In this insightful episode of the Construction Champions podcast, host Ron Nussbaum sits down with John Glover, an expert in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), to explore the key ingredients that make a true construction champion.
John's journey began with taking over his father's small janitorial products distribution business alongside his sister. Despite the humble beginnings, John recognized the potential for growth and set out to transform the company. After 18 years of running the business, he sought a partner to complement his skillset, leading to the implementation of the EOS system.
The Importance of Leadership and Mentorship in the Trades
According to John, a construction champion is someone who understands the significance of leadership and mentorship within the industry. He emphasizes that great leaders are not born, but rather developed through a desire to continuously improve their management and people skills.
"Most people aren't born great leaders. It takes a desire to get better in leading and managing people. And quite frankly, the trades don't do a very good job of cultivating and creating leaders."
John believes that construction companies often struggle with retaining talented individuals due to the lack of structured leadership development programs. By creating an environment that recognizes and supports the unique abilities of each team member, construction champions can foster a culture of accountability and growth.
Simplifying Leadership and Management with EOS
John's expertise in EOS provides a practical framework for construction business owners to streamline their operations and develop effective leaders. EOS, he explains, takes the best ideas from various business books and repackages them in a way that resonates with owners who have reached a certain level of complexity in their businesses.
"EOS is written a book called 'How to Be a Great Boss,' and it's based on a couple of principles. There are 5 management principles, and there's 5 leadership [principles], and everyone that sees that diagram understands very clearly that, 'Oh, you mean, I have to give clear expectations to the people beneath me. And then I have to ask them if they understand those expectations, and then I might need to give them more of my time and resources before it sinks in.'"
By simplifying the concepts of leadership and management, EOS empowers construction business owners to create a self-managing business, where they can enjoy more free time and resources to pursue their passions.
The Fractional Integrator: A Vital Role in Implementing EOS
One of the key components of EOS is the integration of a "fractional integrator" – a role that John has embraced in his work with construction companies. As a fractional integrator, John comes in to reinforce the EOS tools, facilitate crucial conversations, and help build a healthy leadership team.
"As an integrator coming in on a fractional basis, we typically work 1 day a week with that team. We have same page meetings with the owner or owners to have them tell us their issues, how we can help, and we're really there to create a healthy leadership team, and then use the EOS tools to be able to prop up and embrace simplistic ways of doing things that used to be perceived as hard."
By acting as a trusted advisor and facilitator, the fractional integrator helps construction business owners navigate the challenges of implementing EOS and fostering a collaborative, accountable, and transparent leadership team.
Embracing the "Danger Zone" for Constructive Growth
A crucial aspect of the fractional integrator's role is encouraging the leadership team to enter the "danger zone" – a space where they can have difficult conversations and hold each other accountable without fear of repercussions.
"A truly healthy leadership team is able to have those difficult conversations amongst themselves with no collateral damage. In other words, let's go to the danger zone. Let's call a spade a spade, and it just had this happen last week with a leadership team where a huge mistake was made by an HR director."
By creating an environment where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than grounds for punishment, the fractional integrator helps construction companies build a culture of trust, transparency, and continuous improvement.
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Conclusion: Embracing EOS for Construction Champions
The insights shared by John in this episode of the Construction Champions podcast highlight the transformative power of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in the construction industry. By focusing on leadership development, simplifying management practices, and fostering a healthy, accountable leadership team, construction business owners can unlock the secrets to becoming true construction champions.
Whether you're a seasoned construction professional or just starting your journey, exploring the EOS framework and the role of a fractional integrator can be a game-changer in your pursuit of construction excellence.
Unlocking the Secrets of Construction Champions: Insights from an EOS Expert
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