How to Create a World-Class Remodeling Team
During presentations for remodeling companies over the years, I’ve asked audiences to raise their hands if they have a great team. Almost all hands go up.
I then begin to unpack what a strong team looks like for the remodeling industry. At that point, there’s a lot of silence. It’s natural to think you have a great team, however, it’s important not only to be objective but also to make creating a world-class team a priority. Great teams win. Average ones go home.
Many remodelers are now seeing strong lead flow and larger project sizes. Leaders feel stressed by not having the employees they need. While they may be selling and producing projects, the business is not positioned for growth.
As you take inventory of your specific team dynamic, the following are a few themes to determine how well your remodeling company is positioned for the future.
The Players
Remodeling companies today need all “A” players. Good team members are not good enough.
An A player does high quality work.
An A player is committed to constant improvement.
An A player has a strong work ethic.
An A player has drive and believes failure is not an option.
Additionally, an A-level team member exceeds expectations, thinks synergistically, and is aligned with your company’s beliefs, culture, and vision.
The Glue
For a remodeling company, the glue might be individuals or roles that are focused on team culture, company image, or branding. It could also mean removing the day-to-day obstacles from clients and other A players.
Great remodeling company leaders wake up every day not focusing on the project, but thinking about the team and the overall business health and culture. They are sensitive to making the company a place where others love to work.
The Bench
Great sports teams have great benches. These players are there if someone becomes ill or injured.
For a remodeling company, the bench brings fresh ideas and energy. The bench is an investment but shows a commitment to the future. Great companies have developed internship programs and do cross-training.
The best time to think about a bench is when you don’t need it.
Think about your favorite sports team or business and try to dissect the team dynamic because that is critical to its success.
Training
World-class remodeling leaders know that training is an investment, not an expense.
During tough times, most businesses dramatically cut back on training. The great ones do not.
In many cases, when times were tough, they added more training to sharpen skills. If you want a great team, you must create a training organization. Trainings should not only be focused on what team members do every day but also on who you want them to be as ambassadors and assets to the business.
Synergistic Strength
In addition to all of the above, a world-class team is synergistic, meaning that the strength of the group together is greater than each individual is apart. Synergistic teams share ideas and insights. They understand each other’s role and act to help generate leads, as well as ideas for improvement.
The commitment to operating in this mindset starts at the top. A synergistic team approach can supersize the business growth. This is where a good team becomes a great one.
In closing, if you want to grow your remodeling company, make developing a world-class team a priority. Think about your favorite sports team or business and try to dissect the team dynamic because that is critical to its success.
While making sure the product and service are of the highest quality is important, a world-class team will ensure that will stay that way in the future.