28: The Importance of Bringing Collaboration into Manufacturing - with Gregg Potter

Unknown: 00:00:12

Lori Highby Chris Harrington and Aaron Courtney, three prods, bringing new stories and strategies exploring manufacturing topics that

Erin: 00:00:49

All right,

Lori Highby: 00:00:50

we are back. And I'm kind of curious. I first off, I just attended this conference. And you know, you go to a conference, you get

Erin: 00:01:06

Yes, yes, yes, I'm reading something very interesting. It's kind of mind blowing. It's called God human animal machine. And it is an

Erin: 00:01:43

recommended to everyone. I just

Lori Highby: 00:01:45

got to say, I was like, I'm not going to talk about AI, the show, I know, bring that up. I,

Erin: 00:01:52

I had in my mind, I was like, Oh, we're doing too much. And everybody's doing too much AI. But it is literally what I'm reading. And

Erin: 00:02:18

listening, not as smart as you, but I would love to just hang out.

Lori Highby: 00:02:23

But you'd have

Kris: 00:02:25

a great conversation you're gonna have to tell us how you like the book when you finish? It sounds like it's it's pretty deep and and

Erin: 00:02:34

it is it is it's really profound. It's over my head. But I think it's important to go there, you know. So, Chris, what about you?

Kris: 00:02:42

I am reading and listening to they ask you answer by Marcus Sheridan. I've been consumed with this book since I purchased it. So I read the

Kris: 00:03:16

grass for the weekend. So I am like really consuming everything in this book and now trying to make it very actionable for our team. So oh, I

Erin: 00:03:28

Very cool. I've

Lori Highby: 00:03:29

heard really good things about that book from a number of people. Yeah. It's definitely I got to add it to my reading list. But yeah,

Erin: 00:03:39

you can make your own book out of your way. No. So. So

Lori Highby: 00:03:44

I haven't been reading as much as I want to be. But I keep buying all these books I keep hearing about so I have to change that habit,

Erin: 00:04:13

yeah, well, our guest today is going to is going to have some good tips and advice in that arena for us. So

Kris: 00:04:21

I figured, yeah, absolutely. Well, I'm going to introduce our guest Greg Potter today. So let me do an introduction before we formally welcome

Erin: 00:04:47

Hey, yeah, you can come to coffee with me and Megan, there you go.

Kris: 00:04:51

You're formerly invited Greg as soon as Megan response he is. He has worked in the restaurant industry. As a general manager, district manager

Kris: 00:05:24

are against that. But I am a huge fan of Starbucks. And I'm sure that there was a lot to learn in working with Starbucks. Greg uses his experience and

Kris: 00:06:01

master's in public service from the Clinton School of Public Service. And Greg Potter is my cousin. So very proud and honored to have him on the show

Erin: 00:06:15

Welcome, Greg.

Unknown: 00:06:17

Thank you so much. And I think it's so cute that Aaron even thought I was invited. I already invited myself while I was sitting here

Erin: 00:06:30

Be Amazing. Maybe we should record it, Greg, and we can make our own podcast out of it.

Unknown: 00:06:36

Oh my gosh, I'm already in love with it.

Erin: 00:06:39

Okay, we're gonna do it. We're gonna do it.

Kris: 00:06:41

Well, yeah, it's so interesting, because I, you know, when we first recorded the three episodes that we did together, when I was talking to

Lori Highby: 00:06:59

Yeah, remember that? So yeah, I was really thinking

Kris: 00:07:03

about collaboration and coopetition. And how they kind of are in the same vein. So anyway, Greg, what does a collaboration coach do? Can you

Unknown: 00:07:15

Yes, first, I need to go back to episode three of your I have to like gush a little bit of a big fan. Yes. And it's Yeah, so what you're

Unknown: 00:07:50

those coaching conversations of like, Okay, how did this go? Where's your ego in this, what's going on, and then the, you know, in practicing going

Unknown: 00:08:23

team accountable to this is work time. This is not question and answer time like this is when we're trying to get this portion of the goal or the

Unknown: 00:08:59

collaborations, where then it really gets tricky, or collaborations that have collaborations in them.

