Do What You Say You Will Do
Before you can successfully complete the mission of doing what you say you will do, you must cross three "values" hurdles:
Clarify your values.
Realize your values permeate your construction business.
Remain true to your values even when it hurts – even when you think no one is looking.
Leadership experts James Kouzes and Barry Posner say, "When it comes to deciding whether a leader is believable, people first listen to the words, then they watch their actions. They listen to the talk, and then they watch the walk."
Don't end up like the Pastor in this story.
A church wanted to help the congregation cope better with the stresses of modern life and decided to offer a course in Time Management to be taught by the Pastor.
Soon after the course was announced, a member called the church and asked, "What time does the course start, Pastor?"
The Pastor replied, "Oh. . . sixish, sevenish. . . ."
Tell Your Story
To inspire your team, you must give them the whole story. That doesn't mean you have to do it in one sitting. But you do need to provide them with a framework of your construction company story. Some of the things you could include in your "How We Got Here" story are:
How you got your start.
What obstacles you overcame.
How you overcame them.
Who helped you.
Where you learned about (something important to your story.)
Why you chose to do (this task or process) this way.
What you see for the future of your construction firm.
The rules connected with telling your story are:
Be authentic
Be consistent
Be enthusiastic
Every construction business has a good story. And the truth is when you fascinate your audience, it is easy to spark action.
Your team wants to know what drives you and who you are. Tell them.
Know When to Lean In and When to Lean Back
Just like smiles and yawns are contagious, so is enthusiasm.
Lean In
Provide authority and stability
Build trust
Engage in empathetic behavior
Lean Back
Don't micromanage
Avoid useless meetings
Count on your trusted team members
Typically, employees do what they do based on their:
Needs
Enumerated consequences
Known accountabilities
Perceived responsibilities
When you inspire them, you are able to evoke a higher purpose.
This is the first article in a 5-part series dealing with leadership in your construction contracting business. The four upcoming pieces are:
Great Expectations in Leadership part 4
Leadership Means Growing – part 5
Construction Contractors look to The Profit Constructors to provide advocacy in dealing with:
Clients and customers
Employees and subcontractors
Vendors and service providers
Governmental entities
Working with The Profit Constructors gives Construction Contractors the means to organize their operations in ways that help them:
Remain informed
Avoid hassles
Reduce risks
Be future-ready
Ready for action? Or want to know more? Get in touch today to schedule a complimentary discovery call. 866-629-7735
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