Storytelling in Manufacturing for Production Managers: Using Real Stories to Improve Alignment and Team Performance with Terry Perry #121

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!

Stories connect people, build trust, and help manufacturing leaders drive engagement, accountability, and productivity. When used intentionally, storytelling becomes a powerful leadership tool on the shop floor.

In this episode, Trevor Perry, award winning speaker and author, shares insights on manufacturing leadership, communication skills, and employee engagement for Operations Managers, Production Managers, Manufacturing Managers, and Shift Supervisors.

Trevor explains how storytelling supports authentic leadership, strengthens trust building, and improves feedback delivery during difficult conversations. You will learn practical ways to use stories to grow your influence, support workforce retention, and create manufacturing cultures where teams feel connected, motivated, and aligned with shared goals.

4:04 – When someone owns, lives, and feels a story, that makes for powerful storytelling

5:31 – Some people might be bad storytellers with great stories to tell, or great storytellers with bad stories

6:24 – Storytelling is a way to connect and help others relate to what you're trying to share

7:12 – Good storytelling is transparent and draws on your own experiences

8:42 – If you're telling someone else's story, you still need to find a way to personally connect and own the story you're telling

11:18 – Storytelling is an inherent part of human nature, which is why stories resonate so well

12:47 – Every story needs a purpose, especially if you're in a leader or mentor role

15:15 – If you're trying to adopt someone else's story as your own, it won't feel authentic

16:19 – A culture of storytelling can bring more connection to your organization

17:44 – How you tell a story is always going to be different depending on your audience or situation

20:28 – Practicing improv is a unique way to hone your storytelling skills 

20:30 - Learn more about improv and storytelling in Episode 97

22:55 – You can also learn about storytelling about listening to others

23:57 – As a human, you are a storyteller

Connect with Trevor Perry

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Thanks for tuning it to another episode of Mindfulness Manufacturing! To learn more about Trevor Blondeel and Manufacturing Greatness, please visit our website or contact Trevor here.