Erin: 00:09:11

collaborations. Just a real quick clarification question, what I'm hearing from you and tell me if I'm right, is that a Collaboration Coach

Unknown: 00:09:33

Completely. The facilitator is the most important and hired part of collaborations in the Lifecycle Collaboration. We talked about the

Unknown: 00:10:04

be rebuilt. Before we can even continue on the work that we're doing.

Erin: 00:10:09

I really liked that I think we've all been in these situations with a facilitator that just wouldn't grab the reins here.

Unknown: 00:10:19

Right. And when that a model, and when that doesn't happen, then you do lose that trust. And if in the most important thing to all

Lori Highby: 00:10:38

Yeah, I've never heard of a Collaboration Coach before. I mean, there's coaches, I feel like for every thing, and this is one thing I

Unknown: 00:10:55

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. There's a few things that Collaboration Coach can specifically help with. And in the manufacturing world, there's two

Unknown: 00:11:29

often, of the collaboration. So definitely that, and then, um, and then increasing productivity. And that's through the communication barriers. And

Kris: 00:11:57

Yeah, you know, when you talk about silos, that is something that almost every organization I've ever worked with, or better part of myself,

Kris: 00:12:32

divisions or subsidiaries. And so often, so we we will think about the internal organization structure a lot like sales and marketing, which is a

Erin: 00:13:03

Yeah, I think part of that when I'm thinking about manufacturing, just like the history of manufacturing, there was a lot of efficiency in

Erin: 00:13:37

process. It's actually an internalizing, I would imagine, do you see that happening with your teams, Greg?

Unknown: 00:13:43

Completely, completely, I think of one client that was a bread manufacturer, a bread Baker, but it was for a really like for a huge

Unknown: 00:14:14

this in with what Laurie said, this is this is brand new, no one is really looking at Collaboration Coaches. It's a very, very infant, new career to

Erin: 00:14:31

with it with being so new. Just help us understand how the executive suite is entertaining these ideas. What are some of the questions you get

Unknown: 00:14:44

definitely. The first one always goes the most popular always goes to the space creation and the trust building. You know, if you especially

Unknown: 00:15:14

collaboration? We're getting there. And this is why because each one of these humans show up to contribute to this. And that's why it's important

Unknown: 00:15:47

time do they start? And just having those conversations of like, well, you know, is this feasible? Or should it be moved to lunch? And, you know,

Unknown: 00:16:21

my gosh, I love it. And then often, because it's the when we start a collaboration, we always have to start with the self, it's so important

Unknown: 00:16:51

the right person, they were hired to this job. They were brought on they have, you know, like, we have to scoot the imposter complex out of the way

Erin: 00:17:11

Wow, that's heavy work that?

Lori Highby: 00:17:14

Oh, yeah, I feel like this is something that the merger and acquisition world needs a lot of, because I see so many companies just

Unknown: 00:17:37

all, I actually, one of my really good friends who lives in Scotland was in Cape Town when I was just there. And we had a lot of time

Unknown: 00:18:07

that rhetoric with it. But at the end of the day, I do believe that everyone wants the best for their employees and the people that they're

Kris: 00:18:18

yeah, I think that's a great example to Laurie. That's so good. Is there before we kind of change topics, Greg, is there anything else you'd

Kris: 00:18:52

as an outcome?

Unknown: 00:18:55

Well, I will do want to say, first that I want to identify the courage and the braveness that it takes for someone to say, oh my gosh, we

Unknown: 00:19:27

the culture and there will be habits changed that show up in in different portions of the company or the companies if it's a larger multi

Unknown: 00:20:03

it just has to include it because you're already starting with yourself. And each individual that is coming to the table. I hope that makes sense.

