety issue to their team. Carol Cambridge is here to help bring more safety to your organization! Carol is an authority on workplace violence, active shooter, and workplace conflict. She’s also the founder of the Stay Safe Project, where she teaches others how to...
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139 Embracing Discomfort to Manufacture Resilience with Paul Taylor
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, we’re all familiar with stress. But did you know that a lack of challenges and too much comfort can also have a negative impact on your health, mindset, and productivity? This is the core concept Paul Taylor presents in his great book As a former British Royal Navy crew member and a current Ph.D. candidate in applied psychology, Paul has in-depth knowledge about stress, resilience, and performance. In this episode on stress, comfort, and psychological safety, Paul draws from his own experiences and research to delve deeper into why discomfort and challenging...
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138 Cost-Savings for Manufacturing: Deliberate Creativity with Dr. Amy Climer
Mindfulness Manufacturing
To find improved cost-savings and better team dynamics, there’s a solution—more creativity! In the technical world of manufacturing, creativity isn’t always a priority, but in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, guest Dr. Amy Climer is here to show why deliberate creativity is the key to driving improvement and cost savings. With a Ph.D in Leadership and Change, Dr. Climer is a speaker, trainer, and coach who teaches teams how to innovate on demand. She is the author of Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results written to help leaders understand how to...
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137 Good People, Bad Decisions: A Fresh Look at Root Cause Analysis in Manufacturing with Bob Latino
Mindfulness Manufacturing
Are you really doing root cause analysis (RCA) or only scratching at the surface of your organization’s problems? When a problem occurs in a fast-paced industry like manufacturing, you want to find the root problem—and you want to find it as quickly as possible! But if you’re not taking some mindful time to ask the right questions and understand the human element beyond your issues, you might be missing deeper, more sustainable solutions. Learn more about the world of RCA in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with seasoned RCA expert Bob Latino! Influenced by his father, who...
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136 The Hidden Productivity Cost: Mental Health with Adam Nemer
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, mental health is not always at the forefront. But when you don’t pay attention to your team’s mental wellbeing, it can negatively affect your entire organization, leading to big issues from disconnected teams to high employee turnover. In this episode, find the insights you need to transform your organization’s approach to mental health with guest Adam Nemer. Adam is a former CFO and senior operations leader, whose own mental health struggles inspired him to start Simple Mental Health, an organization that partners with leaders to bring stigma-free mental health culture...
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135 Shifting from Blame to Solution in Manufacturing Teams with Darcy Luoma
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, it seems like it’s always go, go go! But what if we could take a moment to pause, think, and act a little more thoughtfully and intentionally? Learn what can happen in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Darcy Luoma! Darcy is an author, consultant, and the creator of the Thoughtfully Fit approach, a dynamic and practical model for enhancing leadership capabilities, improving team dynamics, and navigating the complexities of leadership and teamwork. In this episode, she shares a deep dive into her Thoughtfully Fit method, plus shares other tips and lessons...
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134 Rethinking Shop Floor Time - Technical People are People Too with Emily Nichols
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, we often emphasize complex processes and new technologies, like artificial intelligence. But to bring true change and productivity to your organization, don’t forget about your people! In this episode, learn all about the balance of technical skills and human connection with guest Emily Nichols! As a professional engineer with decades of experiences in manufacturing and innovation, Emily has worked with organizations like PepsiCo, Janssen, and Henkel. She now works with organizations who want to strengthen the human skills they need to thrive in an increasingly technical...
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133 Using Your Big Sexy Idea to Differentiate Yourself with Mark Levy
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In the busy field of manufacturing, how do you make yourself stand out? Find out in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with Mark Levy. Mark is a “differentiation expert,” who helps his clients find bold, innovative ways to showcase their big ideas and differentiate themselves from the competition. Mark has worked with dozens of corporations, brands, and thought leaders, including Simon Sinek, Amazon, Harvard Business School, and Major League Baseball, as well as leaders from government bodies like the United Nations. In this episode, Mark talks more about the importance of...
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132 The Power of Leadership in Addressing Bullying and Cultivating Civility with Dr. Renee Thompson
Mindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, it’s easy to get stuck in the four walls of our organization. But when you look beyond your organization—and even beyond your industry—you can find the insights and lessons you need to transform your leadership, improve your culture, and show up for your team! In this episode, hear from outside the manufacturing industry with Dr. Renee Thompson! Renee is the CEO & Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute and works with healthcare organizations to cultivate a professional workforce by addressing bullying and incivility. Renee has authored several books and is one...
info_outlineSerendipity: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. “Getting stuck in traffic” doesn’t sound like it fits the definition of serendipity, but it does for me and this week’s guest, Noah Graff of Graff-Pinkert and the Swarfcast podcast! Noah and I connected when he caught an episode of my podcast while stuck in traffic, and it led to a great conversation about his experiences as a treasure hunter who travels around the world to find interesting pieces of manufacturing equipment, and how he uses a serendipity mindset to find new connections, overcome challenges, and turn outdated or unusable equipment into new treasures!
2:00 – What does it mean to be a “treasure hunter” in manufacturing?
5:00 – Someone’s trash always has the potential to be someone else’s treasure—you just need to have the right mindset to find it!
6:22 – It’s amazing what you can find by keeping an open mind and always looking for the unexpected
9:00 – Serendipity isn’t just about being in the right place at the right time. You also have to be in the right mindset.
9:42 – What’s the difference between mindfulness and luck?
11:30 – Many leaders have either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset, but leaders can also consider a “serendipity” mindset
12:00 – To embrace a serendipity mindset, one strategy is serendipity bombs, or seeking multiple people who can help you complete a task, like finding a piece of machinery or doing research for an article
14:00 – Another tactic is serendipity hooks, or opening up a conversation to find new opportunities
15:45 – By being open to new conversations with new people, you can find great and unexpected opportunities—don’t be afraid to be the spark for a conversation!
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