May 14, 2025
In manufacturing, many leaders try to use the same tools to address different problems. But just like a hammer won’t work for all projects around your house, your routine leadership approach might not work for all your team members. This means you need to go “beyond the hammer” and find ways to have deeper interactions with your team.
The hammer analogy comes from Beyond the Hammer: A Fresh Approach
to Leadership, Culture, and Building High Performance Teams by
Brian Gottleib. In this episode, Brian shares more about the
lessons and insights in Beyond the Hammer, plus offers actionable
insights manufacturing leaders can use to grow their relationships,
create deeper connections, and improve culture in their
organizations, from the top to the shop floor.
1:18 – Beyond the Hammer is an approachable, actionable book which
uses a parable format to make a positive impact on leaders
2:38 – A leader’s mood and presence directly shapes their team’s
culture and performance
3:34 – As a leader, be aware of the tone you’re getting for the
rest of your team
6:24 – The ceiling of a business is limited by the ceiling of the
people
8:56 – For true growth to occur, you need to focus on relationships
and understanding how each team member’s work connects to a larger
goal
12:10 – Be honest about your priorities and save time for
self-growth and reflection
17:13 – To form relationships, your one-on-one conversations need
to be deep and intentional
18:33 – Make your employees feel valued and they’ll be less likely
to leave your organization
22:14 – While performance can be copied, culture cannot
24:05 – When teams believe in themselves and each other, it creates
a stronger and more positive culture
Connect with Brian Gottleib
Visit his website
Connect on LinkedIn
Buy Beyond the Hammer – Brian recommends checking out the
audiobook for a more personal connection
Read my book report on Beyond the Hammer