Brian Lange

Why Effective Leadership Needs Proper Vetting I recently interviewed for a Plant Manager position, only to find the process alarmingly brief—just 15 minutes focused on technical questions with no discussion on strategic business alignment. As a senior leader, I expected a conversation that would address how the role integrates with company goals, performance metrics, and leadership collaboration. The lack of focus on these critical elements raised a red flag. A company that doesn’t thoroughly vet its candidates for leadership roles may not understand the complexity of the position. Rushed interviews signal a potential lack of respect for leadership and could indicate disorganization within the company. Effective plant management is about driving business strategy, not just operations. If the interview process fails to address this, it’s a warning to trust your instincts and look elsewhere for an organization that values strategic leadership and long-term success.

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Absolutely agree with this assessment. Too often quality is viewed as a cost center, which is a fair view. I would contend that the more companies pair with their SMEs in quality or lead with quality the less issues there are down the road especially as you scale.

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🌱 Choose Your Circle Wisely 🌱 In both life and business, the people we surround ourselves with have a huge impact on our mindset, motivation, and energy. Those who bring us peace, who support us genuinely, and who encourage us to grow without holding us back—these are the people truly deserving of our time and energy. Imagine the difference it makes to have friends, colleagues, and mentors who uplift rather than drain. This supportive circle not only fuels our productivity and creativity but also keeps us grounded. They remind us that it's okay to pause, to breathe, and to find joy in the journey. Let’s be intentional about choosing people who nurture our peace and bring out the best in us. Our time and energy are limited; let’s invest them wisely. 💡 Tag someone who brings you peace, and let them know they’re appreciated. #MindsetMatters #ChooseYourCircle #PositiveVibes #InvestInYourself #PeacefulLiving #SupportSystem #IntentionalLiving #TimeWellSpent #GrowthMindset #AuthenticConnections

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A lesson in commitment to love and family by a great teacher - Steve Bunkowski The Big Four. This quick and simple list of questions will catapult the relationship you have with your child(ren): What is something good you did today? What is something you could have done better? What is something you learned? What are you thankful for? Maybe not the first time or two, but these four questions will spark so much more than just a short 2 minute conversation.

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Empathy is one of many elements of leadership!

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Leadership comes from many approaches....one of those many approaches is what I call "give and take". Give credit, and take responsibility. Give your team credit for wins, and take responsibility when you miss goals.

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Someone recently asked me “How I have used the coaching kata to build culture?”; here is a real life example I shared. One of my directors returned from a meeting and informed me that due to Covid manufacturing process changes, one of our supplier was experiencing some component failures. He wanted to light a fire under our engineering team to get them to look deeper into issues. We were experiencing about 32% field failures which we couldn’t replicate in lab test situations. I was fearful that if he went straight at them with a list of to do’s it might put them on the defensive. So I suggested he use the coaching kata to empower the team. He told them the current state and the desired target state. Next he informed them that the supplier might be preventing us from reaching our target state and asked them to independently (without biasing each other), write down what they thought our next steps should be. After writing down their ideas they share them openly and came up with a list of actions they all aligned on along with timing of when we could reconvene to see what they had learned. The team responded positively and with unity. They felt respected for being allowed to think through it based on their expertise instead of being told what to do. They felt a positive spin instead of a reprimand. They were upbeat instead of defensive. More importantly they were able to implement all the ideas in under 60 days with some breakthroughs that have taken our failure rates down to less than 2 per million devices. Consequently every project review and problem solving session follows the kata structure. This coupled with some other enablement practices and recognition has brought our net promoter score up 38 points which puts us at 97%.

