Business Building: Slap Their Backs To Win!

Words: George Hedley



My first year in high school, I went out for the water polo team. Our coach for the “B” team was also the head baseball coach who never played water polo and couldn't swim. As the season progressed, we learned the basics and began to gel as a team. I liked our coach and discovered his baseball teams consistently went to the league championships, and he held the league record for most coaching wins. Many of his players earned college scholarships, and several were playing major league baseball. As our league water polo games approached, the intensity increased. Our baseball coach was beginning to get the best from everyone on our young team. We were beating teams ranked much higher, and we rose from fifth to second in the league standings. Only one team stood in our way of winning the “B” league championships. That final game was awesome. We beat the best and went on to celebrate the victory.

It's The Coach That Counts

As I look back, I now realize what made us succeed. We didn't have raw talent or experience. We didn’t have the best plays or techniques. It was our coach who made the difference. Every day, he approached each player, slapped our backs, encouraged, motivated, and complimented us. He made us want to get better, improve, and win. He always talked about our possibilities, never our failures or mistakes. He never yelled or talked down to us. He constantly reminded us that we can become the best only when we decide to be the best.

Years later, when I managed my construction company staff, managers, and field supervisors, my natural tendency was to expect them to know what to do and strive for excellence. Instead, I didn’t coach or encourage them in a positive way. Then I would get upset as I watched them struggle and try to fix them and solve their problems. I was quick to tell them what to do, find faults, and criticize. I continually wished my people were as accountable, responsible, and hardworking as I was. Do you ever hope your people will change, improve, and get better without taking any responsibility for their performance as their coach?

People Want To Perform!

Most people want to do a good job, achieve goals, and be responsible. But when they aren’t coached, trained, mentored, or appreciated, you can’t expect them to want to perform well or improve. Just as our “B” team coach improved every player, you can change the people in your company. Their output is the result of your input. All it takes is a regular slap on the back. Ninety-two percent of people who leave companies say they never received any praise, recognition, or compliments from their boss. Ninety-seven percent say they would do more if they were recognized, praised, and appreciated regularly. Think about your project or company. You can't do it alone. You need staff, suppliers, subcontractors, managers, foremen, and workers to get the job done. Most everyone wants to do a good job. And the simplest way to get what you want is to give them the recognition they deserve.

Recognition System That Works

My recognition system is simple. I try to recognize everyone who reports or works directly for me at least once a week. I use a checklist to make sure I don't forget anyone. One-on-one, face-to-face appreciative comments work best, such as: "Joe, thanks for working a little extra to get that change order out and executed." Or "Dave, I appreciate you taking the initiative and getting that task completed promptly." Or "Sam, great job solving that problem!" Or "Jose, thanks for the awesome way you managed the situation and worked with the customer." Note each recognition begins with the person’s name because people want to know you know and appreciate them.

When out of town or when impossible to see everyone, I make time to write short appreciative notes. I often see these notes proudly posted on their bulletin boards for weeks. It’s amazing how a little kind word goes such a long way. I also leave short voicemails or send text messages telling them how much I appreciate their work, effort, or accomplishments. Remember, everyone does something right every day worthy of a thank-you. Don’t wait until you have a monthly or quarterly team meeting to praise those who did good things. Any praise or recognition now is better than waiting for the perfect time to do it.

With our customers, architects, suppliers, and subcontractors, I try to send out a few handwritten thank-you notes or personal texts on a weekly basis. This keeps them excited about working with us and being on our team. This also gets them to go the extra mile when we need them.

Be A Winning Coach!

Who is on your praise, recognition, and thank-you list? Who should you thank today? To get your copy of our "people" workbook, email GH@HardhatBizcoach.com. How often do you give out praises and words of appreciation? Remember my coach who took a bunch of regular guys and turned them into winners. He didn't know how to do the work, call the plays, or play the game. But he did know how to turn people into winners. Go slap someone on the back. Start today. Now is better.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
George Hedley CPBC is a certified professional construction business BIZCOACH, consultant, and popular speaker. He helps contractors build better businesses, grow, profit, develop leaders, improve estimating, field production, and get their companies to work. He is the best-selling author of Get Your Construction Business To Always Make A Profit! available on Amazon.com. To schedule a free introductory coaching session, get his monthly Hardhat Hedlines BIZ-TIPS e-newsletter, download his templates and tools, or watch his webinars or online video courses at Hardhat BIZSCHOOL online university for contractors, Visit www.HardhatBizcoach.com or e-mail GH@HardhatBizcoach.com.

About: Featured
Marvelous Masonry: Basílica de la Sagrada Família

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, one of the most renowned architectural landmarks in the world, stands as a masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí's vision and a remarkable example of how masonry techniques have evolved over time. The construct

By: Cassandra Shea
About: Featured
Read More
Contractor Tip of the Month: The Challenges of Leadership

If you read my columns regularly, you know I enjoy employing sports analogies. It is not just that I love sports, which I do—Go Bengals. The parallels between sports and business are very relatable and evident, whether I am watching or participating. Take

By: Damian Lang
About: Featured
Read More
Fechino Files: Masonry Square

I hope this article finds you finally cooled down from this hot summer. Everywhere I went felt hot and sticky, well, except for Bozeman, MT. When you are in Bozeman, everything is cool. I have been working as a laborer, sawman, brick washer, and bricklaye

By: Steven Fechino
About: Featured
Read More
Chairman's Message: Mentoring Past and Future

My wife, Sheryl, walked from her office to mine and placed the September issue of Masonry Magazine on my desk. She opened it to page 52 and said, “Look at this picture and tell me the first thing you see.” I gave it a quick glance. The top half of the pag

By: Dick Dentinger
About: Chairman’s Message
Read More