Spring 2016 issue of Horizons

Communication The ability to communicate is important in all aspects of life, but a team member that is all over communication will usually succeed. Surprises late in a project are rarely good, so your team members must communicate engagement status often to avoid surprises. Encourage your team to think at the end of every day, “What did I do today and who needs to know about it,” and then send out status updates accordingly. Service Oriented We’re all in the business of serving others. Someone that has a service-oriented mindset is much more likely to be a good representative of your organization and keep clients happy! Serving others is not only important with clients but is equally important internally with other co-workers. Here at RubinBrown we are encouraged to be our best for others at all times. This applies to both our internal and external relationships. Building your team with service-oriented thinkers will better your entire organization! Have Fun Having a little fun at work improves team member morale and should be encouraged. Team members that are “all business” 100% of the time are not fun to work with day in and day out. Having a culture and core values that allow team members to be themselves and have some fun in the meantime is important. The hope should be that your team members build friendships with their co-workers. Statistically, team members that have a friend at work are happier.

While these four characteristics are important to consider during interviews, we’d also recommend having a formal mentoring or coaching program in place at your organization for team members already employed. The Importance of Mentoring The goal of mentoring is to transfer as much knowledge from your experienced team members to your new team members. Competition is alive and well in the construction industry, so this is easier said than done. Oftentimes, experienced team members might be threatened by newer team members and not want to share tips or information that will help the younger team members succeed. This attitude is not healthy in your organization and must be addressed when encountered. Working as a team and providing great quality and service to your customers has to be the top priority for your entire workforce. A mentoring program should be structured with experienced team members mentoring new team members. Informal mentoring meetings should occur as often as necessary, but formal meetings should occur at least twice per year.

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