RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS IS A TEAM SPORT BY JEREMY PRUITT
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s a fan of football, after watching the NFL draft picks, it’s hard not to make a comparison between how players prepare for draft day and the start of the NFL season, to how HVACR business owners, prepare for the busy season. Based on my experience, having prepared for more than a few of these busy stretches, I thought I’d offer a few tips for your “pregame” regimen, so you can be your best when it’s time to play at peak performance. I’m hyped and ready to play! If you’re with me, then let’s go!
THE WORKFORCE PREGAME: PREPARING FOR THE BUSY SEASON Many of your employees may be fighting through residual fallout from last
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HVACR BUSINESS JULY 2022
View stress as an opportunity to overcome an obstacle … it can be good for you—even inspiring. season, given that the industry has weathered some wide swings in volatility due to supply issues. But let’s use those growing pains to learn instead of ignoring them. In the NFL, there is an emphasis on changing your mindset – not allowing negative thoughts to get in your head and affect the game. So, if your team lacks morale, if there is residual pain from a less-successful season, change your collective attitude. As an HVACR manager, while it’s never effective to ignore issues expressed by your technicians or staff, once heard, rally the team so that they stay positive. You set the
example. If your staff senses trepidation from you, that fear mindset will only trickle into the culture. Following are a few tips to manage company morale: • Hold weekly or daily meetings and allow employees to express concerns • Get to know your employees and utilize their unique strengths • Encourage employees to use vacation time and personal days – they may be worried about losing jobs, but it’s vital
to protect their physical and mental health • Make sure that all team members ask for reviews and/or customer feedback at every appointment. • Stay ahead of the curve. Read all the reviews. Check-in with the team!
COMPANY CULTURE: AS THE LEADER, CHANGE YOUR MINDSET It’s vital that as the head of the organization, you promote positivity both by example and as part of the company culture. According to Allison Holzer, co-author of Dare to Inspire: Sustain the Fire of Inspiration in Work and Life, resetting your mindset during the busy season, is essential to successful performance.
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