A great technician is worth their weight in gold. They aren’t always easy to find, but when you lock one in, the value they bring to your company is obvious.
It’s easy to take for granted the professionals that just put their heads down and get the job done with no fuss, no mess, just results. Better yet, the ones that do that while asking questions to improve themselves and the business, or pitch in to guide newcomers into a pleasant working experience. The best business owners and managers understand that the heart of their operation is not the equipment they own, but the people that operate it.
Forging the workforce
In every issue, we highlight an installation company doing good work and making a name in the industry. We talk to owners and managers so we can learn from those who have, “been there and done that” successfully. We learn how they were able to maintain or grow a company that was passed down through family generations, or how they took their excavation company to the next level by beginning adding septic system services.
In this month’s Profile feature, we chat with Luis Goncalves, owner and operator of GroundStone Onsite Waste Water Services, whose expedition to an excavator is not unlike many of yours. He has a great story to tell, and one quote toward the end of the article when discussing the future of his company stuck out to me.
“I like to teach younger workers coming in, and I put a lot of energy into it,” Goncalves says. “But it’s gut-wrenching if you’ve molded an individual to take over your position and they move on.”
I understand that completely. Training and molding a worker can be a double-edged sword. You’re doing it because someone on your team with knowledge and skills holds incredible value, but you’re also shaping an individual to realize they are capable of doing what you do as an owner.
Whether they do stay with your company for the long haul and maybe end up taking over the reins of what you built, or move on to their own venture, know that your efforts with them shape the future of the industry. And that’s a big deal.
Making the grade
I’m proud to say there is a lot more acknowledgment and appreciation for technicians in this industry compared to disgruntled employers talking about the ones that got away. When we interview owners and ask about crews and employees, more often than not, we hear about a right-hand man or woman who is an invaluable asset.
We’d like to take that recognition a step further by adding another feature to our pages, this time focusing on technicians so we can learn through their eyes. Do you have an outstanding septic technician on your staff? One who always seems to come through on the most difficult jobs, volunteers for any task and makes your installation team stronger. One who continues to push themselves to learn more and bring more to the business.
This is an official request to nominate a worthy technician from your company to be profiled in a brand-new column of Onsite Installer titled Making the Grade.
Please submit
If someone jumps into mind, please send me their name, official title and contact information. We would be honored to interview them about their work experience, responsibilities, goals and ideas.
Send details directly to me at editor@onsiteinstaller.com
I look forward to hearing from you and highlighting your extraordinary technicians!
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