106 Using Humor to Bridge the Connection Gap with Tim Gard
Release Date: 12/13/2023
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_outline 131 How to Take Your Team From Disconnected to Alignment with Mark KennyMindfulness Manufacturing
When your team is aligned, it leads to more productivity, higher morale, and a healthier workplace . . . and on the flip side, a misaligned team can contribute to issues like high turnover or an inability to attract or keep great new team members. What can leaders do to enhance teamwork and bring more functionality to their organization? In this episode, Mark Kenny gives the solutions! Mark is a speaker, consultant, and expert in team building and leadership. He’s also the author of The Hippo Solution: Eliminate the Territorial Thinking and Unleash the Power of Teams, which focuses on how...
info_outline 130 Empowering Frontlines Leaders with Lessons from the Drive-Thru with Monica RothgeryMindfulness Manufacturing
What does a Taco Bell drive-thru have to do with manufacturing? Fast-food and manufacturing have more in common than you might think—and in her newest book Lessons from the Drive-Thru: Real Life Wisdom for Frontline Leaders, former Taco Bell general manager Monica Rothergy shares real-life stories to help leaders lead with ease, authenticity, and vulnerability, whether they’re working in a drive-thru or a manufacturing plant. Monica recently came by the Mindfulness Manufacturing to talk more about her book and the career path that took her from a Taco Bell general manager to the first...
info_outline 129 Harnessing Productivity with More Mindfulness with Sarah OhanesianMindfulness Manufacturing
In manufacturing, there’s a big link between productivity and mindfulness—and shifting to a more mindful approach just might be the key you need to unlock your team’s productivity, decreasing burnout, and creating a happier workplace for all. Find out more in this episode with guest Sarah Ohanesian! Sarah is a professional keynote speaker and productivity consultant on a mission to fight burnout and increase happiness at work. She works with busy professionals who are career-driven but face work-life imbalance, stress, and overwhelm. In this episode, Sarah draws on her own experiences...
info_outline 128 Using People Power to Transform Organizations with Hugh HornsbyMindfulness Manufacturing
There’s power in your people—and if you learn to harness it, it can transform your organization! Learn more in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing with guest Hugh Hornsby, the vice president of Everflow Supplies. With a long career and a remarkable track record of turning around struggling businesses—and his own unique journey of surviving a life-changing head injury—Hugh has great stories and insights. In his episode, he shares more about the success of Everflow and his personal journey, and gives insights leaders can use to transform their hiring process, practice everyday...
info_outline 127 Stories for Leading with Curiosity and Empathy with Shane ZutzMindfulness 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_outlineIs humor the secret weapon for bridging the connection gap in your organization? Find out more in this episode featuring Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE. Tim is a Hall of Fame speaker and business coach who uses his own humor-infused presentations to help others use humor to improve productivity, create stronger connections, and bring more resilience and resourcefulness to their organizations. In this episode, Tim shares why humor can be a powerful tool for combating disconnect and communicating with your team, all while sharing some humorous stories of his own!
2:49 – When humor comes at the expense of others, it fuels disconnect
4:14 – Self-effacing humor is a strong skill in the workplace, but can be difficult to master
4:49 – There is a difference between understanding humor and being humorous yourself
5:35 – If you can find humor in a stressful situation, it can lead to moments of connection for you and your team
7:04 – By figuring out what is humorous to your team members, you can find ways to bridge the disconnection gap with humor
10:25 – When you can work hard and laugh hard with you team, you can find results
10:58 – If you’re not connecting with someone, you have to adapt to their communication style and figure out what’s important to them
12:01 – You also need to be aware of your behavior and how others might interpret it or react to it
12:47 – If you don’t connect with someone at first, don’t abandon the process
15:32 – By having your own good mood and positive mindset, you can convey that to your team
17:34 – Humor can also be used to convey safety messages in your organization
20:07 – By using humor, you can draw others to you and your team and can get better results
22:35 – Harnessing your own positive thoughts and feelings is a powerful tool for connection
25:08 – We can’t always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we perceive and react
Connect with Tim Gard
Learn more about Sticky Safety