Mavericks in Manufacturing
“It is the beginning of wisdom when you recognize that the best you can do is choose which rules you want to live by, and it is persistent and aggravated imbecility to pretend you can live without any.” ~ Wallace Stegner, historian, novelist Each of knows of a maverick: an unorthodox or independent-minded person. When we like what the person does, we label him or her as a free spirit, a genius of sorts. When we are unhappy with what the person does, we label him or her as a noncompliant, a definite troublemaker. Now, if we’re talking about maverick employees, what…
15 Tips to Help You Talk to Your Supervisors and Managers
You aren’t alone if you have difficulty communicating with your supervisors or managers. The thought of disagreeing or pointing out a concern evokes a range of emotions from discomfort to stress to panic – even fear of losing one’s job. We perceive something “bad” might happen. These emotions occur because we engage the limbic part of the brain which is responsible for the “fight or flight” response. How our limbic systems react to confrontation has a lot to do with our value systems, core beliefs, and self-confidence. It also has a great deal to do with how you learned to…
Tips On Interviewing a Candidate for Soft Skills
As any hiring manager knows, a cover letter and a resume display only the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath is concealed; yet, as an employer, it is what you’re banking on to substantiate the glimmer of the surface . . . and that includes soft skills. To summarize, 10 soft skills candidates may possess are: Excellence in communication skills Collaborates with a team Agility in learning and problem-solving Shows initiative (with maturity) Curious but intellectually humble Mentoring/coaching talent and leadership Logical process and critical thinking Influencing and motivating Prioritization and time management Strong work ethic Behavioral questions reveal…
Manufacturers’ Top Three Challenges
Manufacturers agree on many things, but most of all, on the challenges they face on a daily basis. It comes down to three facets of one issue: staffing. So, what about staffing seems to create this consensus? Understaffing/overstaffing One would be hard-pressed to win a debate on which condition is worse: under- or overstaffing. Either situation can create havoc with scheduling, inventory, and ROI. That is, quality may suffer, production may be thrown off causing a lag-time in filling orders, and overtime pay may become the norm to help answer the demand. Whether holding on through lean months or ratcheting…
Proven Value for Manufacturers to Develop Staff from Within: Part III
Today we conclude the discussion with MPS Technical about career development programs for employees with a slant towards concerns and leadership development. What about leadership development? The industry does have a need to step up leadership development as this strengthens an organization from the inside. High potential employees could be given “stretch” assignments over a period of months to prepare them to assume a mid-level position and longer for a more senior position. However, it can be a challenge to determine who may rank as “high potential” as individuals do not come in a one-size-fits-all package. What is management’s role…