F105: Growing Emerging Leaders for the Modern Shop

In a labor-tight market, many fabrication companies promote people faster than they prepare them. This workshop bridges that gap. We’ll show how to move from “getting the job done” to truly leading others—on the shop floor, on set day, and in the office. Participants will learn the core differences between management and leadership, practice influence skills when they don’t have a title, and leave with a personal leadership statement they can apply immediately.

In today’s fabrication and manufacturing environment, technical expertise alone isn’t enough. Leaders on the shop floor and in the office must develop people who can drive safety, quality, productivity, and innovation in a fast-paced, margin-sensitive industry.

This session is designed for FABTECH professionals who want to strengthen leadership at every level of their organization—from supervisors and plant managers to emerging team leads. You’ll explore how to build a culture grounded in trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Using the practical and proven GROW coaching model, you’ll learn how to develop leaders who take ownership, think critically, and solve problems effectively. Through real-world examples from industrial and production environments, you’ll discover how to ask better questions, coach through performance challenges, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration.

The session also addresses resilience—both personal and organizational—equipping you with strategies to help your teams adapt, recover quickly from setbacks, and lead confidently through change.