Blog & Resources

“Just be yourself.” “Be real.”  “Be authentic.” We have all heard one of these phrases at one point or another—maybe on the way to a blind date, a job interview, or an important talk or presentation. It’s a compelling notion, the idea that we can just be...

With all of the attention that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have captured, a few things are still missing. First, from the plant floor to the board room, there is a need for clarity around the terms and implications for each area of emphasis. Second, as with...

Having to tell someone that they’re not meeting their work standards can get awkward fast. Luckily, simply asking them to evaluate themselves can do a lot of the work for you. If they can spot the problems on their own, it saves you a lot of trouble. If not, make sure...

Ben Armstrong has his finger on the pulse of U.S. manufacturing. That’s what happens when your research has you talking with dozens of manufacturers across America to understand their struggles and successes and how we might address the industry’s long-simmering...

When it comes to flexibility, executives are often worried that they’ll open Pandora’s box and set a dangerous precedent if they allow some employees to work flexibly. They worry that if they let a few employees work from home, then the office will always be empty and...

A surge in civilian aircraft purchases sparked a surprise jump in sales of big-ticket manufactured U.S. goods in August, according to government data released Monday. Durable goods orders rose 1.8% compared to July, to $263.5 billion, taking flight on a nearly 78%...

Empathy has always been a critical skill for leaders, but it is taking on a new level of meaning and priority. Far from a soft approach it can drive significant business results. You always knew demonstrating empathy is positive for people, but new research...

The pandemic has been a wakeup call for American manufacturers. Amid rampant supply chain disruption, the need to re-shore production and compete on an international scale has become more important than ever. There’s a reason that one of President Biden’s first...

If asked, “What’s today’s biggest threat to industry, even to society?” it would seem perfectly natural, eighteen months into the pandemic, to respond, “COVID, of course, and particularly the Delta variant.” But I believe the biggest peril we face is losing the...