Mindfulness Manufacturing Trevor Blondeel

The manufacturing industry just keeps getting greater—and it’s all thanks to passionate, mindful leaders who show up every day ready to engage their teams, improve their mindset, and create an environment where people love to work. One of these leaders is Karen J. Lund, a bestselling author and keynote speaker with a long career in the steel industry. Drawing on her experience in the steel industry, Karin now leads the team at G-Power Global, an organization she founded to inspires corporate and organizational entities to lead with compassion while continuing to focus on productivity, service, and profits.
In this episode, Karin talks more about transformations facing the steel industry and manufacturing as a whole, and shares why compassion, connection, and conversations are the key to unlocking creative solutions, overcoming challenges, and bringing new energy to the manufacturing floor.
3:03 – In manufacturing, you can’t do everything by yourself, which makes it very important to seek out and build strong connections
5:33 – It can be a challenge to form relationship on the floor, especially for younger professionals
6:48 – When people have connections on the floor, it makes it easier to voice feedback and navigate challenges
9:01 – By creating a culture that fosters connections and conversation, you’ll find more productivity and more creative solutions  
11:37 – Compassion is the competitive edge
15:55 – There is a difference between training and learning
16:39 – Employee resource groups are a strong tool for building connections and community in the workplace
19:20 – If you want to redefine your industry and image, start by having conversations about your values and how you present to the media and others
22:25 – In manufacturing, it’s important to have conversations about how your role impacts the work of others, and vice versa
23:29 – Everyone learns in different ways and some people may need different accommodations
25:02 – When someone makes a commitment to their industry, it can have a positive impact for entire teams and organizations
Connect with Karin J. Lund
Visit her website
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.

When a mistake occurs on the plant floor, your mind might jump to one question: who caused this issue, and should I write them up for their mistake? But there’s a more productive approach you could be taking—and in this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, guest Dr. Jake Mazulewicz breaks it all down!
With a background as a firefighter, EMT, and military paratrooper, Jake knows the challenges of high-hazard industries, and works with organizations to reduce errors and create safer, more reliable workplace environments. In this episode, Jake shares why you can’t procedularize everything, including the way you handle errors and accidents, and offers great insights and stories about how to use connection and curiosity to improve safety, address errors, and strengthen your organization.
3:35 – Procedures and policies are the work that is imagined, and on the floor is how the work actually gets done
4:19 – The work as-done is almost always radically different than the work as-imagined
5:20 – Even when you have standards and people show up wanting to do a good job, you can still see issues that need to be addressed
6:44 – There will always be areas that absolutely need to have procedures in place
8:02 – There are also adaptive jobs, which leans less into procedures and more intro troubleshooting and tacit human knowledge
10:56 - In an ideal environment, both mechanistic and adaptive models are used and respected and needed
12:11 – There are four levels, ranging from strict procedurals to looser guidelines that show what to do, but not how to do it
15:36 – Tacit knowledge gets shared through conversations
16:22 – A way to share important information is to have frontline experts record videos sharing their insights to problems, especially those that are not covered in procedures
19:44 – Through conversation and connection, more knowledge is shared
21:58 – Debriefing also plays a central role
23:45 – If you have strong discipline, you’ll find more freedom
25:31 – In most situations, errors are signals, not defects
27:07 – When an error occurs, be curious and find the deeper cause of the problem
Connect with Jake Mazulewicz
Find him on Linkedin
Visit his website

In 2009, total engine loss forced US Airways Flight 1549 to make an emergency crash landing in New York City’s Hudson River—and thanks to the quick actions of the pilot, flight crew, and passengers, all 155 people on board made it safely off the plane. Now known as “the miracle on the Hudson,” this harrowing incident offers up important lessons on staying calm under pressure, coping with traumatic challenges, and making every moment count.
To learn more, let’s hear from a Flight 1549 survivor! Dave Sanderson is a nationally recognized leadership speaker and bestselling author, who draws from his inspirational story of survival to encourage others to do the right thing and find healthy ways to cope with their own struggles and adversity. In this episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing, Dave shares his own Miracle on the Hudson story, and offers powerful insights he learned from being the last passenger off Flight 1549!
2:18 – Dave shares his Flight 1549 story
8:11 – In times of conflict, whether it’s a plane crash or issue on the manufacturing floor, calmness and confidence play key roles
9:05 – To get through challenging situations, you need to manage your own mindset
10:05 – You don’t need to know everything to handle a crisis, but you have to be able to lead yourself first
11:09 – Every moment in your life happens for a reason
13:38 – How to react to and cope with a challenging situation depends on the meaning you attach to it
14:22 – By reframing the meaning you attach to a situation, you can find healthy and productive ways to react and grow
15:33 – Everyone assigns different meanings to different challenges, so it’s important to approach others with curiosity instead of judgement
17:56 – To truly understand others, you need be curious and have authentic interactions
21:52 – To feel included in an organization’s mission, people need and want certainty, variety, connection, significance, growth, and the ability to contribute  
24:48 – As a leader, it’s up to you to find creative solutions and create opportunity from challenges
28:57 – If you get casual, it can lead to safety issues, accidents, and other serious problems for your organization
Connect with Dave Sanderson
Check out his website and download a free copy of his Moments Matter Magazine
Connect on LinkedIn to see new blog content
 

