AME Milwaukee 2026 International Conference
Workshops

Workshop

Building trust: People-first Leadership for change transformation
OVERVIEW
Continuous Improvement initiatives succeed or stall not because of the tools — but because of the human system surrounding them. In today’s manufacturing environments, CI professionals are asked to drive results amid constant change, workforce strain and competing priorities. This interactive session explores how people-first leadership behaviors — coaching skills, psychological safety and clear accountability — create the conditions for sustained improvement rather than short-term compliance.
Grounded in the idea that “change moves at the speed of trust,” popularized by Stephen Covey, this workshop translates respect-for-people from a value into a set of observable, practicable leader behaviors. Participants will learn how accountability, when done well, becomes a trust-builder (not a control mechanism), how coaching conversations expand a leader’s circle of influence, and how psychologically safe environments increase adaptability on the floor and across teams. CI professionals will leave with concrete ways to lead change that sticks — by strengthening capability, resilience and ownership in the people doing the work.
Grounded in the idea that “change moves at the speed of trust,” popularized by Stephen Covey, this workshop translates respect-for-people from a value into a set of observable, practicable leader behaviors. Participants will learn how accountability, when done well, becomes a trust-builder (not a control mechanism), how coaching conversations expand a leader’s circle of influence, and how psychologically safe environments increase adaptability on the floor and across teams. CI professionals will leave with concrete ways to lead change that sticks — by strengthening capability, resilience and ownership in the people doing the work.
Key Learning Objectives
1. Clarify expectations and deliver feedback that lands: Understand how clear expectations eliminate ambiguity and empower teams to own their responsibilities and master the art of providing feedback that motivates and drives continuous improvement.
2. Adopt a coaching mindset: Shift from being the expert with all the answers to being a strategic guide who helps team members develop their own solutions.
3. Build a people-first action plan for leading change: Create a personalized action plan that integrates accountability and coaching behaviors to immediately strengthen trust, resilience and adaptability during change initiatives.
2. Adopt a coaching mindset: Shift from being the expert with all the answers to being a strategic guide who helps team members develop their own solutions.
3. Build a people-first action plan for leading change: Create a personalized action plan that integrates accountability and coaching behaviors to immediately strengthen trust, resilience and adaptability during change initiatives.
Presenter

JESS KENT-JOHNSON
LEADERSHIP COACH & CULTURE CONSULTANT
THE PERK
Jess Kent-Johnson is a leadership development and culture design expert who is passionate about empowering organizations, teams and individuals to thrive by strengthening how they show up, collaborate and innovate together for successful outcomes. She brings 15+ years of experience in people leadership, collaboration, facilitation and change management from her work in arts and entertainment, education and technology. She is also certified as a leadership coach through Co-Active Training Institute.
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LEADERSHIP COACH & CULTURE CONSULTANT
THE PERK
Jess Kent-Johnson is a leadership development and culture design expert who is passionate about empowering organizations, teams and individuals to thrive by strengthening how they show up, collaborate and innovate together for successful outcomes. She brings 15+ years of experience in people leadership, collaboration, facilitation and change management from her work in arts and entertainment, education and technology. She is also certified as a leadership coach through Co-Active Training Institute.
View on LinkedIn
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Tools that empower
People-centric leadership
Level: Intermediate
