Humble Pie

In a business organization, it’s easy to be drawn to charismatic or strong personality types for the obvious reasons. But what about humility?

I’m talking about people who do their job day in and day out, hoping for respect, but not expecting the spotlight. Those who are eager to appreciate others’ strengths, focusing on bettering the team. These individuals have a pretty good idea of what makes them tick, and fly under the radar in different ways. They are willing to accept critical suggestions to improve, and they admit mistakes, which is huge in my book.

I see humility as a key ingredient in the best leaders.

Beyond the age-old test of whether someone writes a thank you note–print or email–I think a good test for humility starts with the receptionist. How did they interact with him or her?

Once hired, these folks sometimes coast under the shadow of their team, but can be the secret to a company’s success. When humble individuals are at the top of an organization, they let team leaders do what they do best, and everyone is better for it.

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How Shifts in Shopping Have Changed Retail Construction

When large, big-box chain stores were being built during the 1980s and 1990s, breaking into the business was a relatively straightforward enterprise for smaller construction firms hoping to expand. While that pioneering spirit is still needed today to succeed, the digital age has dramatically changed consumer habits making retailers shift the way they design their stores to keep customers coming in, which means construction industry professionals need the experience and knowledge to complete these projects.

Understanding the Road Ahead

Tire management technology musts from Bridgestone's Rob Seibert.

Fuel for Thought

How to reduce your fleet's fuel use and costs.

Tips for Protecting Your Company’s Data

Tips for Protecting Your Company’s Data from Departing Employees.

Navigating Behavioral Health in Construction

How to manage the risks relevant to mental illness in today’s workforce.

How Pink Belts Roofing & Construction is Changing the Way the Industry Views Women in Construction

How Pink Belts Roofing & Construction is Changing the Way Canada (& Hopefully the U.S.) View Women in Construction

How Hoar Construction's Amye Carle is Redefining the Image of Risk in Construction

Sometimes the key to significant improvement is simple: Find a new perspective. And sometimes that new perspective is found where you least expect it. For Amye Carle, director of risk management at Hoar Construction, successful risk management comes from outside the industry entirely. According to Carle, risk can be broken down into two parts: the art of collaborating with the entire team and the science to support why any one company should do it.

4 Tips for Avoiding Jobsite Frustrations

The greatest contractors believe in preparing for success—because putting in some extra time on the front end will pay for itself many times over on the jobsite, through both reduced downtime and fewer moments of frustration.

To keep jobsites and processes running as smoothly as possible, the following four tips and tricks will always reward construction crews, no matter the job.

The Busy Season Isn’t Over Yet

After the devastating effects of Hurricane Florence crippled the East Coast economy, local businesses owners were left to pick up the pieces. In late September, thousands of residents and evacuees began the process of recovery from the estimated $38 billion in damages and will continue to recover for months to come. And, just as this issue went to press, Hurricane Michael reached the Florida coast, creating catastrophic damage and leaving 18 dead in its wake.

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

CAT FOOTWEAR

ExcavatorXL Boot

The launch of the waterproof ExcavatorXL boot series offers an EaseHD (heavy duty) footbed, an aggressive rubber bumper on the toe box for extended wear, and an extended contoured last for even more room and superior all-day comfort, and comes with a 60-Day Comfort Guarantee.

 

Are You Liable for Your Employee’s Sexual Misconduct?

It is tempting to turn away from the steady drumbeat of disturbing news regarding sexual harassment. Because this news is so unpleasant, it can be alluring to convince yourself that sexual harassment couldn’t (and doesn’t) take place on your construction sites or in your office.

October 2018 Construction Industry Stats

The Construction Business Owner team compiles statistics from multiple sources each month, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Census Bureau, to give you a better understanding of the current state of affairs for the construction industry. The statistics featured in each month's print issue are for 3 months prior to the publication of the magazine, based on the data available.

Assets

There are a few phrases that folks in our office are probably tired of hearing me say. One is,“Success is about finding good customers and keeping them.”

