Leadership means continual learning
You’re a construction contractor.
By default, that means you’re a leader.
Through reason, that means you want to be the best leader you can be.
Because of experience, you know there are things you can do to improve your leadership ability.
In the first part of this four-part series of articles concerning leadership in the construction world, the subject is improving your leadership skills through continuous learning.
Therefore, making time for the hard work that continual learning requires is perhaps the most important step in becoming a great leader.
Resolve to have a learning attitude
So, once you’ve resolved to have a learning attitude, there are actions you can take to make it happen. Among them are:
Determine to improve your leadership ability constantly.
Take charge of your learning.
Spend time with others who are eager to learn.
Remain aware of the multiple learning opportunities surrounding you.
Be willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
Remind yourself how learning will help you achieve your leadership goals.
Set new learning goals regularly.
Walter D. Wintle, in 1900, published a poem titled “Thinking” and it sums up the attitude question quite well.
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t;
If you want to win but think you can’t;
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost;
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a person’s will;
It’s all in a state of mind.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger and faster human,
But sooner or later the people who win
Are the ones who think they can.
Set aside time for learning
Becoming a better leader means continually growing your leadership skills.
For instance, it could mean you enroll in a class and show up regularly. However, it could take setting aside time on your calendar marked “learning time.” Be prepared to learn by allowing for learning time. There are lots of ways to increase your leadership knowledge. Here are some of them:
Follow leadership blogs
Listen to podcasts
Take a class concerning leadership (online or in-person)
Read magazines or journals
Study leaders that you admire
Volunteer at your industry association, a club, your place of worship, or elsewhere
Teach others what you know (thereby improving your skills and insight)
Attend seminars, workshops, or courses
Learn as you go
Even though it is a good idea to set aside time for learning leadership skills, there is also merit in being aware of spontaneous learning opportunities.
It begins with being a good listener. Therefore, you’ll do well to read this article from The Positivity Blog that offers ten simple steps for being a better listener.
Of course, learn from your mentors and role models. But don’t leave it there. Here are a few others who may have something to teach you about leadership.
Your employees and subs
The partners in your business
General contractors or their representatives
Your spouse or companion
The children in your life
Friends
Your next-door neighbors
The guy or gal who cuts your hair
See what I mean? Listen to those who have something to teach you about leadership, no matter where you encounter them. For example, in your front yard or at the grocery store.
What’s next?
There is more to say concerning leadership in the construction industry. The upcoming articles on this topic are:
We desire to familiarize you with business concepts, which will make it easier for you to be a better commercial construction subcontractor through our blog posts. Some are new ways of looking at things, and others are refreshers.
Schulte and Schulte Provides Accounting, Contract Document Management, and Advisory Board Level counsel for small to medium commercial construction subcontractors.
So you can Run With the Big Dogs! Call us 866-629-7735