Leading for Operational Excellence

Leadership behaviors drive performance. Learn how communication, coaching, and alignment improve individual and plant results.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Explain why communication clarity and behavioral consistency are foundational to safety, productivity, engagement, and morale.
  • Identify leadership behaviors that build trust, improve motivation, and strengthen performance culture.
  • Apply structured coaching models that improve employee capability, confidence, and alignment.
  • Evaluate performance using a balanced approach that considers both results and behaviors.

Register Here  Registration closes April 28th for this event on May 5th.

Normally priced at $125 per person, this event is being offered at no cost to Virginia manufacturers through a partnership between The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing, The New River/Mt. Rogers Workforce Development Board, The Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County and GENEDGE, Virginia’s MEP Center, using federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership funding.

Supporting Employees While Maintaining a Safe and Productive Workplace

Manufacturers and other employers often face difficult situations involving employee wellbeing, workplace safety, and maintaining a productive workforce. Supervisors are frequently the first to encounter these challenges and must balance compassion for employees with the responsibility to protect the workplace and the organization.

This session brings together experts from industry and community organizations to discuss practical approaches employers can use when navigating complex employee situations. Participants will gain insight into recognizing and responding to challenging workplace circumstances, supporting employees in accessing community resources, and exploring options that help employees remain productive members of the workforce.

The program will include perspectives from GENEDGE, community support organizations, and workforce development professionals. Together they will highlight approaches that allow employers to respond appropriately, protect their organizations, and connect employees with resources that may help them overcome personal challenges while remaining engaged in the workforce.

Register Here

This event will be held at the Pulaski Innovation Center on Thursday, May 21 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

This $125 per person training is offered at NO-COST through a GENEDGE partnership with New River/Mt. Rogers Workforce Development Board and the New River Valley Community Services.

Leading for Operational Excellence

Strong leadership is not a “soft skill.” It is an operational capability that directly influences safety, productivity, quality, retention, and culture. Leading for Operational Excellence is designed to strengthen supervisory and managerial performance using evidence-based leadership practices proven to drive measurable results.

In this workshop, participants examine the relationship between leadership conduct and real operational indicators. They will learn how communication clarity, coaching effectiveness, and performance alignment shape both individual success and plant performance.

This session is academically grounded and highly practical, giving leaders tools they can apply immediately on the shop floor.


What You Will Learn

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Explain why communication clarity and behavioral consistency are foundational to safety, productivity, engagement, and morale
  • Identify leadership behaviors that build trust, improve motivation, and strengthen performance culture
  • Apply structured coaching models that improve employee capability, confidence, and alignment
  • Evaluate performance using a balanced approach that considers both results and behaviors

Framework Used

This workshop is built on methodologies from Development Dimensions International (DDI), a leadership research and development organization known for competency-based frameworks grounded in decades of leadership science.

Participants will learn validated models and practical tools based on empirical evidence, not anecdotal advice.


Workshop Agenda

Topics include:

  • Why Leadership Behaviors Matter
    How leadership practices influence reliability, error reduction, retention, and culture

  • Meeting Employees’ Personal Needs
    Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, psychological safety, and engagement drivers

  • Coaching Conversations with Impact
    Why traditional supervisory conversations fail, and how structured coaching improves outcomes

  • Leading Performance Discussions
    Evidence-based approaches to feedback that strengthen accountability while preserving trust

  • Action Planning
    A guided exercise to help leaders apply new insights immediately


Who Should Attend

This workshop is ideal for leaders who influence daily performance and employee experience, including:

  • Frontline Supervisors and Team Leads
  • Production Managers and Department Managers
  • Continuous Improvement and Lean Leaders
  • HR and Talent Leaders supporting supervisor development
  • High-potential employees preparing for leadership roles

Expected Outcomes

Participants will leave with:

  • A clear understanding of how leadership behaviors connect to operational performance
  • Practical coaching and communication tools that improve day-to-day execution
  • More effective approaches to accountability and performance conversations
  • A simple action plan to strengthen leadership routines immediately

Duration

2 hours


Cost

$125 per participant


Registration

Click Here to Register through EventBrite