Contractor of Choice |

Take Care of Your Team

By Paul Montelongo

This is the third in a four part series of the program I have developed called “Become the Contractor of Choice”. There are four cornerstones that are the foundation of a successful contracting business. By way of reminder, the first was Set a Standard. The second cornerstone, I call Build to Suit. The third is Take Care of Your Team. As I have traveled the country with this program, I continually hear that retention of quality employees and sub-contractors is the single biggest challenge facing builders and contractors. Here are four principals to building and maintaining the best team for your construction business.

1. Clarify Your Purpose: When your team members know what is most important to you in your business venture, they can take ownership and responsibility for the outcome of your purpose. Clarity of your business and personal values creates trust. A cohesive atmosphere emerges in the ranks. A mission statement for your company is essential. If there are questions about policy or procedures, the principals of your corporate mission statement should provide the answer. Your team wants the freedom to act on your behalf in a responsible way. This is much easier when they are clear about the outcomes. An interesting mission statement that I recently heard about simply said…”Do the right thing.”

2. Know Their Needs and Meet Their Needs: Former UCLA Bruin basketball coach, John Wooden set a fine example of meeting the needs of every member of his team. Annually, he would meet with players individually and ask them to clearly spell out every personal goal they had for the season. It did not matter how selfish it might have seemed at the time. He wanted to know. After gathering this info rmation from each team member, he would compile a set of team goals that encompassed each player’s individual goals and the overall goal of winning a national championship. The results speak for themselves. UCLA amassed numerous national championship trophies. Determine each team member’s professional and personal goals and do your best to make them happen. Your team will appreciate it and they will stay around for the next season.

3. Communicate: Open and honest assessment of each team member’s role is essential. Every team member should have regular performance evaluations. The formula for a successful evaluation is this: a) Offer praise on whatever is positive and commend all progress. Look for the smallest details to praise. b) Give constructive feedback. For every challenge with the team member, be ready to offer at least three solutions. Ask for solutions from the team member. c) Get clear on what is expected and how each of you will know when that happens. The solutions should be obtainable and measurable. Keep the lines of communication wide open by being genuinely interested in them as a person.

4. Challenge Them to Stretch: It has been said that if we are not growing, then we are dying. Everyone needs a challenge to keep them alive and interested. Expand their responsibilities. Offer incentive packages. Support your team members with career guidance and ongoing training. Professional and personal development seminars and workshops pay huge dividends. Suggest ways for the talents of your team members to be used to support the community at large. Of course, it is always good to lead by example.

Taking Care of Your Team is an ongoing process. You have made a large investment of time and capital to hire your team members. Take care of them.

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