In many manufacturing organizations, company values can be seen in plaques on the walls, but don’t show up in the behavior and language used on the shop floor. How can we get core values off the walls and into action? Find out in this episode with guest Adam Hill!
Adam is the nine-figure CEO of a 4th generation family business, as well as a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and host of the top-rated podcast Flow Over Fear. Throughout his work, he helps leaders and other high achievers rise above fear and realize their ultimate potential in leadership and life. In this episode, Adam shares why core values are so important to organizations—and why holding tight to outdated ideals can cause restriction instead of growth, plus offers insights and lessons leaders can use to make sure their core values are showing up in their culture and behavior.
4:13 – Core values should serve as a driving force, but can sometimes become restrictive
6:26 – In some cases, holding onto an old or legacy core value can actually hold back your organization
8:15 – If your organization is struggling or plateaued, look toward your core values and address what ideals need to stay and which ones can be changed or removed
9:24 – Culture and strategy are very similar, but can’t be treated as the same
10:51 – As culture shifts, you might have to shift your behavior while still staying true to your core values
13:06 – If you want change, you need to create a culture where people feel empowered to speak up
14:19 – If people in your organization don’t feel comfortable speaking up, it can lead to unsafe environments
16:29 – Healthy conflict is often necessary when discussing which core values to keep or get rid of, especially in family or legacy companies
21:50 – The strongest core values are the ones that can grow and evolve with your organization
24:00 – Great results can arise from challenging conversations
Connect with Adam Hill
Visit his website
Listen to his Flow Over Fear podcast

If you want to improve safety, quality, productivity, and results, the first step is looking toward improving connection. With more mindfulness and connection, your entire organization can thrive—and in this episode, guest Jon Gordon is here to show you exactly how you can improve connection and fight disconnect in your organization!
Jon is one of the top three leadership speakers in the world, and his talks on mindset and leadership have inspired hundreds of individuals and organizations. He is also the bestselling author of 28 books, including one of my favorites, The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy. In this episode, Jon delves deeper into some of the insights in The Energy Bus to share how leaders can use positivity and connection to improve results and combat difficult situations.
3:31 – You are always going to have to deal with negative people, or energy vampires, but overcoming them is a key part of your journey to connection
4:40 – Every negative person is a test for you to find your own power and resiliency
6:40 – We are meant to be connected, which is why disconnect and isolation leads to anxiety and other mental health issues
7:55 – The more united and connected you are, the stronger you’ll be as a team
10:10 – If you only focus on the results instead of the process, it can lead to disconnect and other negative outcomes
11:15 – Feed yourself with words of positivity and encouragement instead of listening to negative self-talk
12:30 – Understand the wound behind your negative thoughts, so you can find a way to speak truth to them
13:49 – By embracing opportunities to heal and grow, you become a stronger leader for your team
16:25 – A positive team starts with positive leadership
18:03 – Understanding the dynamics of your team can help you find ways to improve connection
20:23 – You need both love and accountability
22:48 – There will always been the need for difficult conversations, so find a way to deal with them and make them less difficult for you and your team
24:49 – You can’t be thankful and stressed at the same time
Connect with Jon Gordon
Visit his website
Learn More about The Energy Bus and his other books
Read my previous book report on The Energy Bus
Connect on LinkedIn and social media
Hear Jon's podcast with Alan Mullally

“I’m great in my role and have valuable information to share . . . so why doesn’t anyone want to work with me?” If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, this podcast with guest Karine Leblanc is for you! Karine Leblanc is a bestselling author and international public speaker who uses her unique engineering background to help technical professionals bridge the bridge between technical brilliance and human connection. In this episode, Karine shares her personal story of discovering the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence,
4:10 – In any role, there is much more to do that simply learn the technical role of your job
5:00 – By having a mentor or someone else you trust in your organization, you can gain valuable feedback and insights
6:18 – To better yourself through feedback, you need to be ready to hear feedback and make it clear to your team that you’re open to listening to them
8:30 – When you work on yourself and improve your self-awareness, it can have a positive impact on all levels of your information, including your relationships with clients
9:45 – Emotional intelligence is not about being happy all the time, but learning to be self-aware of your own emotions and behaviors
10:42 – Through being intentional conversations with your team, you can still find productive outcomes and dynamics even when you’re not at your emotional best
11:51 – Have the courage to be vulnerable
15:05 – By being self-aware and intentional, you can learn your own behavioral signals and find the best ways to navigate challenging situations
16:18 – Using emotional intelligence, you can also learn other people’s behavioral signals and triggers, and find the best way to communicate with them
18:12 – If you’re stuck, all you need is a fresh perspective
19:09 – To find new perspectives and feedback, take a pause and zoom out
21:23 – Through simple and honest dialogue, you can improve safety and find more productive results
22:37 – When you combine technical skills with human skills, magic happens
Connect with Karine Leblanc
Visit her website
Connect on LinkedIn