The following remarks were made regarding the guest column “Solving the Leadership Gap in the Trade Industry,” written by Alex Willis, CEO of Leadership Surge, published July 26.
Think about your favorite brands and chains — no matter what location you go to, they have a strong sense of consistency among their employees and products that keep you coming back.
Employees of Napoleon for 18 and 15 years respectively, Christopher Schroeter and Stephen Schroeter succeed the company’s founders, their parents, Wolfgang Schroeter, CEO, and Ingrid Schroeter, chief financial officer, who have been leading Napoleon for the past 40 years.
In thinking about that lesson and the long list of things I wanted to accomplish this year, I came up with the top three things I need to focus on at my business. I have also developed them into themes, so I can get the team to rally around my priorities. y technicians can be a huge headache for contractors. Fortunately, when it comes to side jobs for family and friends, the savvy contractor has the ability to turn the issue on its head.
Even though the trades seem to be plagued with multiple issues, companies can take steps to elevate employees through leadership training. With so many entry-level employees, companies have to rely on incorporating technology to help reach the masses, creating consistency in delivering training material.
Some are calling for the Uber dynamic pricing model to be used in the HVACR contracting world, especially during peak times like summer, when demand for technicians often outstrips supply.
If President Donald Trump and Congress deliver on the promise of faster growth for the economy, it may well be reflected in a tightening labor market. That means that finding and hiring those star employees every company seeks will become even more difficult.
A world-class team translates into superior customer service and high-quality work, which enables you to create satisfied customers. Satisfied customers will not only stay with you for the long term, but will also send you referrals.
I can only assume that the growing labor shortage is forcing contractors to increase wait times for new customers. Unfortunately, many prospective customers hear they can’t get an appointment immediately and will hang up the phone.