Tag: contractor business tips: Page 2

Business

AGC 2014 construction forecast predicts improved hiring and pay with increased demand and equipment purchases

The Associated General Contractors of America released their 2014 construction industry forecast Tuesday, reporting the results of an in-depth survey that included 800 AGC members across the United States. The group’s analysis, Optimism Returns: The 2014 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook, found contractors are more optimistic about 2014 than they were about previous years. Noting […]

January 21, 2014

Business

Already break your New Year’s resolutions? 3 tips for getting back on track

In a couple of weeks, people will be lamenting about their broken New Year’s resolutions. Their friends who don’t make resolutions will go into I-told-you-so mode, saying that’s why they never make resolutions, that they’re too hard to keep. So, my question is why are they too hard to keep? I think it’s because of […]

January 13, 2014

Business

4 New Year’s resolutions every contractor should make to improve their business in 2014

Your crews have been sent home, most of your machinery has made it back to the yard for a yearly maintenance run through, and it’s time to celebrate another full year of being in business. During this less-than-full-throttle time (assuming a client doesn’t call with an emergency), consider these ways you can get on the […]

January 3, 2014

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3: Be Fair

Treating everyone fairly and treating everyone equally isn’t the same thing. If you treat everyone exactly the same, they’ll think you don’t care about them. Have an individualized approach to your employees, and clearly explain decisions you make that affect them. They’ll respect you for it.   < STEP 2           […]

November 12, 2013

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2: Be Open and Honest

Although it’s your company, you should want your employees to be interested and invested in the well-being of the firm. They’re never going to be able to do that unless you tell them what’s going on. Instituting transparency is a direct path to gaining the loyalty and trust of your people. If they feel they […]

November 12, 2013

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1: Have the “Right” People

Attracting and retaining people isn’t enough. You have to hire and keep people who are a good fit for the type of company you want to have. No matter how skilled the employees, sometimes their demeanor or attitude simply derails what you’re trying to accomplish. < INTRO                 […]

November 12, 2013

Business

3 culture-changing steps contractors can take to combat the skilled worker shortage

There’s been no shortage of attention lately to the skilled worker shortage. Although industry advocates like Mike Rowe have been beating the drum for a while, now everyone is catching on—analyzing what happened and trying to find ways to attract new workers to the trade. Some contractors have even created their own courses to train […]

November 12, 2013

Business

3 smart strategies to try in your construction business from a successful landscaper

We’ve all heard stories of unconventional entrepreneurs taking the path less traveled to success. The challenge lies in finding practical ways to apply alternative strategies to your own business. Terry Sims of the Garden Artist in Boise, Idaho, has taken her landscape design firm to the top of her field using smart strategies. And though […]

October 29, 2013

Business

Timely feedback: Building success in the construction industry with 6 management actions (PART 4)

In my last post, I wrote about my industrial minerals company learning experience and the importance of asking for input. I’ve got another example from that experience I’d like to share. Action No. 5: Provide information and feedback in a timely manner Asking for input before making the decision to undertake the Total Quality Management […]

August 2, 2013

Business

74 tips for reducing equipment costs (1-10)

One thing I learned long ago was the bottom-line impact of reducing costs.  I don’t mean cutting costs—I mean reducing costs.  There is a significant difference. One brings immediate relief to the bottom-line while the other brings more sustainable results. Over the next several posts, I will share 74 tips to help you reduce costs. […]

July 31, 2013