Kris: 00:20:11

Yeah, absolutely. For me it didn't a lot. And it goes back to a word that you use earlier that trust, I would imagine Trust has really

Kris: 00:20:45

of that.

Erin: 00:20:47

Oh, yeah, I hate to use the phrase win win. But it it really is because you win as a person. Because you grow as a person, you become a

Unknown: 00:21:19

I want you to and this is a little sneak preview to what I do in the lifecycle of collaboration. But the next time you're in the grocery

Erin: 00:21:50

that I AM, thank you so much for bringing that to this conversation because I yeah, that's, that's an experience we take for granted. But maybe

Unknown: 00:22:06

You're welcome. And now you'll never look at the grocery store checkout line, the same.

Kris: 00:22:16

Self Service are the lines. No, that's great. I love that example. It's too So Greg, we're curious, is there something unique about you that

Unknown: 00:22:30

know? i Sorry, you asked me this once and I did not do a really good job. listeners. They asked me right when I got on. So I just got a

Unknown: 00:23:08

this, you know, and, and as long as I'm still filling my cup, taking care of myself, all those things can be done and, and that's really, really an

Erin: 00:23:26

That's great. That's great. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Thank you.

Kris: 00:23:31

All right. This is the section of the podcast or the broadcast where we move into, I just learned that. So Laurie, can you finish the sentence?

Lori Highby: 00:23:43

Yeah, and I'm just gonna go back to saying I intentionally did not pick an AI topic. But I went a totally different route. I saw this

Erin: 00:24:08

Now, I agree.

Lori Highby: 00:24:10

I somewhat think it's a publicity stunt that they're pulling right here just to get some attention to headlines, but

Kris: 00:24:19

it's going to be

Lori Highby: 00:24:20

the Frank mobiel Oh, because they have a new hot dog recipe that they're promoting this year. Oh,

Erin: 00:24:28

is it his wiener? Is it is it like it's you know, over a year I mean, like what or is it you know what I mean?

Lori Highby: 00:24:42

Sure. But to lean into the like summer grilling thing with Jacob Bob or her do is also now the chicken is selling a limited edition

Erin: 00:24:59

and Oh, special beer that you put up. Yeah, so

Lori Highby: 00:25:02

Purdue is making their own like,

Erin: 00:25:05

chicken Beer. Beer

Lori Highby: 00:25:09

is happening this summer. Weird. Really weird.

Erin: 00:25:13

All right. I wonder if you Yeah. Okay, can you drink it? Or all? Right? I

Lori Highby: 00:25:20

mean, do you really want to drink chicken beer? I don't

Erin: 00:25:23

know, probably. Frankly, if it was cold, I'll drink it does

Lori Highby: 00:25:28

not sound appetizing at all.

Erin: 00:25:32

But sure, once it's been in the chicken, does it come in the chicken? Like do you buy?

Lori Highby: 00:25:38

Questions? It's, I want to ask you what you learned Aaron. So you can stop asking questions. What did you just learn?

Erin: 00:25:45

This is very important topic. Okay. You know, I'm this is I'm cheating a bit. I didn't necessarily learn it, but I experienced it. There

Erin: 00:26:25

just to all the different things that we think about like our bins, the light and the sun is orange, how it cools the temperatures. And so yeah,

Kris: 00:26:43

learning.

Erin: 00:26:44

I'm always learning. Yeah,

Kris: 00:26:46

I just I did have a question about the Wienermobile first. I have to put you back. No, I was just curious. Do you think everybody in the country

Lori Highby: 00:26:57

I think that that's, well, the Wienermobile that's been its name for a long time. 7080 years or whatever along with that thing's been

Kris: 00:27:06

I just remember when I joined the Navy, and I kept asking for, for where the Bubbler was, and I thought that everybody called the water.