If you can keep good customers, you don’t have to be out looking for new ones all the time. It sure saves time and resources, allowing for better delivery all the way around. There is more time to concentrate on what you are supposed to be providing.

The simple fact is, there are many people who provide similar services. Many times, it comes down to the most valuable assets in the company–the ones who maintain the relationships–and solid service, of course. All things being equal, this somewhat intangible value makes the difference between a one-time build and a mutually beneficial long-term relationship.

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5 Tips for Protecting Your Equipment from Seasonal Damage

As your construction season winds down and colder weather blows in, now is a good time to think about what needs to be done to your heavy construction equipment, such as excavators, wheel loaders and articulated dump trucks, before winter arrives—especially if you are located in the northern region of the United States or in Canada, and your equipment won’t be used until after the ground thaws.

How to Position Your Business for Future Growth

Uncovering opportunities for growing any business, no matter the industry, requires that leadership be open to the idea of change. Technological advancements, a changing economic climate and movement within the industry are all contributing factors that can alter the outlook of any business.

Sometimes It’s Best to Expect Little in Return

During a breakfast with a customer this week, we got on the topic of expectations, business and beyond. We both had experiences where we did not expect a return, or anything for that matter, and we were just offering to assist someone else. It’s funny the way things works. Often, those were the times when we received a benefit. 

I interviewed a solid candidate recently who was with another company in Dallas and wanted to move back home. Over several conversations, we talked about his present job, the company, the future and plans for his life. I suggested that he talk with his present employer and give that a good chance first before he looks elsewhere. Why? Just because.

I perceive this person to be sound and a good hire and at the same time suggested what I would think I would do before looking elsewhere. I also expect that our paths will cross again somewhere down the road and he may be working with us one day. It’s about helping, expecting nothing in return. We hire for the long haul. We are not perfect, and maybe my approach isn’t perfect either, but it has worked in the past.

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The Future of the Field

There is a surge of change occurring in and around the industry. Because there is arguably no other industry more resistant to change than construction, the ascendancy will not come easily. But it will be worth it. Theoretically, there is no limit on how far this process will extend, or how quickly it will evolve. So, if you plan on working in this industry 5 or 10 years from now, you should embrace the change because one thing is certain: You will not be able to resist it. Technology and demographic changes will alter the entire work environment, including construction.

What’s Happening to Customer Service?

It’s the best of times. The construction industry is pulsing to the beat of booming business opportunities. Just as other sectors are benefitting, construction is enjoying the positive effects of a thriving economy, in which technological advancements change the way the industry is performing many tasks—from the mundane to the extraordinary—on a seemingly weekly basis. But in a culture of constant praise for technological innovation, trade skills are often neglected or stigmatized. So, for construction, it is as much the worst of times as it is the best.

What You Can Learn from AECOM Hunt's Approach to Jobsite Tech

Although it’s hardly a new solution for the industry, the use of 3D modeling on construction projects is still not ubiquitous on and off the jobsite. But there are many advantages to using a 3D model on even a smaller project for a long-term client. Take, for instance, the Walnut Grove Elementary School, an AECOM Hunt project still in progress in a suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Travelers

From time to time, I am asked how we manage to build projects in multiple states, often a long way from here, and how we have been consistent for 35 years. The answer is pretty simple:

We have developed a group of traveling subcontractors and vendors who we trust. In return, they trust us. The key is working together.

That’s the way our world is built right now, and will probably always be. We depend upon our trade contractors and could not be successful without their input. It’s like a family. We all work together, help each other and deal reasonably with one another. When there is a problem, we try to work together to figure it out for our common customer. It’s worked this long, and we have built in 25 or 30 states over the years.

As an interesting aside, trade contractors almost always tell you that they can build a project out-of-state for not much more than working in their hometown. (Maybe not always, but often, depending on the trade.) This is because traveling crews are there to work. They focus and stay until it gets done.

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