Negotiation Skills in Manufacturing for Plant Leaders: Influencing Better Outcomes on the Shop Floor with Fotini Iconomopoulos #141

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! On the manufacturing floor, leaders face negotiation opportunities every day, from discussing pay increases with team members to working through supplier agreements. In those moments, how can you say less, get more, and drive better outcomes? In this episode, Fotini Iconomopoulos, master communicator and author of Say Less Get More: Unconventional Negotiation Techniques to Get What You Want, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and strategic thinking for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors. Fotini explains how stronger negotiation skills improve accountability, trust building, and employee engagement. You will learn practical techniques for handling difficult conversations, influencing outcomes, and strengthening your leadership presence on the shop floor. 1:00 – Learning how to negotiate and communicate is an important skill for manufacturing leaders 3:20 – Negotiation plays a key role in many manufacturing scenarios, like working with suppliers and retailers 4:25 – Be mindful of negotiation opportunities in your everyday interactions 6:44 – Negotiation isn't just about getting your own way, but about changing the thinking of another person 7:00 – To improve your negotiation skills, stay curious and ask questions 7:34 – When negotiation, think about your own emotions and the emotions of the other person 9:19 – Practice striking the balance between logic and emotions in your negotiations 15:12 – Use language that aids cooperation and mutual benefit 18:54 – Opening with an extreme can set you up for a success negotiation, but be sure to consider the ethics involved 21:37 – People are often motivated more by what they might lose, rather than what they stand to gain 22:22 – Silence can also be a powerful tool in negotiations Connect with Fotini Iconomopoulos Vist her website Learn more about Say Less, Get More Read my book report