Erin: 00:27:15

Oh, no. And

Kris: 00:27:16

I uncovered that people did not know what I was talking about. So I was just curious to everybody call because

Erin: 00:27:23

you're gonna have to translate that for our listeners Chrystia cheesehead. What's the Bubbler

Kris: 00:27:29

above litres of water a water drinking fountain? You press the button and we get the water flows and we drink it that that's a bubbler here in

Erin: 00:27:42

Okay. All right. Yeah, I suppose I should say wiener a few more times though. I just inserted wiener. Okay, my alright. Wiener AI wiener.

Unknown: 00:28:02

I have questions too. So

Kris: 00:28:08

go back to AI for sure to ask me I want to ask.

Erin: 00:28:15

Oh, this is good. This is a clip. Pull the clip. Wiener clip. Okay, great. Well, if you haven't heard when

Unknown: 00:28:24

I was like, I don't think Chris shared hers. Yeah.

Erin: 00:28:27

Right. Sorry, Chris. Wheatley, just

Lori Highby: 00:28:31

Yes. So back.

Kris: 00:28:35

All right. Dandelions, I just learned why people make a wish around dandelions.

Lori Highby: 00:28:41

Oh, this is more fun. Yes.

Kris: 00:28:45

Oh, leaders. If you can blow all the seeds off of dandelion with a single breath. And the person you love will love you back. Oh, there are so

Erin: 00:29:09

Haha. That's lovely. Much better than the winners. All right.

Unknown: 00:29:15

I think I'm being cynical. I'm like, okay, dandelion. Let's talk about the winners. The Oscar winner songs in my head. Of course, I'm not

Unknown: 00:29:50

the trashier breweries like when we were you know, freshmen, nearly ice you know, like, they would have thought of a beer can chicken or beer can flip.

Erin: 00:30:03

Top notch anyway. Yeah, yes. Good thinking. What

Unknown: 00:30:06

I have learned recently is there is this plant it is called the desert skeleton. There's a more appropriate word. But this little ugly

Kris: 00:30:26

Wow. Is it? Is it a big place?

Unknown: 00:30:30

Sometimes it has tentacles and it will grow out. But the ends of them are always brown. It's very, yeah. And I was Yeah, I was recently in

Erin: 00:30:48

It is the secret to immortality.

Lori Highby: 00:30:52

I'm googling it right now. And I have like bones, like a skeleton bone laying on the sand.

Unknown: 00:30:58

Oh, no, that's all fine. And I'll email it to all of you. So you can put it in the show

Erin: 00:31:06

notes. Just put a big one. Yeah, I think we need to study that for longevity.

Kris: 00:31:13

Early life. It's really pretty though. And maybe maybe the one that you saw was like 1800 years old. Because it

Unknown: 00:31:21

was was 1800 years old. I and even the young ones. But I'm impressed though. I'm so impressed by this plant like, way to go like

Erin: 00:31:35

right? Yes, indeed. I wonder when it reproduces to wait until like, it's 1000 years old to have little skeleton desert babies, or is that

Unknown: 00:31:51

I will, I'll send you the Wikipedia page as well.

Erin: 00:31:56

Perfect. I feel wow. You know, I always feel like I'm a smarter person when we're done with this podcast, but today, PhD level going on

Kris: 00:32:11

all graduated here. Excellent. Well, Greg, could you please tell our audience how they could reach you if they wanted to reach out to you after

Unknown: 00:32:21

Yes, yes. My website is Gigi Potter, pod er.com Gigi Potter. You can also find me on all the socials at Gigi Potter. And my email is Greg.

Kris: 00:32:46

Wonderful. Thank you so much for being here. I personally love you. is the first time I got to interview a family member for our broad. Thank

Unknown: 00:32:58

you ladies.

Erin: 00:32:59

Thanks. I'm gonna go to your family reunion. I've You guys are awesome. I can only imagine what the entire crew looks like he must be

Lori Highby: 00:33:11

All right. This is three broads wrapping up, reach out. We want to hear from you.

Unknown: 00:33:27

This wraps up today's broadcast. If you're looking to shake up the status quo at your organization, or just want to connect with the brides