Recently, I was talking with one of our project managers about the integration of good management and strategic leadership with solid customer relationship skills. There’s no doubt this is an awesome (and hard to find) combination. While I do think good leaders need to have a little DNA for this trait in the beginning, in …
Peter Drucker, a great thinker in management theory and practice, was often quoted on the importance of shaping “the futures that have already happened.” As we are seeing this Recession in the rear view mirror, we are thinking more about this aspect of our company. Is our procedural playbook thick enough? At times would a …
We are hiring for a new senior level project management position. The process has us thinking on many levels, including how candidates would fit into our team dynamic. I was reminded of a recent conversation with the former CEO of J.A. Jones, at one time the largest construction company in the world. Several financial reasons …
Routinely, I try to ask myself if I am being the right kind of leader. Am I leveraging and teaching? Or am I over-coaching, getting into too many of the details and crowding out creativity? Am I allowing the “acorn” to grow or am I smothering it? Over the summer, I received an email from …
Over the years, I have learned that the just right word(s) at the right time can make a huge difference in people’s lives. At times this means motivating them to do their best, and at other times it’s helping them through a tough spell. Several years ago, I learned that one of our longterm customers …
Earlier this month, I wrote a post offering a few hints for those on the job search. It seems especially pertinent in these times, because we as managers are receiving more resumes than usual. Not a week goes by that I don’t see between 3 and 5 job applications. I would say the majority of …
There is an old story about a brilliant scientist who boasted that he could examine a book and tell you anything about it–what type of ink was used, the composition of the paper, even details about the molecules that made up the book. But when the scientist sat down to actually read, he realized the …
We recently made a presentation to a prospective customer who had an adaptive reuse project that seemed perfect for us. It involved revitalizing an area of the city, which is exactly the type of project we enjoy. We confidently answered all the questions in the RFI, and the presentation seemed to go flawlessly. As we …
You’ve heard about an idea locker? Well how about an idea freezer? This post from Jeremiah Owyang talks about one of my favorite ways to enjoy time disconnected from work: The idea freezer. For him, it’s a notebook that allows you to jot down ideas and to-dos as they come to you. The thought is …
Recently, I came across this post about failures of leadership. To me, Leadership is much more than following a set of rules or what someone has written in a book. Ideally it is instinctual and second-nature for one in the leadership role to not only guide, but also to learn. Failure is certainly a very …
ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) is an organization that can have a substantial impact on construction projects, yet quite a few folks are not familiar with it. ASTM was founded in 1898 for the development and delivery of voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide variety of materials, systems and services. ASTM’s …
Imagine attending a conference and being introduced to a prospective client. This person asks about your company and professional background. Instead of replying to the prospect you say, “Let my friend Dave here tell you all about us.” And then you walk away without speaking a word. It is extremely unlikely that this potential client …