Helen Keller - Blind vs Vision

As a contracting business grows it becomes more important the team is aligned around a common vision and culture.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

This becomes even more critical if the company has more than one geographic location.  

Quote: The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. Helen Keller.

A company’s vision is defined as the desired future position of the company.  

A company’s culture is defined as the behavioral norms of the group.  

More importantly as Rick Lochner points out - “The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.”

Robin Dunbar’s research points to the average person being able to maintain about 150 stable relationships with team dynamics changing at certain sizes; approximately 5, 15, 50 and 150. 

Managing at each of these levels requires additional structure around communication and process.  This is required for operational effectiveness as well as aligning the team around what Cameron Harold describes as a Vivid Vision.  

At the project level it is nearly 100% about organizing information, material, equipment and labor to build things.  At the senior leadership level of a growing contractor it is nearly 100% about aligning the team around the right vision, mission, strategy and culture.




Situational Awareness - 5D Project Model
5D is not just for BIM! The best project team members have a complex 5-dimensional model of the project in their heads at all times. They see not only the finished product in 3D but can take that model apart down to the components of each system.
Michael Jordan and Failure
When it comes to our personal learning and coaching others, it is critical to stay in the “Learning Zone” as much as possible. Maximum benefit comes from pushing the outer limits of the learning zone into the panic zone where you will fail.
Work Conversion Cycle and Backlog Run-Off
PARADOX: A contractor can’t focus on the bigger strategic issues until they have a predictable backlog of work. If a contractor doesn’t have a solid market strategy and organizational structure in place it’s very difficult to build a consistent backlog.