83 Taking Your Team from Average to Amazing with Dustin E. James
Release Date: 01/25/2023
Mindfulness Manufacturing
What’s the secret to retaining your team members and creating an organization where people love to work? DigiKey, an electronic component manufacturing organization in Thief River Falls, Minnesota has it all figured out—and Shane Zutz, DigiKey’s vice president of human resources, is here to share the stories and insights behind DigiKey’s success! In this episode, Shane shares stories highlighting the importance of curiosity, empathy, and leadership presence, and offers simple-yet-powerful strategies manufacturing leaders can put into action to build trust, accountability, and...
info_outline 126 Transforming Your Approach to Retention with Cara SillettoMindfulness Manufacturing
Are your team members “houseplants” or “trees?” It might sound like a strange question, but knowing the answer is the key to retaining your best employees, strengthening your team, and transforming your organization. In this episode, learn about identifying—and nurturing—your houseplant and tree team members, plus hear other great insights on improving retention, communicating with your team, and showing up as a more emotionally intelligent leader with guest Cara Silletto. Cara is the founder, president, and chief retention office of Magnet Culture, a partner in helping...
info_outline 125 Lessons for Saying Less and Learning More with Michael Bungay StanierMindfulness Manufacturing
We all love giving advice! But when advice is your default as a leader, you can fall into an “advice trap” that actually crushes curiosity, creates disconnect, and prevents your team from finding productive outcomes. Bestselling author Michael Bungay Stanier (MBS) tackles this subject in his newest book The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious & Change the Way You Lead Forever. In this episode, MBS shares some of the key lessons from the advice trap and his other books, including lessons and insights leaders can use to change their mindset, grow their curiosity, and create great new...
info_outline 124 Bringing Great Leadership to a New Plant: Stories from a Greenfield Site with Daniel KnechtMindfulness Manufacturing
What goes into launching a brand-new manufacturing plant? A successful greenfield site is about more than finding the right space or getting the right equipment—you also have to pay attention to the people you’re hiring and the tone you’re setting as a leader. In this episode, take a journey through the steps of a greenfield site with Daniel Knecht! Dan is the solar project director for NSG Group, one of the world’s largest glass manufacturers. In his role, he focuses on strategic projects to support the renewal energy market. In this story-filled episode, Dan talks about his unique...
info_outline 123 The Tools You Need for Bridging the Uncertainty Gap with Jay BaerMindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, retention and recruitment are two of the biggest challenges. To attract great talent and keep your best team members, you need to set yourself apart from the competition—and you can start by improving your response times! In this episode, join guest Jay Baer for a deep-dive into the tools and procedures you need to improve efficiency, strengthen your communications, and bridge the “uncertainty gap” in your organization. Jay Baer is a researcher and advisor specializing in business growth and customer experience. He’s also a seventh-generation entrepreneur, the...
info_outline 122 Good People, Bad Process: How to Measure and Improve Your Team with Martin LowMindfulness Manufacturing
Results matters! Whether you’re looking at safety, quality, or productivity, you and your team want to know how you’re performing. But when it comes to people, it can be difficult to measure your return on investment. In this episode, guest Martin Low walks us through the best strategies for measuring your team, plus shares great insights on why people matter most in your organization. Martin is the founder and CEO of On Plane Consulting, where he helps organizations transform and improve by building and leveraging their people capabilities. He also has over 20 years of human resources...
info_outline 121 Why We Need Storytelling on the Manufacturing FloorMindfulness Manufacturing
Stories resonate with people, which makes them a valuable tool for sharing information, seeking new outcomes and connecting with your team. So let’s bring more storytelling to the manufacturing floor! In this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, meet guest Trevor Perry. Trevor is an award-winning speaker, author, and perspective-changer, who uses his unique perspectives and love of storytelling to help others find their own light and improve their influence in the world. In this episode, Trevor shares his journey of finding his storytelling passion, and discusses why leaders should...
info_outline 120 How to Unlock Your High-Performance Potential with Mike MooneyMindfulness Manufacturing
How can we bring more mindfulness to the manufacturing floor without comprising speed or efficiency? With a background as an award-winning senior executive for agencies, brands, and team properties in NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula One racing, Mike Mooney knows all about speed! He now uses his unique background to help leaders accelerate culture, unlock potential, drive opportunity, and create traction. In this episode, Mike shares why humans are high-performance vehicles, and how leaders can use presence, intentionality, and curiosity to improve communicates, reach creative outcomes, and...
info_outline 119 Your Blueprint for Building Trust with Justin PattonMindfulness Manufacturing
Trust is the antidote to so many common issues that can occur on the manufacturing floor. But how can you build trust—both in yourself and with your team? Find out in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Justin Patton! Justin is a certified speaker professional and leadership presence expert, who challenges leaders to reimagine how they lead, love, and communicate. He’s also the author of and the recently-released The High-Impact Manager: Your Blueprint for Bringing Out the Best in Your Team. In this episode, Justin talks about the vital role trust plays in improving...
info_outline 118 Why Compassion and Connection are the Keys to Transforming Manufacturing with Karin J. LundMindfulness Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry just keeps getting greater—and it’s all thanks to passionate, mindful leaders who show up every day ready to engage their teams, improve their mindset, and create an environment where people love to work. One of these leaders is Karen J. Lund, a bestselling author and keynote speaker with a long career in the steel industry. Drawing on her experience in the steel industry, Karin now leads the team at G-Power Global, an organization she founded to inspires corporate and organizational entities to lead with compassion while continuing to focus on productivity,...
info_outlineOn the manufacturing floor, you don’t want your leadership and your team to be average . . .you want to be amazing! To learn more about how leaders can find the energy and inspiration to take themselves and their team to the next level of success, I’m excited to welcome my friend Dustin E. James to the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast. Through his work with Moments Leadership, Dustin uses motivational speaking and interactive learning experiences to help organizations find greater engagement, creativity, and inspiration. In this episode, he takes stories from his past experiences and turns them into lessons leaders can use to connect with their teams, find new inspirations, and manufacture greatness in their organization.
1:40 – Energy comes in many different forms
3:00 – What is the balance between having a routine and bringing fresh energy into work every day?
3:10 – There isn’t a single person on your team who doesn’t want to be recognized for their good—when your team feels like they’re being acknowledged for doing more than just the average, they’ll continue to show up with new energy and motivation
4:34 – As a leader, it’s your job to show your team how amazing they are
8:00 – We all have bad days filled with struggles, challenges, but there is always a life lesson to be found in hard experiences
8:25 – Even when you are doing something challenging or difficult, there are still opportunities to grow your own mindset or help or inspire someone else. You never know when you’ll find a great lesson!
8:45 – If we want to learn new lessons and find new energy, we have to show up and be present every day instead of just embracing “average”
11:09 – As a leader, it’s important to know your team member’s individual goals and what motivates them
12:22 – In order to really connect, you need to know what makes each team member tick!
14:03 – “I see that you’re doing your best” can be a powerful way to start conversations and better connection with your team
15:19 – As a leader, it’s important to recognize that your team members are often doing the best they can and embracing that fact can help you build trust and move forward in productive ways.
16:08 – Trying to get someone to improve to change their behavior can be a big drain of energy—what are some ways to deal with this?
17:16 – Everyone on your team has something good that can be said about them
19:04 – At the end of the day, it all comes down to showing up and being there as a leader to your team. There’s always going to be new challenges, but it’s up to you to find lessons and energy in each day
20:00 – Always give your very best. Don’t show up to be second!
21:52 – Our best days are always ahead of us
Connect with Dustin E. James
Moments Leadership website