Leadership Influence in Manufacturing: How Everyday Actions Create Infinite Impact with Alyson Van Hooser #108

Leadership Influence in Manufacturing: How Everyday Actions Create Infinite Impact with Alyson Van Hooser #108

Author: Trevor Blondeel January 10, 2024 Duration: 31:00

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!

From retaining top talent to improving performance, manufacturing leaders use influence every day on the shop floor.

In this episode, Alyson Van Hooser, keynote speaker, leadership expert, and author of Infinite Influence, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, Team Leaders, and Shift Supervisors.

Alyson explains how curiosity, intentionality, and authentic leadership strengthen trust building and accountability. You will learn practical strategies for difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and growth mindset that support workforce retention, improve productivity, and create manufacturing cultures where people feel motivated, valued, and connected.

2:57 – There are many ways to influence people, from convincing them to stay on your team to influencing someone to level up their performance at work

3:19 – Change the way you think about everyone you know and recognize your ability to influence anyone, anywhere, at any time

4:27 – Influence is very different from manipulation

5:21 – You can't motivate someone to do something they don't want to do

14:52 – Instead of making assumptions, stay curious and think about what others need

17:25 – By making assumptions, you might not be meeting your team's needs, if you are going in with good intentions

18:51 – You need a combination of good intentions and intentional actions

22:48 – Leading with biases and assumptions instead of curiosity and intentionality can lead to further disconnect in your organization

23:46 – You don't need radical shifts to change your leadership. Instead, you can focus on small moments of building curiosity and intention

26:03 – To find the best way to communicate with someone, you need build a relationship and get to know their story

28:33 – Successful organizations are built through the support and investment of others

Connect with Alyson Van Hooser

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Learn More About Infinite Influence


Trevor Blondeel hosts Manufacturing Greatness, a series built on the belief that the most valuable insights come from real-world experience. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders from the factory floor and beyond, focusing on the human side of industry challenges. You’ll hear stories that tackle the pressing issues of retention, skills gaps, and labor challenges with a sense of transparency rarely found in business discussions. This podcast digs into practical strategies for continuous improvement and workforce development, connecting them directly to productivity and safety outcomes. Rather than abstract theory, Trevor and his guests explore how to leverage existing resources and people to build a more resilient operation. The dialogue naturally extends to what Industry 4.0 means for frontline supervisors and plant managers, framing technology as a tool for human empowerment. It’s for anyone who believes that sustainable profits are built through authentic leadership and a relentless focus on developing people. By listening, you gain access to a community focused on pragmatic solutions, where the shared goal is to cultivate excellence from the ground up in a constantly evolving manufacturing landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Manufacturing Greatness | Productivity | Retention | Profits | Continuous Improvement | Safety | Workforce Development | Labor Challenges | Skills Gaps | Industry 4.0
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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 lear…