Forethought & Training Makes Managers

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Special Feature FORETHOUGHT ANDTraining Makes Managers T he construction industry is well known for setting up our best skilled technicians By Christian D. Malesic for failure. It’s as if we are specifically trying to sabotage our own companies by reducing the workforce skill level and using poor management to try to fix it. A fancy new title and a raise does not make a manager. A top-notch management selection process and training program is the only road to ensure future success. Leaders Make Great Managers The best technician does not make the best manager; the natural-born leader does. Though scholars continue to argue the finer details, it is widely accepted that “leaders are born and managers are made.” Leaders are followed. The directives of managers are carried out. The leader is the person spreading news from the 12 | July 2011 | www.ieci.org

Special Feature grapevine, teaching trade tricks, and from whom co- foreman would have the most experience at assisting Next, find outside vendors of one to two day workers seek advice. At breaks, the leader can be with employee training, large projects, and those jobs seminar-style courses and add self-study activities found telling “there I was” stories with an attentive requiring specialized skills or in dealing with detail- (books, books-on-tape, videos, webinars, etc.) that audience and organizing the weekend fishing trip or oriented clients. The PM ranks could be similarly specialize in training new or advancing managers. bar bash. The manager is the person given that title divided. Those activities that are specific to your company by executives to be in charge of people, projects, (completing a job report, corporate marketing soft- and money. It is also wise to have pre-management positions skills, or parts scheduling, for example) should be that introduce potential entrants to the ranks with- taught in-house by the PM team or executive staff. In theory, anyone can be taught to manage well. out the accompanying official responsibilities. Thus, Managers can be taught efficiency, organization, an assistant foreman would serve as a normal crew Skills can be taught in one week or multi-week project flow, and even to earn the respect of those member most of the time; but would be available to long training courses, where a trainee focuses only on they manage. Managers cannot be taught how to take over a portion of the project (gear installation, management training until completed. Or, conversely, lead. Though it is possible that the best technician is inventory accountability, first floor rough-in, etc.) as a program can mimic the IEC Apprentice Training also a natural leader, this is rarely the case. Instead needed by the FM. Additionally, they will fill-in as model, whereby management trainees complete of looking to the firm’s best technicians to serve in acting FM when the FM is on vacation or off work for classroom training intermixed with field-work over open management roles, consider promoting and personal reasons. an extended period of time, say, six months for man- training the natural leader. Management selection agement training. processes should begin pre-hire with an eye on Management Training is Essential identifying potential leaders. These employees Management selection should then be observed in their current role for The most successful restaurant-chain in world processes should signs of leadership and future advancement. history, McDonald’s, is the brunt of many jokes. They are, however, so successful because they are experts. begin pre-hire with Tiered Management Structures Not only are they experts at “flipping burgers,” their an eye on identifying world-renowned Hamburger University is a benchmark Think large when developing the structure of for educating management trainees on operation potential leaders. management. All large companies were once small. procedures, customer service, cleanliness, and So, instead of waiting until the company is large and business development. Similarly, Disney, United Whatever your company’s approach, it must then having to revamp the entire reporting chain, Parcel Service (UPS), Dell, and many others have incorporate four overarching themes to profit and develop the structure at the outset. It is better to been recognized as best-in-class for management succeed in the new economy: have a structure with unfilled positions, or those not and/or customer service training. currently needed in the smaller organization, then it 1. Develop a management structure for where you is to remodel the entire structure at a later date to Unfortunately, the construction industry has the want your firm to be, not where it is. adapt it to the growing firm. opposite distinction. We are recognized as the industry that provides no management training. We 2. Hire even entry-level technicians (apprentices) In other industries, the lowest level of management promote our best hopefuls with a new title and a pay with potential management in mind. is the shift manager, department director, or section bump, only to throw them to the wolves by telling them chief. In construction, we refer to these positions as to go run the work. Throwing a fellow in the Mississippi 3. Constantly analyze the workforce to identify foreman, job supervisor, or superintendent. Each firm River to teach him or her to swim may have been leaders for future management positions. must chose these titles carefully and the reporting accepted in Tom Sawyer’s day, but is a procedure hierarchy with which they are associated. For the doomed to fail with management trainees. At the 4. Train, train, and re-train. purposes of this article, let’s assume that the person very least, each level of management should be given who manages the onsite/in-field project is called the initial training followed by annual re-occurring training Christian D. Malesic is a founder of CM Squared, foreman (FM). The FM keeps the job flowing, assigns that delves deeper and broader as employees move Inc., Full Service Electricians, in Harrisburg, workers’ tasks, coordinates with other trades, ensures up through the ranks. Pennsylvania, and has served as its President / CEO parts are on-site, and briefs the client, all while still for the last 13 years. He has volunteered as the working with their tools to facilitate installation. FMs The best place to start is with the job description. Central Pennsylvania IEC Chapter President, Vice report to the person who manages a number of What skills/tools will make the new manager improve President, and Apprenticeship & Training Chair. He projects, a position that is primarily office and company profitability and enhance reputation? Focus currently serves on the IEC National Board of paperwork intensive, usually called the project man- on key business areas: Directors representing the Northeast Region. To ager (PM). PMs, in turn, report to a member of the receive notice of the newest articles written by executive staff, usually the chief operating officer • Customer Service Christian, follow him on Twitter: @CDMalesic. (COO). • Communicating Professionally It is not uncommon to further break up the man- agement levels of FM and PM into subcategories. • Reoccurring Duties For example, the FM category could be subdivided into: junior foreman, foreman, and senior foreman. • Completing Paperwork A junior foreman may be the term used to describe a new entry into the management ranks who is • Management & Team Building assigned only one senior-level apprentice to do small jobs, troubleshooting, and clean-up work. A • Organization & Time Management FM would be an experienced manager with a bigger crew and larger job assignments. Finally, a senior • Technical Skill Enhancement • Role in Company’s Profitability • Official Employee Interaction • Merit Shop Responsibilities www.ieci.org | Insights | 13