In manufacturing, the biggest constraint isn’t labor, equipment, or margins. It’s time! When you’re crunched for time or feel like you’re constantly fighting fires, you lose out on valuable opportunities for curious conversations and stronger connections. Overtime, this can lead to issues like communication breakdowns, slowed productivity, and a culture where people are burnt-out and not showing up as their best selves.
In this episode, I’m joined by guest Brian Herriot to take a look into how manufacturing leaders can rethink work, leadership, and scheduling to build stronger team . . . without burning people out or lowering standards. Brian is an author and speaker who draws on his own successful business experiences to help others design clear, actionable small business and money management strategies and build their path toward sustainable freedom. He’s also the author of the upcoming book Time Freedom: Rethink Your Work and Money to Create a Life You Love Now.
In this episode, Brian uses his practical, human-centered approach to tackle topics like why traditional shift models are breaking down, how time freedom shows up on the shop floor, and what leaders can do right now to improve engagement, retention, and ownership.
02:10 – Frontline leadership must acknowledge that traditional manufacturing management models no longer align with modern workplace culture or employee engagement in manufacturing.
03:30 – Gen Z expects leadership in manufacturing plants to adapt to their lives, not the other way around
06:55 – Great manufacturing culture comes from seeing teams as humans first, not just labor inputs on the production line
09:10 –Employee ownership models and open-book management strengthen trust in leadership, manufacturing relationships, and accountability in manufacturing
11:25 – Manufacturing retention improves when leaders focus on team engagement in manufacturing rather than just output and efficiency
12:45 –Frontline leaders must recognize that many employees juggle multiple jobs and need coaching in manufacturing that supports life beyond the plant
14:10 – Flexible schedules, job sharing, and project-based roles can close the showing up gap while improving manufacturing innovation and retention
15:35 – Time Freedom as a Leadership Strategy
Leadership transformation happens when manufacturing leaders design roles that allow experienced workers to scale back without fully exiting
18:55 –Helping employees understand their financial future reduces anxiety and strengthens employee engagement in manufacturing
22:35 –Deeper conversations about money, time, and work build emotional intelligence, vulnerability in leadership, and a stronger coaching culture
Connect with Brian Herriot
Learn more about Time Freedom
Pre-order Time Freedom and use the code Trevor to get free access to the audiobook
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