Episodes

  • How Leadership Development Makes Your Life (and Your Team’s) Easier

    How Leadership Development Makes Your Life (and Your Team’s) Easier
    Feb 9 2026
    Kirk dives into a question many frontline leaders ask: “Why should I care about leadership development if I’m already doing ‘good enough’?” Many leaders in manufacturing and supply chain are promoted because they are excellent technical operators, not necessarily because they have formal leadership training. Kirk explores how viewing leadership as a learnable […]
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    10 mins
  • Reversing Quiet Quitting: Managing Disengagement

    Reversing Quiet Quitting: Managing Disengagement
    Jan 26 2026
    Lately, you’ve probably seen the term "quiet quitting" all over the headlines. While the term is trending, the behavior itself—people coming in, doing the bare minimum, and clocking out the exact second their shift ends—is certainly not new. But let’s be honest, quiet quitting is really just another word for disengagement. Whether your team feels undervalued, overworked, or just disconnected from the "why" behind their work, that lack of engagement hits your organization's performance hard. In this episode, Kirk shares three practical strategies you can implement right away to re-engage your team and start reversing that trend.
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    11 mins
  • 4 Ways to Improve Your Production Floor Communication

    4 Ways to Improve Your Production Floor Communication
    Jan 12 2026
    Kirk discusses how to improve communication on the production floor. Communication is the backbone of leadership, and as a leader, much of your daily role involves facilitating the flow of information. He shares four practical tips for frontline leaders to help remove ambiguity and ensure messages are delivered effectively. By focusing on planning, […]
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    8 mins
  • Why Your Team Needs Mentoring and Coaching

    Why Your Team Needs Mentoring and Coaching
    Dec 29 2025
    Are you a “Hero” leader who does everything yourself, or a “Coach” who builds a self-sufficient team? Kirk and Suzanne break down the differences between mentoring and coaching in a manufacturing environment. Many frontline leaders use these terms interchangeably, but understanding how to apply each can transform your team’s culture, reduce your stress, […]
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    19 mins
  • Leader Feeder Rewind: A Look Back at Leadership Lessons

    Leader Feeder Rewind: A Look Back at Leadership Lessons
    Dec 15 2025
    Join Kirk Langford and Greg Schinkel as they look back at the most popular and commented-on clips from the Leader Feeder podcast over the last six months. This rewind episode highlights four essential skills that transform supervisors into highly effective, engaging leaders who drive operational success. We dive into why empowerment is the opposite of waste, how to build resilience through cross-training, and the simple shift that makes accountability a gift.
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    20 mins
  • Being in the Middle of Manufacturing Communications

    Being in the Middle of Manufacturing Communications
    Dec 1 2025
    Feeling caught in the middle between your team and senior management as a frontline leader or manufacturing supervisor? You're not alone. In this episode of Leader Feeder, Kirk and Suzanne discuss how to become a highly effective ambassador for your role in management by implementing a three-step strategy. This is to help your frontline communication and equip you with the communication skills needed to navigate conflict, boost productivity, and foster a positive workplace culture.
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    10 mins
  • Elevate Your Plant’s Performance With These Skills

    Elevate Your Plant’s Performance With These Skills
    Nov 17 2025
    Kirk breaks down four essential frontline leader skills you must master to stop wasting time on low-level issues, boost employee engagement, and achieve lasting high performance on the floor. Stop relying on technical ability alone and start building a culture of ownership and accountability. We cover the hidden cost of "decision-making waste," why part of your job is to motivate your team, and how leading by example goes far beyond wearing your PPE.
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    19 mins
  • 5 Tips for Successfully Moving From Peer to Leader

    5 Tips for Successfully Moving From Peer to Leader
    Nov 3 2025
    You were promoted because you were a rockstar individual contributor—your technical skills are unmatched. But now, as a new supervisor or frontline leader in manufacturing, your job is about leading people, not machines. This peer to leader transition is where most new managers struggle. In this episode of Leader Feeder, Kirk and Suzanne discuss the huge challenges of being suddenly promoted above your peers and share tactical, actionable advice on how to successfully handle the new role. The internal promotion is great, but leading your former friends is tough. If your organization needs support for new managers making the shift from peer to leader, contact us for comprehensive leadership programs.Visit: uniquedevelopment.com | Email: hello@uniquedevelopment.com
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    15 mins