A reputation is a commonly held opinion of the character of a person or business. The implications of the preceding sentence are enormous. Establishing a respectable reputation requires forethought, time, and effort.
Through the dogged use of the following five business practices, you’ll be able to put a shine on your reputation, which will be attractive to employees, clients, and potential clients.
Plan First – even how to finish
Success in any endeavor requires planning. Everyone is better off when your construction business has a Planning Process and a Plan to follow.
Planning allows your team to work together, better manage time and resources, have a method for dealing with the unexpected, and be more prepared to meet clients’ needs.
Starting with the finish in mind is a simple way of setting a goal and then determining the action steps required to reach the goal. The goals and means of achieving them are unique to your construction company.
The one constant is that planning must take place – your company’s reputation is at stake.
“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near one.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra
“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Keep it Simple – for everyone’s sake
By using well-thought-out, documented, and user-friendly systems, you can reduce or eliminate the clutter on the job site, in the office, and in your clients’ relationship with your company. Although establishing, documenting, and maintaining systems may initially seem daunting, it is a prerequisite for growing a profitable construction business with a reputation for getting things done correctly.
Learn more about ways to make implementing systems easier here.
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann
“Decluttering is infinitely easier when you think of it as deciding what to keep, rather than deciding what to throw away.” – Francine Jay
“Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.” – Barbara Hemphill
Use the Right Tools – no matter the job
Of course, as a construction contractor, you already know the importance of using the right tools on the job site. The most straightforward formula for acquiring tools is the best you can afford in the proper quantity. Use that same method for thinking about other tools you can use.
The furniture in your office, the vehicles you use, and the computers on desks are easy to think of as tools. And it would be best to do your due diligence when acquiring them. But there are other more intellectual items to be considered as tools.
For example, the tools many parents put in their toolbelts when disciplining their children can include hugs, routines, behavior charts, distraction, redirection, time-out corners, limited choices, or loss of privileges.
One way to know which tools will be helpful in your construction business is to look for problems, bottlenecks, or distractions. Then look for the proper tool to solve the issue.
As an example, these are some tools you may wish to put in your customer relationship toolbelt:
Purchasing software like a good CRM
Establishing a customer relations division
Developing a responsibility chart
Teaching each employee that they are accountable for maintaining good customer relationships
When it comes to tools (physical or intellectual,) use the best you can afford in the proper quantity to highlight your company’s impeccable reputation.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, it’s hard to eat spaghetti. – David Allen
The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade. – Benjamin Franklin
A good tool improves the way you work. A great tool improves the way you think. – Jeff Duntemann
Finish Things – including the imperfect
This concept is difficult, especially for those who fall into the Type-A category (as do many business owners,) the firstborns, the detail-oriented, and those known as “perfectionists.” But it is worth the effort to keep going for a variety of reasons.
There is satisfaction obtained through completion.
It builds self-confidence
You stretch and improve your abilities (read – you learn from your mistakes)
You avoid function paralysis
You’re more realistic about future endeavors
You avoid burnout
You can still fix problems
Finishing what you start, such as a new software program, a new process, or even a messed up job, is one way to prove the worth of your construction business and keep your reputation intact.
That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t occasionally decide to stop – not finish – get the heck out. This post from a few years ago will give you further insight into making better choices concerning when to proceed and when to get out.
“Stopping at third adds no more to the score than striking out. It doesn’t matter how well you start if you fail to finish.” – Billy Sunday
“Nice guys finish first. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know where the finish line is.” – Garry Shandling
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis
Have an Awesome Attitude – and pass it on
Do you want to up your excellent attitude quotient? Try one or all of these five ways to boost your mental outlook.
Pay attention to how you think! If you begin a thought with “I can’t,” then that self-fulfilling prophecy will be confirmed. Instead, shift your view to “I’m still learning” or “I’ll find someone who is great at . . .”
Spend time in positive environments and with positive people.
Volunteer. Helping others is one of the best attitude boosters around.
Look for laughter-inducing activities – movies, books, podcasts, and family outings all come to mind.
Resolve to take pleasure in the simple things in life. You know, take time to smell the roses!
Always remember to pass on what you’ve learned concerning having a great attitude. Teaching is the best path toward learning.
“You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” – Dr. Seuss
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton
“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.” – Reba McEntire
Ambitious Construction Contractors look to The Profit Constructors to provide advocacy in dealing with:
Clients and customers
Employees and subcontractors
Vendors and service providers
Governmental entities
Working with The Profit Constructors gives Construction Contractors the means to organize their operations in ways that help them:
Remain informed
Avoid hassles
Reduce risks
Be future-ready
Ready for action? Or want to know more? Get in touch today to schedule a complimentary discovery call. 866-629-7735