Training = Growth.

BE-lief

We work to become the best versions of ourselves. Because when we get better, everyone and everything around us gets better.

The purpose of training is at the same time to improve the quality of our work and the effectiveness in which we do it. We believe in having a structured and rhythmic training program that helps the individual contribute at a higher level. This serves their growth and ability to contribute. As each person contributes at a higher level, the company, the client, and our work all get better.

This week we did Part 3 of a Craftsman Training Program. The purpose here is to show incoming people (1st Year’s) how we do what we do. It’s a planned day where we work in the shop away from the stresses and expectations of the job-site to slow things down and learn how to polish, how to install epoxy, and next time how to drive a truck with a trailer.

Before making it to Part 3 in training, I wanted to develop people further but didn’t. We would start well, but then something would come up, time would get tight, we would make an exception, and then it would just fizzle out. People would continue to be left on their own to figure things out. This was the path and plan for almost everyone in our company, and the same way is normal at most smaller organizations.

I have seen training programs that are dialed in; Ones that have been planned for well, ones that have full-time staffs dedicated to only training and developing people. But to start we are going to work with we have and make it work.

Getting Started

I believe we are at the beginning of a strong training program — it’s not 100% — not even 90% — maybe not even 20%…What if it’s only 10% of what the ideal is — but we started. Isn’t that better than continuing to put it off until — things are ‘just right?’

Even though it’s fresh for us, I feel like it only needs time, attention, and care to develop. We don’t get frustrated at a seed we just planted — mad that it’s not a flower yet. We trust that we need to plant the seed, add water, and sunshine, and it will continue to grow. It needs time to mature and get healthy.

Trust The Process

The same is true for our training. I have talked for years about planting the seed (training), but I have held it in my hand. Now, we have placed it in the ground, and when we show up and do it over and over again, we might find this is part of a path to help us develop a remarkable company. A place that provides the framework for people to grow and thrive, and helps us positively impact everything we touch; People and Concrete.