PODCAST · business
Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development
by Unique Training & Development
Join our leadership experts for bi-weekly advice on how to develop consistent, capable and confident Supervisors, Managers and Team Leaders who drive safety, productivity, quality and team member engagement. In this series, we will highlight some of the key elements of the Front Line Leadership Training. This comprehensive approach will ensure a lasting change in the leadership approach and culture of your business to support high performance. As the number one choice for supervisor training in manufacturing, distribution and operations, learn more about how we can help you: uniquedevelopment.com
Episodes
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Your Supervisors Are Well Liked… That Might Be the Problem
The engagement survey comes back, and the first page every supervisor flips to is the one that says whether their people like them. But is being well-liked really what a supervisor is there to achieve? In this episode of Leader Feeder, Kirk breaks down the caretaker leadership style: the…
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Why Your Leadership Training Isn’t Sticking
Kirk breaks down why leadership and compliance training so often fails to stick, even when the training itself is well-designed. It usually comes down to two things: a lack of clear relevance to the participant’s day-to-day, and no real expectation that anything will change once they’re back on…
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3 Situations Where Leaders Prioritize Short-term Comfort Over Long-term Results
Three difficult situations that manufacturing supervisors face, and the more you avoid them, the harder they get. In this episode of Leader Feeder, Kirk breaks down three situations where leaders prioritize short-term comfort over long-term results: confronting a long-tenured, highly respected...
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Most Workplace Conflict Isn’t Personal
Two team members who can't stand each other? It's probably not personality. Kirk breaks down the reasons conflict keeps showing up on the floor.
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5 Ways Supervisors Play Favorites Without Knowing It
Ask any supervisor if they play favorites, and they’ll say no. Ask their team, and you might get a different answer. That gap is where favoritism lives, and in manufacturing it almost never looks like a supervisor openly rewarding their friends. It’s quieter than that. In this Leader Feeder, Kirk...
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Why Your Open Door Policy Isn’t Working
Your door is open. Your team still isn't walking through it. In this episode of Leader Feeder, Kirk breaks down why the open door policy is one of the biggest myths in manufacturing leadership, and why saying "my door is always open" almost never leads to more communication from your team. If...
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The Shift Handoff That Destroys Morale
Ever walk into a shift and get handed someone else’s mess with zero warning? That’s a shift ambush, not a handoff, and it’s quietly draining morale on your floor. Kirk explains why skipping (or half-doing) the shift handoff creates a cycle of blame between shifts, and lays out the 6 things a...
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We Tested 4 Leadership Styles — Here’s What Works
What’s the best leadership style for frontline leaders? We put four leadership styles head-to-head in a real simulation — run hundreds of times with frontline leaders across manufacturing, logistics, and production environments — and the results are consistent every single time. Most frontline...
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How to Deliver Management’s Message Without Losing Your Team’s Trust
You're stuck in the middle — management wants the new policy implemented, your team thinks it's stupid, and somehow you're the one who has to make it work. In this episode, Kirk breaks down why the best frontline leaders act like ambassadors — and the two skills that keep trust intact on both...
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How to Build Accountability Without Killing Morale
Accountability is one of the most requested — and most avoided — topics in leadership. In this episode of Leader Feeder, Kirk breaks down why accountability gets a bad reputation, why feedback conversations aren’t happening in most organizations, and exactly how to change that without deflating...
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Why Your Team Resists Change (And How Frontline Leaders Can Fix It)
In 1878, people predicted electric light would never catch on. They said the automobile was just a fad and we’d never make it to the moon. They were wrong, and Kirk uses these famously bad predictions to dig into something every frontline leader deals with: how we respond to change. In this...
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Why Your Best Operators Become Struggling Supervisors
Kirk dives into something we see all the time in the organizations we work with—the gap between promoting a great technical operator and actually setting them up to succeed as a frontline leader/supervisor. When someone starts as a new operator, we’d never just put them in front of a machine and...
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Tried Empowering Your Team… and It Failed?
What do you do when you try to empower your team… and it doesn’t work? Kirk breaks down one a common leadership challenge: You give someone responsibility… and they don’t meet expectations. So what happens next? Most leaders take the work back.And that’s where things start to go wrong. In this...
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Training the Available into the Capable
Turnover can feel like an endless cycle. When the pool of experienced workers runs dry, frontline leaders are often left with “available” candidates—people with great potential but zero production experience. How do you turn them into “capable” team members who actually want to stick around? Kirk...
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How to Prevent Employee Disengagement in Manufacturing
Employee disengagement is at an all-time high—and leaders everywhere are feeling the impact. In this episode, Kirk breaks down two practical, proven strategies to help you prevent disengagement before it starts. If you’re leading a team and noticing low energy, lack of ownership, or increasing...
