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Croom Construction has paired up with its subcontractors to offer in-house training for 16 superintendents. The Vero Beach, Fla., company hosts a lunch and afternoon training session every two months. David Croom asks each of his A-list subs to teach one class on his or her trade.
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Why not offer a generous portion of windfall profits to the people who helped produce them — your employees? Putting something extra into the pay envelope is a good start. But you can also set aside a specific amount to be spent on tools, equipment, training, company outings, whatever. Better yet...
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Whether you're starting to think about regular employee performance reviews or want to revamp a casual process with something more formal,
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“We want our carpenters to love their craft and not get bogged down in administration,” says David Amundson, owner of TreHus Builders. Instead of a lead carpenter system, this Minneapolis design/build firm has used a “master carpenter system” for the past 15 years.
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The Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) recently launched the National Future Builders of America (FBA) construction education program. “Through the FBA program, we can identify students interested in construction and provide them leadership and training skills necessary to help ensure the...
Recently, I talked with a friend and fellow remodeling company owner. He was furious that another, much larger remodeling company had, in his mind, tried to poach one of his longtime employees. I don't know if the employee was approached or that employee approached Big Remodeler Inc. In the scheme...
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In the old days, specific training was almost nonexistent. The production manager would check the jobsite every day or so. Usually there were two carpenters and one or two helpers. Granted, products were simpler to install and less expensive. And companies didn't subcontract much beyond electric...
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The lead carpenter (LC) is not a man; it's a system. I've been attempting to perfect that system since about 1989. The training never stops. We insist that our lead carpenters come up with most of the solutions to jobsite problems — from material lists to contacting other trade contractors. They...
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A key employee recently quit, and I was caught off guard. What can I do to avoid this happening again?
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What makes for strong leadership? We all know it when we see it; the trick is to articulate what the key ingredients are. Here are 10 key elements that I believe form the common denominator among successful leaders in any industry.