{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Employee Retention in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Building Purpose, Optimism, and Stronger Relationships with Kathy Miller #158","description":"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\u2019s monthly newsletter. Now, let\u2019s jump in! Welcome back to Kathy Miller, Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame member and former leader at General Motors, Delphi, and Rolls-Royce. She is the author of MORE Is Better, which provides practical frameworks for frontline plant leaders. In this episode, Kathy shares insights on manufacturing leadership, employee engagement, and operational excellence for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Drawing on her background in applied positive psychology and real-world plant leadership, she explains how leaders can strengthen manufacturing culture, improve trust, and boost productivity without adding complexity. You\u2019ll walk away with practical tools to improve accountability, reduce burnout, and build stronger teams on the shop floor. 1:22 \u2013 Representation and diversity strengthens manufacturing culture 3:02 \u2013 Positive psychology research is a valuable tool for frontline supervisors, plant managers, and shop floor leadership teams 5:03 \u2013 Strengthen manufacturing relationships through creative safety leadership and by supporting accountability without blame 7:22 \u2013 Authenticity improves team engagement and manufacturing retention, especially in high-stress environments 08:20 - Transitioning teams from command-and-control to inclusive lean leadership is essential for creating a continuous improvement culture 12:36 - Helping employees find meaning boosts employee engagement and manufacturing retention. 15:56 \u2013 Putting curiosity over compliances helps leaders avoid punitive approaches and improves performance conversations on the floor 21:15 \u2013 Creating psychological safety encourages employees to speak up early, which fuels continuous improvement culture and operational excellence 22:56 - Finding a balance between realistic optimism and toxic positivity is essential for credible manufacturing communication and decision-making 24:41 \u2013 Relationships are the core foundation of manufacturing teamwork 26:22 \u2013 Your mindset shapes manufacturing relationships and every interaction on the plant floor 28:37 \u2013 Active listening is one of the most effective tools for better coaching in manufacturing. Connect with Kathy Miller Visit her website and check out the MORE Mentor resources  Connect on LinkedIn  Buy MORE Is Better Listen to her previous podcast episode  ","author_name":"Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0","author_url":"https:\/\/manufacturinggreatness.com","html":"