The skills that matter most are those that make a difference. Few are more important to supervisors than those needed to build cohesive and productive teams. In this episode, AEU LEAD Director Joe White highlights the importance of social intelligence and offers suggestions for ways frontline leaders can effectively demonstrate it. View this episod…

Workplace culture has quickly become a topic of concern for many organizations. For some, it’s about preserving the past, and for others, it's about shaping the future. Regardless of where your organization may fall on this spectrum, the role supervisors play is instrumental and undeniable. In this episode, AEU LEAD Director Joe White outlines spec…

Providing employees with feedback is essential for continuous growth and development to occur. Properly positioned, feedback follows clearly defined expectations and is a precursor to performance coaching. In this episode, AEU LEAD Director Joe White discusses the importance of feedback and outlines a process anyone can follow to implement it as a …

Transitioning from an hourly or wage roll position to supervisor is challenging. It’s even more difficult for those managing employees they previously worked with on a daily basis. In this podcast episode, host Joe White provides recommendations for dealing with a problematic past. A key to moving forward, involves acknowledging past mistakes with …

Unfortunately, six out of 10 new supervisors fail within the first 24 months of being promoted into the position. The challenge for most doesn’t involve the technical aspects of the job. In this episode, podcast host Joe White provides insight into the soft skills required for success and those most important to anyone transitioning into a frontlin…

The workplace is changing rapidly. Emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and an unprecedented workforce transition demand a new set of skills for those on the frontline. In this episode, podcast host Joe White provides a glimpse at what’s coming in the not-too-distant future. For those looking to lead teams beyond the next few years, this…

The rate of change organizations face has grown over the past decade. Most subject matter experts agree this trend will only increase with time. In this episode, podcast host Joe White highlights the role frontline supervisors have in leading change. In addition, he provides several recommendations for getting needed buy-in and support for change t…

Most supervisors find themselves in a race with the clock every day. A universal norm is that there’s seemingly never enough time to get everything done. Developing skills and employing best practices in time management is not only important, it’s essential to ongoing success in frontline roles. In this episode, podcast host Joe White provides five…

Safety management systems have evolved with time and great advancements have been made in injury prevention efforts. That said, employees still take short cuts and routinely engage in at-risk behaviors that defy training and clearly conveyed performance expectations. In this podcast episode, host Joe White explains why this occurs and offers resear…

Reaching and connecting with employees requires more than an exchange of information. To do so most effectively, supervisors must learn to convey details using communication styles that align with those most preferred by direct reports. In this episode, host Joe White covers four communication styles and highlights personality traits most commonly …

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. More than ever, supervisors must recognize signs it exists and intervene for the purpose of helping bring about resolution. In this episode, host Joe White outlines five steps to achieving compromise where conflict exists. View this episode on the AEU website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White foc…

Workplace burnout is a trending topic and an area of growing concern for many companies. Directly attributed to unmanaged stress, SoS host Joe White identifies common causes of supervisor burnout and offers five suggestions to help reduce the likelihood of its occurrence. View this episode on the AEU website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe …

The ability to effectively set and consistently achieve goals is highly valued in the workplace. It’s also very rare. In this SoS podcast episode, AEU LEAD Director Joe White shares five suggestions for those who want to better understand goal setting. In addition, he provides several thoughts regarding keys to success for those who intend to use t…

While supervisors seldom develop DE&I strategy, they do shape workplace culture through daily management practices. In this episode, AEU LEAD Director Joe White offers suggestions for ways supervisors can demonstrate their support for diversity, equity, and inclusion through their actions and behaviors. View this episode on the AEU website. About J…

Given that a majority of the incoming generation struggles with mental health, companies have an unprecedented need to prepare for the inevitable challenges they will face. In this episode, host Joe White discusses the signs and symptoms of workplace stress and anxiety and offers suggestions for responding to it. View this episode on the AEU LEAD w…

