Episode 113
What Role Does Recognition Play in Leadership Success?
“Reverse engineer it. Coach them up on how to be coachable.”
“Recognition for people takes on many different forms.”
1 Minute Leadersthip Tips
Key takeaways
Building a Feedback Culture:
The episode emphasized the importance of creating a strong feedback culture early in a leader’s career. This involves helping employees understand how they want to be recognized and how they prefer to receive feedback. The advice is to engage with team members continuously rather than only during formal review cycles, fostering a culture of trust and transparency.
Coachability and Communication:
Both Damien and Shane highlighted the significance of being coachable and teaching team members to be receptive to feedback. They mentioned the book “Coachability” as a resource for becoming more open to feedback. This concept is crucial as it lays the groundwork for open communication and improvement within teams.
Consistent Recognition and Encouragement:
Providing positive reinforcement and recognizing team efforts was discussed as a vital aspect of leadership. Shane’s story about receiving impactful feedback from a colleague and Damien’s experience of reassurance early in his career illustrate how meaningful, positive feedback can boost confidence, encourage consistency, and focus on actions that lead to results.
“Just remember to recognize anybody within your team or organization if they’re doing something great. Speak up and say it; it’s so impactful.”
Show Notes:
In Episode 113 of the “Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast,” host Sannah Vinding engages with esteemed guests Shane Zutz, the Vice President of Human Resources at DigiKey, and Damien Croft, General Manager at NorComp, to delve into the intricacies of developing a feedback culture and effective performance reviews within the manufacturing industry.
Key highlights of the discussion include Shane’s insight on the need to box feedback processes and scale them effectively within large organizations like DigiKey, and Damien’s emphasis on the importance of day-to-day feedback over annual performance reviews for maintaining accountability and growth. Both guests underscore the necessity of creating a culture of transparency, trust, and continuous feedback rather than relying solely on formal review cycles.
Sannah steers the conversation towards understanding the importance of coachability, as highlighted by Damien, who suggests that new leaders should focus on becoming coachable and teaching their teams the same. This reversal of traditional feedback norms fosters growth and creates a foundation for ongoing development.
Shane shares personal anecdotes, one involving a life-changing piece of feedback received from a colleague that pivoted his focus within his role, showcasing the impact of caring and thoughtful feedback on leader development.
Damien adds to the conversation by sharing a pivotal moment early in his career when positive feedback reinforced his efforts, teaching him the power of patience and persistence in achieving results.
In closing, Sannah emphasizes the value of providing positive feedback regularly to encourage and recognize efforts within teams. The episode also touches on organizational partnerships, leveraging learned leadership skills beyond individual feedback to improve business relations.
Overall, Episode 113 provides listeners with rich insights into performance management, effective feedback strategies, and the impact of mentorship and recognition, shaping a world-class leadership culture in the manufacturing landscape.
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Guests
Shane Zutz
Vice President of Human Resources at DigiKey
Shane Zutz is the Vice President of Human Resources at DigiKey Electronics, where he is instrumental in driving organizational performance and leading a global team through significant digital transformation. With over 5 years at DigiKey, Shane has overseen substantial growth and expansion, implementing key initiatives that support over 5,000 employees worldwide.
His leadership is informed by a rich background in education, having served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, where he managed a $26 million building project and introduced state-recognized programs. Shane holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, and degrees from Bemidji State University and Minnesota State University – Mankato.
Damien Croft
General Manager at NorComp
Damien Croft is a seasoned leader in the high-tech electronic component industry with over nine years of experience at NorComp. As General Manager, he spearheads the growth and development of individuals and teams, ensuring sustainable and profitable P&L growth. Under his stewardship, NorComp has capitalized on significant growth opportunities, driven by its core competencies in engineering and manufacturing highly reliable connectivity products.
Damien’s leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that everyone has untapped potential. He is passionate about building high-performing teams that excel through mutual trust and collaboration. His approach fosters a culture of excellence, accountability, and creativity, enabling him to consistently deliver results.
Before his current role, Damien held key positions such as Director of Sales and Global Account Manager at NorComp, where he honed skills in sales forecasting, strategy, and lead qualification. Damien’s career journey also includes leadership roles at EDAC Connectors and MH Connectors, where he significantly contributed to sales growth within the EMEA region.
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