Masonry Magazine June 2011 Page. 37
ADVERTORIAL
The best operators of business are Goofy!
CONTRACTOR TIP OF THE MONTH
And, Ike would have been a great negotiator for us today: "There is no victory at bargain basement prices."
We might say that to our clients when they question safety, cost of craftsmanship, and quality workmanship. Obviously, those things aren't free, and they cannot happen without great planning, competent crews and excellent leadership.
Everybody in our industry realizes things still are pretty grim out there. We might question daily whether we can survive until the next job, next month, next week, and even tomorrow. But, put it all into perspective: Coach Gary is going to wave his magic wand and give you a choice. Learn everything you possibly can, right now, to protect your family, business and industry, today and into tomorrow. Or, become that 18-year-old, standing in the landing craft, watching the ramp let down onto the beach, and machine gun fire sweeping everything that moves. And, they didn't even have Kevlar helmets and flak jackets!
I'm not sure that I have the courage anymore for that. But, I'm thankful that many had it, and that many still do, including my neighbors.
How about you, me and our industry? It might feel like a war, but it's not. If bullets are flying, they are made of rubber and can sting, but they won't kill us.
Let's be worthy of the legacy we've inherited, and which we will protect. IMAS
Gary Micheloni is a working project manager, speaker, author, consultant and coach. White him at FullContact Team@gmail.com.
Copyright 2011 Gary Micheloni
COACH GARY'S CORNER:
Public works on your mind for 2011? Protect the economic freedom of your family and business. Coaching will help you get there in less time, and with more success. Want to ask Coach Gary to speak for your group, or coach your company? Go to www.FullContact Team.com, and click on the links for the resources (below the arrows). The report is free; not knowing the info is expensive! And, get free scheduling help from www.Microsoft ProjectClasses.com, so that you can enter public works contracting.
www.masonrymagazine.com
I network with business people from all over the country, and I've discovered something: The ones doing the best are goofy, but very likeable. That leads one to wonder about the advantages of being goofy.
Of all the business people I know, the wealthiest also happens to be the goofiest of them. When I ask a question, he answers with "huh" or "umm." Then, he rephrases the question and asks me the same thing, just in another way. Even if he knows the answer, he still asks to see if he is missing something. I guess he figures that if it's important to me, then it could be important to him. By doing this in his goofy way, he really makes me feel important. All his friends love him but just can't figure out how someone so goofy could do so well. Of course, we only jokingly question his ability as we all know he couldn't have gotten lucky 40 years in a row.
When you don't take yourself too seriously, people become comfortable around you and start to like you quicker. They may think, "Wow this guy is just like me." Or, maybe you leave them with a smile when you hang up the phone, due to something you say that isn't what they expect to hear. Whatever the case, people buy from people they like (and they don't buy from people they don't like). So, if you want to pick up work, assure your customers like you.
Employees like being around bosses that are a little goofy, too. When you, as the boss, are comfortable in your own skin, you can laugh at yourself when you make a mistake instead of hiding it. Your staff sees you as human, with a ability to laugh at yourself, and they feel they can make mistakes, too, without being ridiculed.
However, if a boss tries to act like he knows everything, an employee often will justify to himself that, if the boss knows so much, his assistance may not be needed. That, in turn, leads to the boss owning the whole project, instead of the employee helping out and owning his part of it, too. Luckily for me, being goofy comes naturally, so others enjoy helping me get things done. It also helps me build relationships quickly, and with those relationships, I can secure more work and have people behind me to help me do it.
Remember, when difficult situations rear their ugly heads, everyone watches the leader to see how he handles himself during the heat of the moment. If you are ready to hit the panic button, you had better not show it, or followers will wonder why you are a leader in the first place. A boss I once had would throw a fit every time something small went wrong, as though it were the end of the world. It wasn't long before his employees were all laughing at him around the corner regarding how he could not handle even minor problems. I don't think I need to tell you how successful he is today as one can easily guess.
Along with being goofy, good leaders also possess qualities such as high tolerance for risk taking, high tolerance for mental stress during tough times, and the ability to take action. Wow, I think I just discovered more contractor tips to write.
For now, teach yourself to be "goofy" and comfortable in your own skin. You can do it through daily practice and studying self-improvement books. That may not encompass everything it takes, but I can tell you this: Based on my experiences with great leaders, it is a damned good start.
Damian Lang is CEO of Lang masonry Contractors in southeast Ohio and inventor of many labor-saving masonry systems and products. He also is the author of the book "Rewarding and Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry." To order a copy of his book, or to network with Damian, contact him at diang@langmasonry.com or 740-749-3512
Provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc., and EZ Great Corp.
READER SERVICE #314
June 2011
MASONRY 35