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Keep Your Team Engaged with Effective One-On-Ones
Stop guessing what motivates your crew. Learn how regular one-on-ones build trust, remove obstacles, and keep your production team engaged and rowing together.
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Resolving Workplace Conflicts in Manufacturing
Learn how to resolve manufacturing workplace conflicts. Kirk Langford shares three strategies to empower frontline workers and melt away emotional tension.
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How Leadership Development Makes Your Life (and Your Team’s) Easier
Kirk dives into a question many frontline leaders ask: “Why should I care about leadership development if I’m already doing ‘good enough’?” Many leaders in manufacturing and supply chain are promoted because they are excellent technical operators, not necessarily because they have formal…
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Reversing Quiet Quitting: Managing Disengagement
Lately, you’ve probably seen the term "quiet quitting" all over the headlines. While the term is trending, the behavior itself—people coming in, doing the bare minimum, and clocking out the exact second their shift ends—is certainly not new. But let’s be honest, quiet quitting is really just...
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4 Ways to Improve Your Production Floor Communication
Kirk discusses how to improve communication on the production floor. Communication is the backbone of leadership, and as a leader, much of your daily role involves facilitating the flow of information. He shares four practical tips for frontline leaders to help remove ambiguity and ensure…
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Why Your Team Needs Mentoring and Coaching
Are you a “Hero” leader who does everything yourself, or a “Coach” who builds a self-sufficient team? Kirk and Suzanne break down the differences between mentoring and coaching in a manufacturing environment. Many frontline leaders use these terms interchangeably, but understanding how to apply...
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Leader Feeder Rewind: A Look Back at Leadership Lessons
Join Kirk Langford and Greg Schinkel as they look back at the most popular and commented-on clips from the Leader Feeder podcast over the last six months. This rewind episode highlights four essential skills that transform supervisors into highly effective, engaging leaders who drive operational...
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Being in the Middle of Manufacturing Communications
Feeling caught in the middle between your team and senior management as a frontline leader or manufacturing supervisor? You're not alone. In this episode of Leader Feeder, Kirk and Suzanne discuss how to become a highly effective ambassador for your role in management by implementing a three-step...
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Elevate Your Plant’s Performance With These Skills
Kirk breaks down four essential frontline leader skills you must master to stop wasting time on low-level issues, boost employee engagement, and achieve lasting high performance on the floor. Stop relying on technical ability alone and start building a culture of ownership and accountability. We...
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5 Tips for Successfully Moving From Peer to Leader
You were promoted because you were a rockstar individual contributor—your technical skills are unmatched. But now, as a new supervisor or frontline leader in manufacturing, your job is about leading people, not machines. This peer to leader transition is where most new managers struggle. In this...
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Navigating Daily Production Challenges As A Supervisor
Navigate daily production challenges as a manufacturing supervisor. Learn to boost the process, lead employees, and drive continuous improvement.
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Improve Your Abilities as a Logistics Supervisor By Focusing on These 3 Things
Are you a logistics supervisor overseeing a complex, high-stakes operation? You're managing materials, warehousing, manufacturing flow, and distribution—all at once! In this episode, we share three practical strategies to help logistics supervisors improve their effectiveness, solve problems...
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Three Strategies to Create a Sense of Urgency on Your Manufacturing Team
Do you worry that creating a sense of urgency will lead to employee burnout? We discuss how to create a healthy sense of urgency on your manufacturing team that builds forward momentum and a sense of accomplishment—without causing stress. Discover three key strategies to inspire your team, meet...
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[Re-Release] Back To School For Supervisors
Back to school season is here, and what better time to revisit one of our classic episodes? Originally released in 2021, the insights from this episode are just as relevant today for any supervisor looking to sharpen their skills. We tackle the small but crucial differences between the average…
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Avoid These 3 Common Mistakes Made By Newly Promoted Frontline Leaders
Are you a newly promoted leader, or do you manage someone stepping into a frontline leadership role? The transition can be trickier than it seems. In this episode, we uncover the core challenges of stepping up and reveal three widespread mistakes new leaders often make. Tune in to discover...
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Three Ways to Engage Your Team for Better Performance
Empower manufacturing supervisors to boost employee engagement! Discover three actionable strategies to improve productivity, motivate teams, and enhance morale in the manufacturing industry.
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Let’s Talk About Managing Dominant Personalities
Let's discuss the complexities of managing dominant personalities in the workplace. Learn why these personality types are common on the factory floor and how frontline leaders can transform potentially difficult employees into valuable team members.
