I recently visited Southern Ontario and learned about the region’s extensive history. To their surprise, much of it was not being taught elsewhere in the province, and as a result is being somewhat lost to time. Similarly, in the workplace and especially as leaders, assuming that a responsibility is “someone else’s job” is a dangerous...

It’s Upon Leaders to Maintain the Workplace   If we don’t grease it, it’ll start to squeak. This applies to every aspect of your workplace, from your equipment to the people who use it. In any organization, the work environment plays a vital role in shaping the success of its people, and the quality of...

If there weren’t a scoreboard in hockey, there would be nothing for the team to work towards.   This goes for any company, large or small. Feedback is essential at every level to ensure your team’s efficiency and success. After all, how else would you know what’s working and what isn’t?   Feedback from your...

Change can be difficult to implement, especially in large organizations with countless employees. But in any workplace, change has to start somewhere, no matter if it surrounds your policies, procedures or company culture. In most cases, you’ll notice that change starts with small groups. But why is that, and how can you leverage this in...

Success Leaves Clues   Success is the culmination of raw talent, hard work and the proper habits. Oftentimes, successful people leave clues in the work that they do — it’s a matter of picking up on them and implementing them towards our own work. Whether you're part of the leadership or the boots on the...

Leadership is a Two-Way Street: Think of someone who has done you a huge favour. Someone who was there for you at a time when you needed it most. Maybe a great mentor or a long-time friend. Your people are there for you each and every day, and you should be there for them too...

Construction & Aggregate - Back to the Basics - As an industry, we risk straying too far from what made us such an incredible line of work in the first place. We need to avoid giving our people unnecessary tasks and responsibilities that occupy too much of their time and keep them from doing what...

Understanding Our Responsibilities Over the last few years, many of us have begun to understand how deeply the world around us can affect us internally. Changing the way we think, the way we feel, and even the way we behave. It is our responsibility as leaders to check in with our people and do what...

Leaders, Keep your People in 2023.   It seems as if almost every industry is in the midst of their own labour crisis. For our industry in particular, it’s hard to find people who stay, and even harder to keep your best around. It’s understandable if you complain about your struggles, but in order to...

Attraction and Retention in a Post-Pandemic World- It’s no secret, the pandemic took a toll on both the economy and the job market. We’re currently living through a labour shortage, where leaders struggle to attract new people and have a hard time retaining their best. Luckily, there are many ways to make your business more...

The Importance of Catching up with your People   You can have the best leadership in the world, but your business won’t run smoothly unless all the gears are turning.   Unfortunately, it’s apparent that not all leaders truly understand the importance of quick chats and checking in on their peoples’ wellbeing. Catching up regularly...

Asking for help isn't weakness, it’s maturity. - As leaders, we carry the responsibility of being knowledgeable enough to answer questions when they’re asked. But in order to answer these questions, our people must first as+k them.   Although we may learn best from our mistakes, making them can sometimes cost you and your employer...

The Importance of Positivity in Leaders: Our people's lives are changing, and we need to be able to adapt. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what your opinions may be. In a time as dynamic and unprecedented as today, there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the short and long-term future. The cost of commuting...

Importance of Company Culture: Whether you’re proud of where your family comes from, the school you’ve graduated or the success of your favourite sports team, everyone has enjoyed being a part of a strong culture. It gives a sense of belonging and dignity to anyone behind the greater cause, which carries significant importance in any...

Mark’s Observations: Canadian Concrete Expo 2022 - Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Canadian Concrete Expo. There was quite a lot to take in, but I was particularly impressed by the amount of company pride demonstrated by the attendees. Left and right, there were crowds of people wearing company-branded shirts, logos, colours...

Ask Them Before They Leave: 7 Stay Interview Questions To Improve Retention. Many companies have adopted the use of the “exit interview” as a means to gain feedback on an employee's experiences in a certain role, or with a certain company. While this is a straightforward way to get an honest review of a former...

Making Your Company Attractive: 4 Steps to Becoming the Employer of Choice. Making your company attractive to potential workers is essential, particularly in response to the shortage of skilled trades workers we are experiencing today. It is no secret that employees talk, amongst themselves inside the company, and to friends and family on the outside...

Women in Trades: Tackling the Skilled Labour Shortages in Canada. The struggle to find skilled trades workers and the subsequent labour shortages in the construction industry have been a worrisome headline for over a decade now. Between 2014 and 2020, over 200 000 skilled trades workers were expected to retire. This number climbed heavily after...

Incorporating Lean Leadership Into Your Business Model Developing a successful business is no easy task. It takes long hours, dedication, and a skilled team to provide the level of professional support that will get you to where you strive to be. However, even with the time, passion, and man power, in order for your business...

To many, the New Year is a time of reflection and change that brings forth anticipation for new beginnings. While there is no doubt that “new” does sound luminous, when it comes to your team members, the grass is not always greener on the other side. In fact, many workplaces are now showing that retention...

The holiday season is among us, and with it comes feelings of joy, excitement, and goodwill. Particularly relevant today, many people are feeling eager to get out and enjoy the festive season to the fullest, after many holidays being sidelined while our country searched for ways to cope with a global pandemic. This year, with...

The Importance of Training in Your Off-Season In many industries and businesses, there are both busy seasons and off seasons. When operations are in their peak season, everyone is working like a well-oiled machine to meet the demands of service in the provided time frame. However, when things start to slow down, many business owners...

Retaining employees is arguably one of the most important parts of leading a successful team and business. Sifting through resumes to interview viable candidates and find the employee that fits in best is one thing, but getting a new employee to stick around takes ongoing dedication to your team.    When retention is low, it...

Being a leader in today’s climate certainly has its challenges. Ever since we began our working lives, we associate what we do with where we do it. Now, even in the most field-present jobs, structures have changed and many business owners, managers, and employees need to find new, innovative ways to be at the forefront...

Happy New Year   Happy 2021; we were all thrilled to finally say goodbye to 2020 and start looking forward to the next 12 months.  2020 was the most challenging year for Canada in a century. Clearly, COVID-19 has dominated our lives; however, there is a faint light at the end of the tunnel with the...