This special-edition episode features a prestigious panel of Ladder Award finalists from 2021 and 2020. They share innovative ways they are helping advance the property restoration industry, as well as their vision for its future. Hot topics covered include attracting and retaining talent, employee training, growing a business, marketing, adopting new technology, imposter syndrome, and leading from any chair. 

After years of putting out fires and pointing the finger at employees, Eric Sprague and Larry Wilberton learned to point the finger at themselves. Here, Sprague shares how he and Wilberton transformed their restoration company into one with high engagement, performance and profit.

A lot of people talk about marketing their company, but not enough of them have actual data to back up what they say and think.

Now, more than ever, it’s a “buyer’s market” for labor with workers having the power to choose the organization, culture and job opportunity they want to “buy.” Your task is to be sure that your business entices the right employees to want to buy it over others.

Jennifer Todd, president of remediation company LMS General Contractors, discusses her experience as a Black, woman contractor-owner in a white-, male-dominated field, as well as the importance of treating the labor shortage and diversity as a joint issue. 

If you are an installer who wants to get out of the field and grow your career by pursuing estimating, I would hope this article is helpful in setting you on the right path with regards to the mindset and habits you will need to succeed. Likewise, if you are considering going out on your own as a small business owner or contractor, you will need to quickly learn to develop the skills necessary to estimate accurately and run a profitable business.

Numerous articles have been written about the importance of having the right people in an organization. The group of employees that make up a business—the team—is one of the few remaining sources of sustainable competitive advantage.

Each of the attributes we’ve covered in this series on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) builds on the others. That is certainly the case with this fourth and final installment where we cover the element of Relationship Management.