Leadership Effectiveness in Manufacturing for Plant Managers: Closing the Showing Up Gap to Increase Influence with Susan M. Barber #159

Welcome to Manufacturing Greatness with Trevor Blondeel, where we work with organizations to manufacture greatness by leveraging resources you already have to achieve greater retention, productivity, and profits. To learn more, visit www.manufacturinggreatness.com and click here to subscribe to Trevor’s monthly newsletter.

Now, let’s jump in!

In manufacturing, it often feels like nothing matters more than performance. Leaders are told to hit their targets, keep the line running, and solve problems as quickly as possible. But performance alone rarely drives real career growth. If you want to advance in manufacturing leadership, it’s time to place more emphasis on visibility, curiosity, communication skills, and building stronger relationships.

In this episode, Susan M. Barber, a former Fortune 500 leader with more than 25 years of experience at Kraft Heinz, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, authentic leadership, and career development for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Susan is 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. She helps leaders build authentic visibility, overcome imposter syndrome, and close the gap between performance and recognition.

In this conversation, Susan offers a behind-the-scenes look at key lessons from The Visibility Factor, along with practical stories and strategies manufacturing leaders can use to strengthen communication skills, improve trust building, and increase employee engagement on the shop floor. You’ll learn how curiosity-driven conversations, authentic leadership, and relationship-building directly impact career growth, workforce retention, and long-term performance in manufacturing environments facing labor shortages and skills gaps.

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

Visit her website
Connect on LinkedIn
Find her on Instagram and YouTube