Employee engagement is a byproduct of the employee’s experience. Supervisors are primary contributors to experiences direct reports have and are in the best possible position to affect levels of engagement. In this episode, host Joe White shares ideas for what matters most to today’s workforce. View this episode on the AEU LEAD website. About Joe A…

Supervisors in labor-dependent industries typically rely on authoritative management practices in the performance of their job. This leadership style is among the least preferred by Gen Z. In this podcast episode, host Joe White provides an overview of five styles of leadership and shares some thoughts regarding the application of each. View this e…

Gen Z's integration into the workforce has not been easy for many organizations; especially those in labor-intensive industries. In this episode, host Joe White highlights job traits valued by the incoming generation and discusses characteristics they expect to see in supervisors. View this episode on the AEU LEAD website. About Joe As Director of …

On average, organizational change efforts achieve desired objectives less than 30% of the time. When frontline resources aren’t engaged or involved, the rate of success drops to less than 10%. In this episode, we discuss the supervisor’s role in getting needed buy-in, support, and commitment from employees and other stakeholders that must ultimatel…

The term "quiet quitting" has gone viral. In the third quarter of 2022, its global online search frequency increased by more than 9,000%! In this episode, we describe what it means, discuss its impact on employers, and share some ideas for ways supervisors can have an impact on it. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD…

One of the most important things a supervisor can do to show employees respect is to actively listen to them in conversation. In this episode, we take on the topic of active listening and highlight 5 ways mid and frontline managers can demonstrate this important skill. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White f…

Across a number of industries, serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) have been trending upwards since the onset of the pandemic. In this episode, we provide listeners with five suggestions to more effectively manage high-risk tasks where SIF potential exists. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on…

Not all supervisors lead investigations. For those who do, gathering facts and developing a list of recommendations that prevent reoccurrence is essential. To that end, we’ve highlighted several recommendations in this episode to help supervisors achieve a successful incident investigation outcome. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Dir…

Supervisors have an impressive list of responsibilities. None, however, are more important than those related to direct reports' safety, health, and well-being. This episode discusses the importance of felt leadership in safety and highlights ways to demonstrate it. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focu…

Success in the 21st century will require continuous learning. The rate of change occurring in the workplace is expected to increase, and the skills needed by supervisors will undoubtedly expand. In this episode, we outline five steps supervisors can take to respond to the shifts already underway and better plan for the challenges they will face in …

A significant source of frustration for many employees is a supervisor who lacks responsiveness and doesn't follow up. This episode discusses why employee follow-up is essential and provides a strategy for those who want to change and improve. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helping members …

Employees today want to be coached and led, not controlled and managed. For many supervisors, this means developing an entirely new set of skills. That is especially true in industries where command and control management practices exist. In this episode, we highlight five ways supervisors can effectively coach employees to improve performance. Vie…

A supervisor’s ability to influence employees is more critical today than in the past. A product of credibility and respect, influence is an invaluable commodity gained through demonstrated actions and behaviors. In this episode, we highlight five things supervisors should avoid doing to prevent the loss of credibility with employees. View this epi…

At a point in time when companies are looking for meaningful ways to distinguish themselves from others, Virginia Associated Builders and Contractors - Virginia Chapter (ABC – VA) President Patrick Dean has a lot to offer. In this episode, Patrick shares insights and perspectives from his nearly 40 years in construction on ways supervisors can affe…

The ability to effectively communicate is a requisite requirement for supervisors. Unfortunately, it’s an area where many people struggle, and most could benefit from learning and development opportunities. In this SoS short episode, we distinguish the differences between communication and effective communication. More importantly, we provide five …

Delegation benefits both supervisors and employees. Unfortunately, it’s a management practice not used nearly as often as it could or should be. In this episode, SOS Host Joe White discusses the value associated with effective delegation and offer suggestions for how to begin delegating tasks successfully. View this episode on our website. About Jo…

