Leadership Effectiveness in Manufacturing for Plant Managers: Closing the Showing Up Gap to Increase Influence with Susan M. Barber #159
Release Date: 12/24/2025
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 help organizations manufacture greatness by leveraging resources they 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, the biggest constraint isn’t labor, equipment, or margins. It’s time! When you’re crunched for time or feel like you’re constantly fighting fires, you lose out on valuable opportunities for curious conversations and stronger connections. Overtime,...
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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
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, which he first operated out of a barn with a single machine. It eventually grew into a thriving manufacturing company serving military, aerospace, and medical customers—and helped Ken fulfil his successful retirement dreams. In this episode, Ken shares the lessons he learned throughout his career, ranging from the...
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Employee Retention in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Reducing Uncertainty to Build Engaged Teams with Falisha Karpati #160
Manufacturing Greatness
In manufacturing plants, the same leadership action can motivate one employee and overwhelm another. Why? It’s all about brain science! In this episode, guest Falisha Karpati discusses how frontline leaders can harness brain science to build more inclusive, human-centered organizations. Falisha is a Brain-Based Inclusion Consultant located in Montreal, Canada. She holds a PhD in neuroscience and a decade of experience studying the brain. Through her signature UNITING BRAINS framework, she guides organizations through the development of inclusion-focused initiatives and provides...
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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
In manufacturing, it often feels like there’s nothing more importance than performance. If they want to move up in their career, leaders are told to hit their targets, keep the line running, and solve problems as quickly as possible. But in reality, performance alone rarely drives real career growth. If you want to actually grow in your manufacturing career, it’s time to put more emphasis on visibility, curiosity, and building stronger relationships. Learn more in this episode with guest Susan M. Barber, a former Fortune 500 leader with over 25 years of experience at Kraft Heinz. She’s...
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Employee Retention in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Building Purpose, Optimism, and Stronger Relationships with Kathy Miller #158
Manufacturing Greatness
Welcome back to previous guest Kathy Miller! Kathy is a member of the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame and has held leadership roles at General Motors, Delphi, and Rolls-Royce. She is also the co-author of Steel Toes and Stilettos and the author of a new book, MORE Is Better, which introduces practical frameworks for frontline plant leaders. She’s an expert in blending academic research with real-word stories, and it’s always great to hear her insights! In this episode, Kathy draws on both her manufacturing experience and her master’s degree in applied positive psychology to...
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Manufacturing Team Performance for Operation Managers: Driving Better Outcomes Through Deeper Conversations with Reggie Davis #157
Manufacturing Greatness
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 if you’re ready to transform your leadership and change how you show up for your team, the first step is leaning into discomfort. Learn more with guest Reggie Davis, the founder of UpLift Coaching and Consulting and the author of Better Together: Embracing the Discomfort of Difference. With over two decades of leadership experience, Reggie helps people navigate the hard-but-necessary conversations they need to forge lasting...
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Accountability and Teamwork in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Leading with the Thermostat Mindset with Sheri Holt #156
Manufacturing Greatness
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 might be acting like a thermometer. But with practice and the right mindset, you can become a thermostatic leader who sets the climate for your whole team or organization. Learn more in this episode with guest Sheri Miller Holt, the author of Thermostatic Leadership: The Quiet Power of Creating Balance and Influence. Drawing on her years of experience in organizational development and leadership training, Sheri unpacks the true meaning of thermostatic...
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Manufacturing Culture Improvement for Plant Leaders: Building Self-Aware Leadership That Drives Results with Anne Bonney #155
Manufacturing Greatness
Change can be daunting, but learning how to effectively navigate uncertainty and discomfort is essential for leaders who want to grow their mindset, shift from panic to curiosity, and show up as their best selves for their team. In this episode, take a deep dive into the psychology of change with Anne Bonney, a certified speaking professional, leadership expert, and TEDx speaker who specializes in helping leaders navigate change. She covers topics like how leaders can shift their mindset to thrive in uncertainty, how to manage the fear of the unknown, and why understanding the human brain’s...
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Problem-Solving Leadership in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Breaking the Blame Cycle to Drive Better Outcomes with Maggie Harlow #154
Manufacturing Greatness
If you want to change your results, you need to change your approach. These words of wisdom come from Maggie Harlow, the co-owner of Signarama Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky. With years of experience in the custom sign manufacturing industry, Maggie doesn’t just talk about leadership—she lives it. She’s also a keynote speaker and speaks on a range of topics, including visionary leadership, gratitude, and finding new approaches to problem-solving. In this episode, Maggie shares more about her background in the sign industry and offers practical, transformative insights on what it...
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Generational Leadership in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Closing the Generational Gap to Strengthen Engagement with Michelle McCullough #153
Manufacturing Greatness
When your workplace includes baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z employees, it can seem impossible to keep everyone happy and fulfilled. In a multigenerational workplace, can you really create an environment where everyone feels supported, valued, and motivated? It is possible—and in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, guest Michelle McCullough provides the insights and tools you need to drive engagement, trust, and emotional well-being across all generations. Michelle is a nationally recognized speaker, leadership expert, and workplace culture expert and has spent years...
info_outlineIn manufacturing, it often feels like there’s nothing more importance than performance. If they want to move up in their career, leaders are told to hit their targets, keep the line running, and solve problems as quickly as possible. But in reality, performance alone rarely drives real career growth. If you want to actually grow in your manufacturing career, it’s time to put more emphasis on visibility, curiosity, and building stronger relationships.
Learn more in this episode with guest Susan M. Barber, a former Fortune 500 leader with over 25 years of experience at Kraft Heinz. She’s also the author of The Visibility Factor: Break Through Your Fears, Stand in Your Own Power, and Become the Authentic Leader You Were Meant To Be, which helps leaders build authentic visibility, overcome imposter syndrome, and close the gap between performance and recognition. In this episode, she gives a behind-the-scenes look at some of the key lessons from The Visibility Factor, plus shares stories and insights manufacturing leaders can use to grow their careers.
1:40 – Performance matters in manufacturing, but career growth depends on more than just shop floor results
5:15 – Voice matters in leadership meetings
7:10 – Thoughtful questions are a powerful way for manufacturing leaders to build credibility and influence
10:45 – Louder voices often gain exposure over quiet high performers
12:55 - Leaders must go beyond their job descriptions to demonstrate readiness for the next level in manufacturing
15:05 - Trust, relationships, and visibility all play a role in how promotion decisions are made
16:55 - Ask for what you want and “do the job to get the job” before the title arrives
19:05 - The 10–30–60 framework highlights how performance, image, and exposure drive career success
22:45 – Psychological safety, authenticity, and confidence are key factors in leadership visibility
25:40 – By reflecting on past visibility successes and missed opportunities, leaders can understand what holds them back
Connect with Susan M. Barber
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