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Leader Feeder Rewind: Unpacking Key Conversations in Leadership
In this special Leader Feeder Rewind episode, hosts Kirk Langford and Greg Schinkel look back at the most engaging and impactful leadership discussions from the past six months. Get ready to gain valuable insights and practical strategies to refine your leadership approach! If you are interested…
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5 Ways to Make You a More Efficient Manufacturing Supervisor
Boost your efficiency as a manufacturing supervisor! Discover 5 ways to streamline operations, empower teams, and become a highly efficient manufacturing leader.
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Handling Difficult Conversations at Work: 3 Conversations Every Manufacturing Manager Should Master
Struggling with a difficult conversation at work? Get proven tips for handling tough conversations as a manufacturing manager with confidence and clarity.
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Effective Strategies to Manage a Multigenerational Workforce Team
Discover effective strategies to manage a multigenerational workforce team, enhancing communication and skills while turning challenges into benefits for all generations.
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The Value of Embracing Workplace Diversity for Frontline Leadership
Join us as we discuss the importance and value of embracing workplace diversity for frontline leaders. We explore how a diverse team encompasses differences in ethnicity and language, age, technical skills, experience levels, and industry backgrounds. Discover how bringing together varied...
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How Being Too Busy Affects Manufacturing Leadership Effectiveness
Busy schedules and excessive admin tasks often keep manufacturing leaders away from the floor, impacting team productivity and morale.
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The Challenge of Retaining Manufacturing Employees
Reduce manufacturing turnover. Discover the 'Hope Slope' strategy: listen to your team, make impactful changes and build hope to retain valuable employees.
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How Frontline Leaders Can Identify and Harness Team Motivation
Unlock your team's potential! Discover the best strategies to inspire and motivate your team, drive success, and boost team morale as a frontline leader.
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Effective Communication for Frontline Leaders
Effective communication from frontline leaders enhances employee engagement, improves connection to strategy and empowers teams.
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Special Edition: How to Navigate Uncertainty and Drive Business Performance in Any Climate
Uncertainty in business? We wanted to share an episode of our sister podcast, Accelerating Operational Performance, hosted by Greg Schinkel. Learn how effective leadership can turn challenges into opportunities. Discover strategies to navigate uncertainty, improve operational efficiency, and…
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How Manufacturing Leaders Can Turn Complaints into Teamwork
Manufacturing leaders can transform complaints into teamwork through effective shift management.
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Overcoming Communication Silos in Industrial Teams
Break down communication silos within your company to enhance collaboration among teams and departments. Discover strategies to identify and overcome these barriers.
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How to Become a More Proactive Frontline Leader
Unlock your potential as a frontline leader! Discover how to develop your leadership skills and engage your workforce through effective frontline leadership training.
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Essential Leadership Traits for Manufacturing Supervisors
These essential leadership traits for manufacturing supervisors build trust in the workplace, create a culture of credibility, and foster high-performing teams.
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How to Lead Through Change and Uncertainty
Equip yourself with the strategies to successfully lead your manufacturing team through change. Discover how to maintain morale, improve communication, and achieve organizational goals.
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Leader Feeder: Rewind
Join Greg Schinkel and Kirk Langford as they rewind through previous episodes, unearthing valuable leadership tips and insights. Learn the essential qualities of effective leadership and discover the power of self-awareness, curiosity, and continuous learning in driving performance and empowering...
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Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning for Manufacturing Leadership
REPLAY: Discover the benefits and drawbacks of synchronous and asynchronous learning for manufacturing leadership training.
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How to Assess Your Leaders’ Level of Confidence in Their Leadership Skills
Learn how to assess the confidence levels of your leaders in their leadership abilities. Discover tools and strategies for effective leadership development programs.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join our leadership experts for bi-weekly advice on how to develop consistent, capable and confident Supervisors, Managers and Team Leaders who drive safety, productivity, quality and team member engagement. In this series, we will highlight some of the key elements of the Front Line Leadership Training. This comprehensive approach will ensure a lasting change in the leadership approach and culture of your business to support high performance. As the number one choice for supervisor training in manufacturing, distribution and operations, learn more about how we can help you: uniquedevelopment.com
HOSTED BY
Unique Training & Development
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development have?
Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development about?
Join our leadership experts for bi-weekly advice on how to develop consistent, capable and confident Supervisors, Managers and Team Leaders who drive safety, productivity, quality and team member engagement. In this series, we will highlight some of the key elements of the Front Line Leadership...
How often does Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development release new episodes?
Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development?
You can listen to Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development?
Leader Feeder by Unique Training & Development is created and hosted by Unique Training & Development.
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