Today I gave a speech

Stonehenge · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 05:36 PM

Today I gave a speech I have been wanting to give for awhile - with 2 guys starting today to add to the two I already had, it was time.

I sat them down and told them that I was going to change roles in the coming weeks. I told them that in every year to this point, my role on the jobsite was to work right along side each of them - that for me, I liked to lead by example and push as many wheelbarrows as any of them, do as much lifting as any of them. But for the company to get bigger, I had to stop doing that. For that reason, as of this day my role is changing from that of crew person to that of teacher. My objective is to teach them everything I can to get them capable of completing projects on their own, with minimal to no assistance from me.

The one guy I had from 2 years ago seemed fine with it, but less than the rest, who were all pretty much brand new employees. The rest seemed to accept it fine, knowing that this represented an opportunity for them.

It felt cathartic to come out and say - "I will no longer push wheelbarrows side by side with you."

So away we go - teacher and manager, not grunt or foreman.

Paul · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 06:24 PM

Rex Mann · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 08:36 PM

Jeff,

Good for you and your company!

The fellow that's been with you for two years, I can understand why he is not thrilled. He just inherited your old position. And, he realizes all the work it takes to run a crew.

Keep us posted on the progress.

Peace,

Rex

Bexter · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 09:38 PM

WTG Jeff! And it does open up opportunity’s for others ...be on the watch for the person who starts to take charge now ..it's not always who you think it will be. When you notice it give them more and more responsibility and the financial rewards that should come with it.

site · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 09:55 PM

Now is when it gets interesting. This is a great move. Personally I still step in and push enough wheelbarrows to keep everyone on their toes. Keep plugging even when it gets frustrating.

Stonehenge · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 10:10 PM

And I'm sure that I will still push them from time to time, but I know that I need to tell myself not to do it at all; that way I'll only do it occasionally.

But it's funny - knowing I was going in this morning to give this speech I was in an extremely good mood. This will also allow me to much more organized than I am today - I often run out of time in the day to order deliveries and materials, which backs us into a corner later. Now I'll get all that done, on top of having more time for sales, etc.

Thanks for the kind words everyone...

I really appreciate it.

I believe this will make my job even more fun and challenging than it is now, and I very much look forward to this next challenge.

Lanelle · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 10:13 PM

Doesn't making the right decision feel good??

Stonehenge · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 10:25 PM

Yup.

This will free me up to post more often here, too.

Nebraska · #9 (**permalink**) 06-02-2003, 11:51 PM

It's a tough step...

A lot of tossing and turning up till this point?

In the long run your joints will thank you and ideally your bulging wallet will be the only thing that physically pains you....

Stonehenge · #10 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 11:02 AM

I can't sat there was tossing and turning to this point. I have been very slowly moving in this direction for the last two years. Kind of like quitting smoking, I think - I was always waiting for the 'right time' to stop smoking. Trying to find that time when it would be easiest. Problem is, that time never comes. Same with this - I was waiting for the right 1-2 guys to appear before me, and the right time/work schedule to make it easy. I guess I just recently realized that there is no other time to do this than now. So I'm looking at it as a non-optional thing, and just 'making it happen', like so many things we achieve in our lives. Decide/commit to do it, and amazingly it somehow gets done.

Let's hope you're right about the wallet.

Nebraska · #11 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 11:41 AM

I can back up with complete certainty the joints issue...

diginahole · #12 (**permalink**) 06-03-2003, 04:21 PM

Way to Go Jeff. Make lots of notes, I plan to follow suit in the not to distant future.

scl · #13 (**permalink**) 06-04-2003, 09:03 AM

Right on Jeff. I am watching intently as you know my situation also. Knock em dead, (not the employees LOL) and show me the way.

Rex Mann · #14 (**permalink**) 06-07-2003, 01:05 PM

Jeff,

How did the first week go for you and your guys since you gave them the talk?

Are you finding it hard to not be there all the time?

Peace,

Rex

Stonehenge · #15 (**permalink**) 06-07-2003, 02:55 PM

This first week has gone pretty well, I'd have to say. One of my new hires is quickly proving to be an extremely smart, capable employee. He was a mason for several years prior to working for us, and with that experience understands many of the concepts I'm trying to teach. He's even teaching me a few new tricks. I anticipate he'll be ready to run a crew by himself in 3-4 weeks. I'm very excited about that.

Some of the guys are new enough to Stonehenge and to landscaping that I will have to continue to be on site for awhile, teaching and guiding, measuring their work ethic and skill. But left to their own devices, I find they seem to have more of an earnest desire to do something well. Moreso than if I was micromanaging their every move.

Some of them are still getting lots of things wrong, but they're new. And I have a nice opportunity to have them learn on the big display we're doing for one of our suppliers. It's a no pressure environment, because there isn't a client wanting us to hurry up for an upcoming party, or our rep isn't harmed if we put something in and have to rip it up and rebuild it because of a mistake. We are left alone to do our thing, and I can teach and monitor progress. 3 days this week I left the jobsite early for them to wrap things up, and on Friday I left at noon (I had appointments all afternoon and checked in with them between the appointments to see how things were going).

So all in all, I'd say it went well. I do see that I will probably need to bring on one or two more guys, with all the work and calls we've been getting.

As far as it being hard to not be there all the time, I guess it depends. Some things I really like working on - like the Brussels Dimensional that a couple guys did. I helped guide them, but I would have loved to build the whole thing. I was worried about quality, but I think the mix of guys I have right now will serve our customers well in the quality department.

Boy this is getting long-winded so I'll wrap it up. So far, so good.

Thanks for asking Rex.