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During my soon to be 11 years in the community of Reliability and Asset Managers peers, one of my favorite things is the friendships that are created among this network. Seeing your colleagues grow and continue moving forward, makes you feel so happy of their accomplishments. Here with 2 of my fav friends and colleagues in this community. Friendships are important for several reasons. They provide emotional support, companionship, and a sense of belonging. Friends can offer different perspectives, advice, and encouragement during challenging times. They also contribute to our overall well-being by reducing stress, loneliness, and isolation. Friendships can bring joy, laughter, and shared experiences that enrich our lives. Additionally, strong friendships can help us grow personally and develop important social skills. #community #friendships

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🚧"We have always done it that way" ⚠️ Is a red flag for leadership 🚩 & a opportunity for consultants 💡 Is your organization looking to grow? Then it needs to be open to change. 🔄 #consulting #entrepreneurship #smallbusinessowner #owneroperators #manufacturing #operationalexcellence

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Imagine setting sail without a compass. Sounds daunting, right? That's how vital envisioning the end goal is in leadership. Here's how that insight transformed my approach and how it can do the same for you: 𝗖͟𝗹͟𝗮͟𝗿͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝘆͟ ͟𝗶͟𝘀͟ ͟𝗞͟𝗲͟𝘆͟: When I first embraced this mindset, the fog lifted. Goals became lighthouses guiding our team's journey. It wasn't just about hitting targets; it was about understanding the 'why' behind every effort. 𝗦͟𝘁͟𝗿͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗴͟𝗶͟𝗰͟ ͟𝗦͟𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗽͟𝘀͟:͟ Knowing our destination allowed us to map out our path with precision. Each step was a calculated move, not a hopeful leap. This strategy didn't just bring us closer to our goal; it maximized our efficiency and impact. 𝗥͟𝗲͟𝘀͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝗰͟𝗲͟ ͟𝗥͟𝗲͟𝗱͟𝗲͟𝗳͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗲͟𝗱͟:͟ ͟ Obstacles? They became mere detours, not roadblocks. With the end in mind, every challenge was an opportunity to innovate, not a reason to retreat. This shift in perspective was a game-changer. 𝗧͟𝗲͟𝗮͟𝗺͟ ͟𝗨͟𝗻͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝘆͟:͟ Sharing this vision fostered a sense of unity and purpose. It was no longer my journey or your journey. It was our journey. This collective commitment was the jet fuel propelling us forward. 𝗖͟𝗲͟𝗹͟𝗲͟𝗯͟𝗿͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗼͟𝗻͟ ͟𝗼͟𝗳͟ ͟𝗠͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗲͟𝘀͟𝘁͟𝗼͟𝗻͟𝗲͟𝘀͟:͟ ͟ Acknowledging each milestone became a ritual. It wasn't just about the big wins; it was about appreciating the small victories that kept us motivated and on track. So, what's your end goal? Dive deep. Plan with precision - embrace the journey with an unwavering focus on where you're heading. Let's start with the end in mind. Share your vision in the comments below. Together, let's turn these insights into action!

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Notice anyone in need of guidance through their fog? Follow me into this discussion. 🌫️ Life's journey often leads us through dense fogs—periods of uncertainty where the next steps aren’t clear. Whether it's a career change, personal dilemma, or simply feeling lost, knowing how to guide ourselves and others is crucial. ➡️ Understanding the Fog → 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Recognize when you're in a fog and acknowledge it without judgment. → 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Identify the core challenges or decisions that contribute to your uncertainty. → 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Gather insights and advice from others who have navigated similar fogs. ➡️ Guiding Others Through Their Fog → 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆: Show genuine understanding and compassion for others' struggles. → 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Offer resources and assistance, but allow them to make their own decisions. → 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Share stories of overcoming challenges to inspire hope and determination. 🔦 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗽: If you or someone you know is experiencing a foggy period, start by mapping out the feelings and choices associated with it. Writing things down can turn abstract fears into concrete actions to be tackled. Ever found yourself guiding someone through their fog or being guided? What was key to finding the way out? Let's discuss and learn from each other's experiences. 💬 #Guidance #LifeChallenges #FindYourWay