While we can’t get more time from a day, we can likely make better use of the time we have. In this episode, we interview Dr. Breck England, Vice President of Product Architecture with FranklinCovey, and explore ways supervisors can be more organized, efficient, and effective through simple time management strategies anyone can implement. View this…

Employee experience is a top-five priority for HR professionals. Directly attributed to levels of engagement and trends involving turnover, employee experience is of growing importance for organizations across a wide range of industries. For those serious about making needed improvements, solution strategies must involve the development of direct s…

By 2025, one-quarter of all employees will be from Gen Z. Throughout the remainder of this decade, their numbers will steadily increase as a growing percentage of the workforce. With this transition, companies must reexamine communication practices and cultural attributes to better align with the values and preferences of this emerging generation. …

Providing employees feedback is important to their ongoing growth and development. Unfortunately, only 30% routinely receive it and among those – most feel the information provided by their manager is either negative or too vague to be valuable. The process of engaging with employees for targeted development is neither complex nor difficult. In thi…

According to a National Safety Council report, only one out of every of two employers prepare their managers to recognize and appropriately respond to mental health needs. At a time when stress, anxiety, and workplace burnout are at an all-time high, the need for resources has never been greater. In this episode, Dr. Dustin Keller, CEO of Camelot C…

Workers' compensation is widely regarded as a non-discretionary expense. For some, it’s an unfortunate cost of doing business that adversely impacts the bottom line. For others, however, it’s a means of differentiating yourself from industry peers. In this episode, we spoke with Crystal Jones, a senior underwriter with The American Equity Underwrit…

An unintentional byproduct of organizational “rightsizing” is fewer promotional opportunities for those within. Companies across a wide range of industries have removed layers of management limiting career progression and advancement paths that previously existed. The criteria used for selection when positions do become available has changed, as we…

In a wide range of labor-dependent industries, frontline managers routinely meet with employees at the start of the day to discuss workflow priorities and to highlight matters of importance. Often, when activities involve unusual or non-routine tasks, safety planning is an essential part of these pre-shift meetings. In this episode, AEU LEAD direct…

Continuous growth and improvement are synonymous with success. Companies must find ways to provide for the ongoing development of employees and frontline managers need the skills to provide the feedback and coaching required for it to occur. In this episode, communication expert Dave Knibbe talks about the value of and techniques required to provid…

Employee engagement is a strong indicator of a company’s success and directly reflects the relationship between managers and their direct reports. Join us as we talk with leadership expert Alyson Van Hooser about ways managers can more effectively communicate and connect with employees. View this episode on our website. About Alyson Alyson Van Hoos…

The skills used to identify and select employees for promotion into management roles share little in common with those required for success as a supervisor or manager. For success, managers must have the ability to get work done through others. This isn’t a function of management, but a byproduct of leadership. In this episode, Steve Keating of Lea…

Return on investment should be a primary concern for those looking to invest time and money into leadership training for managers or supervisors. In this episode, we interview Jay Greene, operational director for South Bay Sand Blasting and Tank Cleaning. Jay offers a first-hand perspective of his experience with the AEU LEAD Supervisor Skills Work…

Studies consistently show most managers lack the skills needed to effectively communicate with direct reports. Where this exists, employee engagement, operational performance, and customer satisfaction suffer as a result. In this session, Phillip Van Hooser offers practical guidance on ways managers can more effectively reach and communicate with e…

Stanley X, a division of Stanley Black & Decker has positioned itself as a thought leader in learning innovations and is taking on some of the biggest challenges facing blue-collar industries today. In this episode, Rebecca Peredo, director of innovation for Stanley X, provides an overview of ways companies can stop the loss of valuable know-how ty…

Generational traits and characteristics are often referenced as a way of identifying those things that separate us. In a workplace setting, what matters most are strategies that can be used to build comradery and teamwork. In this episode, generational expert Cam Marston shares insights on ways to build teams and work as one through more effective …