Leadership + Trust for Manufacturing Managers: Strengthening Your Personal Brand to Increase Credibility and Influence with Kenneth Kinney #77

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!

There's a lot manufacturing leaders can learn from sharks — just ask Kenneth "Shark" Kinney.

In this episode, Shark — speaker, marketing strategist, and podcast host — shares how curiosity and fearless leadership help Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors build their brand, connect with their community, and lead with confidence.

We talk practical communication skills, authentic leadership, and simple social media strategies to strengthen visibility and trust — plus lessons from Shark's real-life shark diving that translate directly to leadership on the shop floor.

1:00 – We can use our personal brands to make real change

3:12 – Manufacturing leadership is a lot like diving with sharks—you need curiosity, bravery, respect, and boundaries. Be fearless and dive deeper!

4:40 – Your leadership image goes far beyond the four walls of your manufacturing plant

6:00 – When telling your brand's story, be clear, concise, and always remember who your real audience is. Focus on community, not just the company

8:45 – Show the humans behind your brand and organization, not just "stock imagery"

11:00 – When it comes to matters like supporting a charity, think about the true identity behind your brand and think about what will engage your team and community

15:00 – Your employees are going to talk on social media, so why not work to make sure they always have something positive to say about your leadership and organization?

18:00 – LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building your brand and finding your community—one great tip for building your brand is to engage with other people's post on LinkedIn

24:00 – When someone in your organization does a great job, don't shy away from praising them on social media like LinkedIn

26:00 – If your employees are active on social media or talking about your organization online, it doesn't have to be a bad thing, as long as you make sure they have positive things to say by treating your team well

28:00 – Social media is a great tool for showing your most authentic self

33:30 – You have to play an active role in your organization's community, or else you'll miss out on many opportunities for branding and engagement

Connect with Kenneth "Shark" Kinney

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