BUILDING TOGETHER January 2020
Upcoming Events February 4 | Lunch & Learn - Value of Geotechnical Engineering February 7 | Smart365 Training - Excel February 12 | Safety Meeting February 28 | Trade Contractor Appreciation Breakfast March 11 | Safety Meeting New Uniform Distribution March 12 | Broadway Grand Rapids Charlie & The Chocolate Factory March 31 | Annual Employee Bowling Party Dates TBD: February | Smart365 Training - Concrete March | Smart365 Training - Masonry Don’t forget to check EVinsite for all upcoming events and more details!
Safety Tip: Slips, Trips and Falls: Remember in order to reduce the risk of slips and trips you should always pay attention to your surroundings and walk at a pace suitable to the surface you are on and the task you are performing! And this time of year, be extra cautious around ice and snow! BUILDING TOGETHER | January 2020
WHAT MAKES A PERSON GREAT AT THEIR JOB? DAN BEHLER, OLT MEMBER I think it’s safe to say that we all have individuals in our lives that we look up to, that we learn from and that we respect. They may be individuals who have “made it” in the industry in which we work, or they may be individuals that we hold in high regard on a personal level. Maybe both. But what is it that makes them…them? I asked myself this question as early in my career as I can remember. I remember paying attention to the project managers, field managers and tradesmen that I worked with, and I noticed that some were just… different. They seemed to click with their teams in a way that others didn’t. They faced tough issues that, to me, felt insurmountable and they made solutions seem reachable. They always seemed to know the right thing to say…even if they were delivering bad news. For years I watched, I learned and every day I tried to be more like them. Years later, not much has changed. I still find myself surrounded by people who challenge me, who I constantly learn from and who inspire me to be a better version of myself. So what’s the recipe? What is it that makes these individuals unique? Well…I’m not sure, but I think the discussion at January’s FM/PM meeting provided a bit of insight. During this meeting, we spent some time talking through the traits and characteristics of those who we view as our best PMs and FMs. Like the two positions, each list was different…but there were
several things that we found important for both. Knowledge - No one is an expert at everything, but the desire and the drive to learn and be well-versed at your craft, your project, etc. is important and builds credibility with those who look to you for leadership and guidance. Communication/Collaboration - Our strength is our team. Those who communicate well, are receptive to feedback and discussion and those who motivate the experts around them to work at their highest level are those who find success most often. Emotional Intelligence - Our business is about managing people and personalities…some of which can be challenging! Navigating these in a way that holds individuals accountable, but also keeps them engaged is critically important. This is part empathy, part creativity, part managing expectations…and 100% hard! Humility - Be a student as often as you are a teacher. Nothing grows distrust among a team faster than a leader who wants nothing more than for his/her team to know that they are in charge. When power is the priority, no one wins. Trust those around you, learn from them, support and serve. There are so many more items on the list that could be shared, but these are the ones that really seemed to Continued on Page 2
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