Collaboration for Operations Managers: Aligning the Why, How, and When to Strengthen Team Engagement and Results with Michael Neuendorff #69

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! With artificial intelligence and new technology reshaping manufacturing, leaders are being pushed to think differently — and that's where this conversation comes in. In this episode, I'm joined by San Francisco–based executive coach Michael Neuendorff, president of Bay Area Executive Coach, to explore how manufacturing leaders can strengthen collaboration, shift their mindset, and ask better questions to unlock creative, actionable solutions. We talk practical ways Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors can learn from other industries, improve communication, and lead with curiosity as change 00:30 – "Seek to understand, then to be understood." – Stephen Covey 2:48 – To stay curious in the workplace, adopt a "student's mind" 3:09 – Even if it's your tenth or twentieth year on the job, there is still something you can learn today 3:27 – As long as you stay curious, you can learn from anyone—even someone who you previously thought you couldn't learn anything from 4:29 – Due to the rise of AI and other emerging technology, manufacturing could be in for some big and unique changes, and we need to prepare for that 5:40 – If you don't know what didn't work in the past, it's harder to prepare for the future 5:45 – Work with people to find solutions, instead of just telling them what to do 6:13 – If someone is consistently told what to do, they can click off the part of their brain that focuses on understanding and problem-solving 6:58 – By staying curious, we can better work with others to find creative, productive outcomes 7:21 – Ask how you can invest in others 9:23 – If people feel like you believe in them, they're more likely to rise to the occasion 10:18 – To ask questions that foster creativity and collaboration, consider your audience – are you talking to your peers at a leadership level, or someone a few levels below you? 11:14 – Be open to new and different perspectives 12:59 – Look back at your last 30 days. How have you tackled problems? What can you do differently in the next 30 days? 13:56 – When talking to others or setting meetings, consider the time of day. For example, some people may be at their best in the mornings when they're feeling fresh and energized 20:55 – Believe in the power of collective idea generation 21:53 – By building stronger relationships, you can build more trust and engagement levels will increase Connect with Michael Neuendorff: Website for executive coaching Website for executive coach training LinkedIn