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“It is not shortage of time that should worry us, but the tendency for the majority of time to be spent in low quality ways.” Robert Koch There is a large gap in the efficiency mindset, extensively working to optimize time and get the most out of a day. When working for efficiency, opportunities and needs create the calendar, and there is never a shortage to fill a week. The tasks create the play book. This efficiency mindset drives productivity, gets things done. However, monotonous tasks overtake creative thinking. Time is spent in “low quality” ways. Days become a grind, a race. And, most importantly, the efficiency mindset leaves no margin for others. Flip the efficiency play book to an other-centric mindset. The goal with an other-centric mindset is to impact others. Serve others. An other-centric mindset naturally leads one to high quality work. Days aren’t a grind, but an opportunity to make an impact in people’s lives. Creative thinking flows from those with an other-centric mindset as one imagines innovate ways to serve. Perhaps most important, other-centric thinking provides an open door for the interruptions in life. Those times when a co-worker breaks your concentration, providing an opportunity to serve. Or, the phone call from the family member that needs a few minutes of undivided, processing time. Most of the time, they just need an ear, someone to walk with for a few minutes. Other-centric thinking unifies a culture, a business, a team, a family, a marriage. Instead of this week being filled with tasks and meetings, recenter your thinking to impacting others. How does each endeavor impact others? Other-centric thinking will break any monotony in your life, fill your cup and bless those around you.

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Just finished the learning path “CSCMP Supply Chain Foundations: Manufacturing and Service Operations Professional Certificate”! #industrialautomation #serviceoperations #manufacturingoperationsmanagement

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"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller 🌟 Today, I'm thrilled to spotlight some incredible people who have been a beacon of inspiration and guidance for me recently on LinkedIn and maybe they're worth connecting with as well: ➡️ Josh Etress ⚡️– For consistently delivering thought-provoking insights that challenge us to level up our game. 🚀 ➡️ Ryan Cass – A master of performance, blending physical and mental feats to push boundaries. 🧠💪 ➡️ Jenn Drummond – Personally connecting with her audience and sharing her journey in her book for those ready to summit their own mountains. 📚⛰️ ➡️ Lauren Widrick – Bringing unstoppable energy and teaching us how to kick life's goals! Attending her seminar was a game-changer. 🔥 ➡️ Rusty Fulling – Excelling in CFO fractional services by prioritizing people first and building a business on strong foundations. 📈 ➡️ Kevin Paul Scott – Igniting passion and inspiration with his powerful commencement speech to my daughters class, truly a transformative speaker. 🎤 ➡️ Ben Hansen – A steadfast friend through personal transitions, exemplifying that true connection goes beyond business. A joy to work with and a privilege to call a friend. 🤝❤️ ➡️ Shay Eskew – For generously offering training advice out of sheer love for what he does. His passion is contagious! ❤️🏅 ➡️ Alex Judd – Demonstrating a daily commitment to his core values, never wavering and instilling this into all of his clients, team members and friends. Alex is a true inspiration in business and in life. Go Alex and Path for Growth! 🌟 Soo many more than this, but felt compelled to write a quick note on the above... Take a moment to think about the people who inspire you daily and give them a shout-out! Spreading positivity and recognition can amplify your network's energy and drive. 🌐 _______________________________________ ♻️ Can you please like and share to reach more people? 📢 _______________________________________ Who would you like to shout out to? Let's celebrate our community's catalysts together! #Inspiration #Motivation #Leadership #CommunityBuilding

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Industry Week published my article, "A Well-Designed Pay-for-Performance Model Drives Change." The article discusses the importance of implementing a Pay-For-Performance (PFP) model to address the labor shortage and enhance productivity in the manufacturing sector. It highlights the challenges many companies face in retaining top talent and emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to employee development and engagement. The PFP model offers a potential solution by aligning employee performance with organizational goals and providing incentives for achieving results. I would love to get your thoughts... https://lnkd.in/ebb5azYj #compensation #payforperformance #manufacturing

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I'm excited about the future of manufacturing in the United States. Over the past few weeks I've met with manufacturing leaders across Ohio discussing their operations and talking through how Veryable can be strategically leveraged as a resource to help the business, deliver better service to customers, and support their full time workforce. In these conversations, there's been a consistent (and refreshing) theme: These Plant Managers, Directors of Operations, Operations Managers, Site Leaders, etc. are actively exploring options to get better at what they do to deliver better products on time for their customers. And they're not doing it just to increase profits - they're doing it because they genuinely care about the value they're bringing to their customers. They want to do a good job. It's great to see the spirit and drive of these leaders and know that they're the leaders we count on to make the pieces, parts, and products we take for granted in our lives. #manufacturing #theheartofitall #continuousimprovement

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