Nov 16, 2022
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!
“I want to take a vacation, but I’m worried about falling behind.” This mindset is common on the manufacturing floor and contributes to burnout, retention challenges, and quiet quitting.
In this episode, Joe Mull, speaker and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and workforce retention for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.
Joe explains how communication skills, authentic leadership, and growth mindset help leaders address labor shortages and improve team morale. You will learn practical strategies for boundary setting, difficult conversations, and feedback delivery that support productivity, reduce burnout, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel valued, supported, and motivated to stay.
2:00 – There is a massive recalibration going on right now about how work fits into our lives, which is something that started even before the pandemic
3:45 – The modern employee is firm about their boundaries and what they want from a workplace
5:20 – The number one reason why people don’t take a needed vacation is fear of falling behind at work – how can we combat this?
6:00 – It’s on the organization and leadership to set boundaries that will help others take time off to relax and recharge. They need to implement policies that honor time-off and their team’s concerns about falling behind if they take a vacation
10:00 – As a leader, sometimes you have to learn to operate without the team members you need, so they can set boundaries and take time off
13:50 – People aren’t “quiet quitting.” They’re just updating to a job that better fits their needs and boundaries.
15:30 – What are some of the reasons for a decrease in the labor force, especially in industries like manufacturing?
18:43 – In today’s labor market, employees aren’t going to settle for less or put up with a job where they’re treated unfairly or not given time off
22:00 – Sometimes, employees quit but “forget to leave” and just go through the motions without much effort or passion – these are the quiet quitters
26:00 – Leaders can embrace storytelling to show their employees how they’re doing valuable work every day – show how your organization’s everyday work changes real lives
28:30 – With supply chain shortages and other issues, we need to sustain ourselves and the people who work for us
29:48 – Commitment is the key!
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