“One of the many things I like most about being involved in the training side of our industry is the opportunity to meet people new to the industry who are on a mission. Whether it is a new owner or a person who has been challenged to make an impact in their organization, the drive and excitement is infectious. I recently met an owner/operator of a new restoration company and afterward thought, ‘What if I could bottle that and share it – the mindset and the passion?’”
There is one universal key that, Jennifer Sharpe found, will always lead to an increase of success. That is your own commitment to personal development.
Overall, the industry has recovered virtually all (99.0%) of the jobs lost during earlier stages of the pandemic. The construction industry added 60,000 jobs on net in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
On its surface, restoration doesn’t seem synonymous with “soft.” It’s a hard industry that operates in physically and emotionally tough working environments. Restoring a property to pre-loss condition requires a particular set of hard (job-specific) skills and tools. But there is a soft side that, I’d like to argue, carries more weight.
A coach’s immediate strategy is grooming their silver medalists to become the gold standard in future Olympics. The same can be said for finding talent to add to your team. Many times the silver medalists (“B” players) are undervalued and passed over while an organization searches for the gold.
Hiring outside the industry brings fresh ideas to your organization. It is a necessity for overcoming labor shortages and has many other advantages like avoiding the need to overcome bad habits that sometimes come with experience. You have a clean slate to train. So, now what?
Is there one leadership style that is better than the other? Which specific leadership style is best for creating a culture that retains employees? Can one have multiple styles at once? In this column, Nicole Humber shares her perspective, and those of her employees, on effective leadership styles.
Xactly byGTE finds and places talent – from technicians to executives – with restoration companies of all sizes. In this episode of Ask the Expert, Gregg Taylor, managing member, speaks to the unmet expectations of candidates and employees. He makes the case for rethinking recruiting and retention strategies, and offers best practices for businesses.
“Identifying potential future leaders, mentoring their development, and building a bench of talent for the future is paramount. The degree to which the new consolidated organizations succeed will be determined by the quality and cohesiveness of their leadership at all levels,” Norris Gearhart writes.
As countless restoration companies struggle to find and keep employees, more people want to work for Paul Davis of Greater MSP than the franchise has openings. Owner Caleb Brunz shares his secrets to staffing success and overviews his newly launched Pathways Trades Academy.
